Gardening: ‘Perfect’ vegetables to grow in winter – ‘frost’ will make them ‘more delicious

Gardeners' World: Adam Frost gives advice on growing veg

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Growing vegetables at home is a great activity for anyone, whether they have a garden or not. Especially now during winter it may seem difficult to grow vegetables there are experts unhand to show it’s not the case. The experts at Essential Living have shared the top vegetables to grow during winter which will “thrive”, including ones that can withstand frost and snow.

The gardening experts at Essential Living explained how growing vegetables in winter doesn’t have to be “challenging”.

They said: “In the winter months, growing vegetables doesn’t have to be challenging, and whilst many may feel cooler temperatures, frost and sometimes snow can destroy their winter garden, it can, in fact, do the opposite.

“If you didn’t already know, vegetables you can plant now will only become sweeter and more delicious if they go through a frost.

“Therefore opt for the vegetables that will thrive in these temperatures.”

Top vegetables to grow in winter

Beetroot

Whilst beetroots grow well during warm weather, the seedlings are established more easily under cool, moist conditions. 

It is best to plant beetroot later in the winter, as during cool weather the roots store sugars, producing a beautiful sweet taste.

They can be planted up until about six weeks before the first frost. 

Sow the seeds around half an inch deep and one to two inches apart in rows that are about one foot apart.

After sowing, cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. 

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Each wrinkled beet “seed” is actually a cluster of two to four seeds, so gardeners will need to thin the young plants to three to four inches apart once the greens get to be about four inches tall.

Brussel sprouts

This plant will withstand frost and can be harvested until a hard freeze strikes. 

They grow best on sunny days with light frosts at night.

When planting select a site with full sun and rich soil and sow seeds of brussel sprouts three to four inches apart or plant seedlings 18-24 inches apart. 

Provide Brussels sprouts with steady, consistent moisture and begin fertilising a month after planting.

Carrots

Carrots are perfect for the winter, as they can survive temperatures as low as minus nine degrees, but being in the cold for too long can result in long, pale roots. 

Sow the carrots directly into the ground. 

Make a seed drill (a shallow trench) about one centimetre deep using the edge of a hoe or trowel. 

Sow the seeds thinly along the bottom of the drill about five to eight centimetres apart. 

Then cover them with soil, and water well using a watering can with a rose attached.

Green onions

Green onions are troupers in the winter months and frosts, freezing temperatures and snow will not kill them. 

They will survive the winter in most hardiness zones and be edible until they begin to produce flowers in the early spring.

Green onions prefer organic soil that drains well. 

Start by working the organic matter into the soil at least six to eight inches deep, removing stones, then level and smooth. 

Sow thinly in rows of one to two feet apart and cover with a quarter inch of fine soil. 

To finish, firm lightly and keep evenly moist.

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