Whether due to low temperatures or lack of sunlight, winter is the season when your garden will appear barest because most vegetables fear the cold and love the sun.
However, don't despair because even during the winter you don't have to give up putting fresh vegetables on your table .
In fact, there are so-called winter vegetables . Able to resist cold and frost, they are so called because they are harvested in the last months of the year (from late autumn to late winter).
Some of these vegetables benefit from low temperatures that actually improve their quality. A classic example is cabbage, which becomes crispier and tastier in the cold.
Don't forget, however, that even in the case of winter garden plants, there are differences based on the climate of the region you are in .
For example, in the Alpine and Apennine regions during the coldest months there is really little to do, in the Po Valley and Adriatic regions you will have to grow in tunnels while in the Ligurian and, above all, Mediterranean regions you can transplant in open fields.
In this article you will learn about the 5 quintessential winter garden plants and discover how to take care of them to bring flavors to the table that will warm up your winter:
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Garlic: How and When to Plant It
- The characteristics of Piacenza white garlic
- When to harvest Sulmona red garlic
- Aglione (Elephant Garlic), the excellence of garlic: when to plant and harvest it - Onion: types and characteristics
- Swiss Chard: Cultivation and Beneficial Properties
- Cabbage: when to plant it and how to manage its cultivation
- Spinach: how to grow it in the garden or on the balcony
- Winter Garden Plants: How to Choose Them
1. Garlic: how and when to plant it
Garlic is a winter hardy garden plant that adapts easily to all types of soil.
It is not afraid of the cold and can tolerate temperatures as low as 15 degrees below zero.
As for fertilization, it is better not to overdo it with organic substances because the roots would risk rotting.
Sow with the bulbils (better known as cloves) pointing upwards in well-worked soil, burying them lightly at a distance of 30 cm between rows and 15 cm along the row.
The ideal months for sowing are November and February and harvesting takes place after 5 or 6 months. When you see that the stem will bend and become empty, your garlic will be ready to be harvested.
If you use a variety of garlic that flowers (also called bigolo) you will have to cut it because, although beautiful and even good sautéed in a pan, it will hinder the development of the bulb.
As for companion plants, garlic gets along well with lettuce, carrots and cabbage .
If you grow in open fields, you will not need to irrigate in the winter months because the rains will be sufficient, unlike in spring and summer where you will have to water sparingly.
Remember, however, not to water for a month before harvesting, to avoid the bulb rotting.
If you grow on the balcony, the advice is to use a sandy and draining soil and to insert a layer of gravel on the bottom of the pot to avoid water stagnation.
Once collected, let it dry in the sun for 2 or 3 days and then hang it, perhaps creating the classic and scenic braids, in a cool and dry place.
According to popular tradition, garlic is considered a sort of natural antibiotic and blood pressure regulator, which drives away vampires.
The characteristics of Piacenza white garlic
The most widely grown winter garlic plant is the Piacenza variety or white garlic Garcua .
Its flavour is very strong and unmistakable , it has a large head and an excellent yield.
It is very resistant to cold and, in periods of greater drought, it needs to be watered once a week.
If you want to avoid the typical bad breath, remove the green shoot inside the cloves.
When to harvest Sulmona red garlic
Sulmona red garlic is a prized variety with a more delicate flavour.
Harvest it between April and May to consume it fresh, between June and July for winter consumption.
This variety usually flowers in May, so remember to cut the bigolo.
Aglione (Elephant Garlic), the excellence of garlic: when to plant and harvest it
The Val di Chiana garlic , also known as elephant garlic due to its enormous size (it can weigh up to 800 g), is an excellent product with a much more delicate flavour than other varieties.
In cooler climates it can be planted in autumn or spring, while in warmer climates it can be planted in spring, autumn or winter .
Harvest it between June and July and remove the flower.
2. Onion: types and characteristics
A relative of garlic, the onion is a winter garden plant that is indispensable in the kitchen as a base for many recipes .
There are many varieties, which differ in the shape and size of the bulb, in color and according to the harvest period which distinguishes them between winter and spring.
From the classic golden onion, to the red or white one, to the spring onions, arriving at the famous Tropea onion , for your winter crop you are spoiled for choice!
The onion is very resistant to cold so much so that, always considering your climate zone, you can plant it in the field in autumn and it will resist throughout the winter.
However, pay attention to sudden changes in temperature , perhaps protecting them with sheets in case of strong temperature variations between day and night.
This popular winter vegetable plant is quite simple to grow but requires some care:
- Work the soil well with a spade in the months before sowing to make it loose and free of lumps.
- Pay attention to water stagnation , the number one enemy of this vegetable. Therefore water when the soil is completely dry. In summer, it is better to water little and often.
- Fertilize sparingly a few months before transplanting and never immediately before
- Keep the soil free from weeds . Mulching can be a great help .
- Onions should be planted at a distance of about 30 cm between rows and 15 cm on the row . Keep in mind that this is an indicator that can vary depending on the size of the variety you decide to grow.
Whatever your favorite variety, freshly picked onions will give your dishes an unmistakable aroma.
3. Swiss chard: cultivation and beneficial properties
Rich in proteins, fibres, mineral salts and vitamins , chard or Swiss chard is one of the most widespread broad-leaved winter garden plants in our home gardens.
You can choose between ribbed chard which has very thick ribs and cut chard which has much thinner ribs and the leafy part prevails.
In both cases, you can use the entire vegetable in the kitchen, including the very tasty ribs.
Swiss chard is a very simple winter vegetable plant to grow and you can grow it practically all year round both in open fields and on the balcony .
However, keep in mind your geographical area because this vegetable can withstand temperatures close to zero but not excessively cold . So be careful in the winter months if you live in particularly cold areas.
