What will you grow overwinter?

[Cue the Toms]

As the post says, and also what are the benefits to growing stuff now that will grow just as well if you sow in spring apart from a slightly earlier harvest?

Chris

[Two_Sheds]

The Greenhouse
I find that autumn sown do not do as well as spring sown, for me ... because although I have a greenhouse, it receives very little light until March


I might overwinter a tub of spuds, and my usual pelargonium/fuchsia cuttings, but not much else.


Outside is a different story: autumn planted broadies and onions do really well for me

[Bexy]

I Grow Jap Onions over winter but thats it

[veggiechicken]

Take Broad beans as an example. Sow some in October and they should be croppable before the spring sown ones - and, if they thrive, you don't need to sow them in the spring and can put your energies into sowing something completely different. If they don't thrive, you still have time to sow again in spring.
Its like giving yourself a second chance - a sort of insurance policy.

[Cue the Toms]

I've got some cabbages, kale and leeks growing away very nicely.. I have no idea when they should be ready though

I don't know whether to get some Jap onions or not, that is down to personal choice I suppose

I will put some broad beans out. (Is it worth sowing them indoors now?) and will deffo try some garlic... Anything else worth trying?

Chris

[veggiechicken]

I'd wait until next month for broadies. you can sow peas then too.
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...-veg_3020.html (another Cardiff Grape!)
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ber_67723.html

[zazen999]

Leeks, onions, spring onions [just sown those], lettuces, swiss chard, claytonia, chinese cabbages. Just sown a few trays of all these. I'll put them under cover at the plot. Beetroots will be left in the ground and used when needed, as well as parsnips.
Garlic and Radar onions go in in a few weeks, and I've just put my potato onions and elephant garlic into trays yesterday for going into the ground after the 22nd.
I'll sow pots of peas for pea shoots. Nice to have greenery in the depths of winter. These go into the pots that the tomatoes/peppers grew in. Reuse the soil then bung it straight onto the beds when done.
Any space not taken with brassicas, the above, will be sown with lines of a green manure - mustard, crimson clover, phaecelia, and/or alfalfa - which takes only days to germinate.

[Cue the Toms]

I like your style... Do you expect good results from everything or is it just a case of hope, wait and see?

I like to see things growing all year round rather than plastic and cardboard. One of my beds will be left for the manure to break down that I have already put on and more will be added soon.

I have some green manures growing on another bed, but I will be growing on my other two main beds.

Chris

[zazen999]

I expect results from them all - apart from the lettuces which I always take a gamble on. Which is why I don't grow carrots for example, as they always get carrot flied so it's a waste of time.

[solway cropper]

This weekend I've sown carrots, lettuce, pak choi, rocket, spinach, spring onions and turnips. All but the turnips are in containers which I can bring into the greenhouse over winter so there's always something fresh to pick at. Also potted up some winter gem lettuce and will be putting in the overwintered onions over the coming weeks. There's loads of stuff on the plot to feed us as well but one thing I don't overwinter is broad beans. Never had any success doing that so I now make the early sowings in containers in the greenhouse and get a crop as early as most people.

[vitty]

Take Broad beans as an example. Sow some in October and they should be croppable before the spring sown ones - and, if they thrive, you don't need to sow them in the spring and can put your energies into sowing something completely different. If they don't thrive, you still have time to sow again in spring.
Its like giving yourself a second chance - a sort of insurance policy.

I planted some broad beans yesterday and am hoping to harvest them next June. Any tips though?

[northepaul]

Leeks, onions, spring onions [just sown those], lettuces, swiss chard, claytonia, chinese cabbages. Just sown a few trays of all these. I'll put them under cover at the plot. Beetroots will be left in the ground and used when needed, as well as parsnips.
Garlic and Radar onions go in in a few weeks, and I've just put my potato onions and elephant garlic into trays yesterday for going into the ground after the 22nd.
I'll sow pots of peas for pea shoots. Nice to have greenery in the depths of winter. These go into the pots that the tomatoes/peppers grew in. Reuse the soil then bung it straight onto the beds when done.
Any space not taken with brassicas, the above, will be sown with lines of a green manure - mustard, crimson clover, phaecelia, and/or alfalfa - which takes only days to germinate.

Zaz,
I am really interested that you say you've just sown these!! I always thought that brassicas, leeks etc had to be sown in May/June time for the winter/hungry gap...Is this because your growing them 'under cover' all winter or just until established?

[horticultural_hobbit]

Onions shallots and Garlics. Purely because it worked last year, and worked better then anything else. None of the allieum family sown in spring kicked off. These don't get wasted either, are used regularly.

Not sure about broadies; didn't do many last year. Doubley dubious as we couldn't figure out how to bollywoodise them.

[Vince G]

Now I'm wondering what to try and grow in my polytunnel over winter. My toms, cukes, chillies, and aubs are still going strong at the moment, but once they're finished I was going to try and have some seedlings ready to go in the poly in October. I wondered about some peas, spring onions, maybe some baby carrots and assorted winter lettuces.

[redser]

Onions shallots and Garlics. Purely because it worked last year, and worked better then anything else. None of the allieum family sown in spring kicked off. These don't get wasted either, are used regularly.

Not sure about broadies; didn't do many last year. Doubley dubious as we couldn't figure out how to bollywoodise them.

Planning to do the same myself this year. Overwintered onions were fine outside this year but the garlic was rubbish. Did you harvest them much earlier inside the tunnel? My only conern is that I would want them out of the way for summer planting of toms/cukes etc. Thanks!