To learn more about what to grow in your region, download the “ 2022 vegetable garden calendar: sowing, transplanting and harvesting for every climate and area of Italy ”
The best times for growing this vegetable are spring and autumn .
You can sow directly into the soil or transplant already formed chard seedlings. If you transplant, remember to respect a distance of 40 cm between the rows and 25 cm on the row and combine the chard with potatoes, lettuce, cabbage, onions, carrots and green beans .
You will be able to enjoy your chard approximately 30 days after transplanting and 45 days after sowing .
Before sowing or transplanting, fertilize well with manure or dung.
As for irrigation, however, remember that this vegetable needs constant and continuous irrigation such as that provided by a drip irrigation system .
When harvesting, remember to proceed gradually, starting from the outermost leaves : in this way the plant will produce further regrowth.
Swiss chard fears aphids, flea beetles and snails. To protect your plants from parasites you can adopt simple and effective organic remedies .
4. Cabbage: when to plant it and how to manage its cultivation
Cabbage is a very large family with varieties that differ within it in shape, color and flavor.
Of all vegetables, cabbage is probably the one best known for its health benefits: for the heart, for blood pressure, for its digestive properties and its antioxidant power thanks to its high vitamin C content .
In general , cabbages are transplanted from January to November, although each of these varieties of winter garden plants will have its own specific period.
Let's see the best periods for sowing the most popular varieties:
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Savoy cabbage . If you start from seed, the ideal period is autumn and late winter. To be transplanted, however, the plant must have produced the fourth leaf. Together with black cabbage and cabbage, it is the most cold-resistant variety.
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Cauliflower is sown in spring and summer and can be transplanted when the plant has reached about 30 cm in height (keep this in mind if you buy the seedlings in a nursery)
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Brussels sprouts are sown in February and transplanted when the seedlings have reached 20/25 cm in height.
- Cabbage can be sown throughout the year , depending on the variety, and transplanting is possible when the seedlings have 6/8 leaves.
Regardless of the variety, cabbages need well-worked, deeply worked and moist soil.
To ensure the right level of humidity for the roots, resort to hoeing , an operation that you can carry out with a hoe by loosening the surface layer of soil by about 2-8 cm. This will also help protect the plants from weeds.
Create dips at the base of the plant, forming a slope that covers the roots and the base of the stem.
As for beneficial companion plants, grow cabbage together with fennel, celery and lettuce.
If you grow on the balcony, a very suitable variety is black cabbage which does not develop a head but rather blistered leaves.
Keep in mind that this vegetable requires a lot of space. Choose a pot of at least 20 cm in diameter and 40 cm in height and put only one plant per pot.
If you transplant the seedlings between mid-July and early August, you can start harvesting from mid-October when the plant has matured at least 4 pairs of leaves.
Remember that for all species of cabbage the best harvests are the winter ones (the plant resists up to -10 degrees) because the frost improves consistency and flavour .
5. Spinach: how to grow it in the garden or on the balcony
Rich in vitamins and iron (the latter can only be absorbed if cooked or combined with dishes rich in vitamin C), spinach is an easy plant to grow both in the vegetable garden and on the balcony .
In fact, they do not have particular soil requirements other than that it be draining, to avoid water stagnation that would favor the appearance of fungal diseases and rot.
It will be enough for you to do a good digging and raking of the ground to level it.
You won’t need to fertilize if your soil is already naturally rich or if you’ve already fertilized it from previous crops.
The only precaution you will have to take is to watch out for weeds since we are talking about a small plant that could succumb to weeds.
Weeding and mulching will be sufficient, without the need to resort to the use of chemicals.
Even in the case of this plant you can choose whether to sow or transplant already formed seedlings. In the first case, to harvest them in autumn, the ideal is to sow them in September.
For transplanting you can proceed from February to October but the best periods are spring and autumn. The ideal distance is 40 cm between the rows and 15 cm on the row.
Spinach is resistant to cold as long as it is not excessive (up to about 5 degrees) and its ideal exposure is partial shade.
So in case of particularly cold weather you can protect it in tunnels or with non-woven fabric sheets. On the contrary, in case of rather hot weather use shade sheets.
As for irrigation, spinach should be watered little and often , avoiding wetting the leaves.
At the time of collection you can choose between 2 different methods:
- Cut the larger leaves on the sides leaving the central part to have a good continuous production
- Cut the entire clump but higher than the base of the plant so that it can grow back
If you want to eat your spinach raw, choose the young leaves because they are more tender.
If you prefer to eat them cooked, as a side dish and in your recipes, remember that they do not yield much, so a large volume of raw vegetables will correspond to a small quantity of cooked vegetables.
Winter Garden Plants: How to Choose Them
Based on the transplant and harvest periods, winter vegetable plants can be divided into 3 categories:
- Vegetables that are planted in late autumn and will be ready for harvest in spring such as garlic, onions, peas and broad beans
- Varieties that are planted in summer and harvested in winter such as cabbage, leeks and fennel
- Perennial plants that remain in the garden all year round including winter, such as artichokes and rhubarb
In this article we have seen how to grow 5 varieties of winter garden plants, but there are also many others that you can choose based on your tastes and the characteristics of your garden :
- Parsley
- Celery stalks
- Artichoke
- Turnip tops
- Cutting chicory
- Radish
- Endive
- Lettuces
- Carrot
- Radishes
- Rocket
- Peas and beans
- Fennel
- Jerusalem artichoke
- Pumpkin
You are spoiled for choice. The important thing, if you decide to buy the seedlings in a nursery, is that you turn to a reliable dealer who guarantees you quality products.
If you want to receive information or know how to receive the seedlings directly to your home, contact us . Our team of experts will be at your disposal to answer your questions.
