Winter may be in full swing, but that doesn’t mean your garden is off-limits. There are plenty of annuals and perennials to be planted during the cold winter months – not to mention veggies! Potatoes, carrots and peas are just three of the many vegetables to plant in winter. So, don’t pack away those gardening tools just yet. Purchase your vegetable seeds from Lifestyle Home Garden, and head outside for some fun in the winter sun.
Add these to your list of vegetables to plant in winter:
1. Potatoes
Wholesome and nutritious, potatoes are a staple part of our diet, year-round. But we love them even more during the winter months when we’re craving hearty, cooked meals to give us energy and warmth. If you’re interested in growing spuds at home, pop by Lifestyle Home Garden towards the end of August when our seed potatoes are back in stock.
Where to plant them:
Like all plants, potatoes need sunshine to grow. Find a sunny spot in your vegetable garden with well-drained soil and mark off a section where you plan to plant them. If you have many vegetables to plant in winter, we suggest you split your vegetable garden into little squares or rectangles so each vegetable type has a segment. You can also grow potatoes in bags or pots – enquire about our range.
How to prep and plant them:
- First, take a look at the size of your seed potatoes. If they are about a golf ball in size or smaller, you can set them aside for planting straight in the soil. If your seed potatoes are larger than a golf ball, cut them up into chunks with two or three eyes each.
- Next, ‘chit’ your seed potatoes by placing them in an egg carton (eyes facing up) and leaving them in the sun until they start to sprout little shoots.
- When your potato seeds are ready for planting, head into your vegetable garden and dig rows about 15cm deep and 35cm wide using a potting shovel.
- Plant the seeds or chunks, carefully spacing them about 30cm apart for optimal growth, and cover with a mix of soil and compost.
- Once you’ve planted your seed potatoes, cover the site with straw or leaves, and ‘hill’ as the potatoes grow.
- Be sure to water your potatoes regularly – we recommend a deep watering once a week.
Keen to learn more? Listen to our Growing Potatoes podcast.
2. Carrots
The humble carrot is another all-rounder vegetable we couldn’t do without. Crunchy carrots in winter salads and steaming-hot carrot and leek soup – yum! What’s more, they thrive during the winter months, with August being a great time to plant them. Visit Lifestyle Home Garden and purchase your favourite varieties for a flourishing season of growth.
Where to plant them:
Like our other favourite vegetables to plant in winter, carrots need plenty of direct sunlight to grow properly. They also require light, sandy soil with a fine texture for aeration. Once you’ve selected a good spot for your carrots in your vegetable garden, mark off the section. Alternatively, select a container to grow your carrots in.
How to plant them:
- Before sowing carrot seeds in the garden, add compost to the soil and turn it with a shovel to a depth of 30cm to encourage healthy root growth.
- Also, be sure to remove stones from the site so the carrots don’t grow deformed.
- Sprinkle some bone meal across the surface of the soil prior to planting. (Take note that bonemeal is toxic to dogs and should be avoided if the hounds have rule of the veggie roost.)
- Plant your carrot seeds in rows, making shallow furrows in the soil (about 1cm deep), and spacing the seeds about 5cm apart. Cover them fully with potting soil.
- Place a covering over your seeds to protect them before they begin to sprout.
- Water your carrot seeds thoroughly once a week for healthy growth, and increase your watering sessions as the carrots mature.
Purchase your carrot seeds and more from Lifestyle Home Garden – view the specials.
3. Peas
What are carrots without peas? Raw or cooked, sweet peas are a delicious addition to home-cooked meals. And they are so quick and fun to grow – the kids will love helping you out! (Find more ways to inspire a child’s love for gardening.) If you’re keen to plant some peas this season, swing by Lifestyle Home Garden to pick up your seeds and supports.
Where to plant them:
Peas need full sun for at least six hours a day and very well-drained soil. Pea plants tend to rot when they are too moist, so choose their spot carefully. Once you’ve found a suitable area for them in your vegetable garden, mark it off, bearing in mind that pea shrubs grow upwards, not outwards.
How to plant them:
- Before planting your pea seeds, tend to the soil. You’ll want to ensure it’s full of nutrients so that your pea plants thrive. Take a shovel and work some mature compost into the site.
- Next, dig shallow rows for the plants – about 3cm deep and 20cm wide should suffice.
- Sow the seeds evenly, taking care to space them about 8cm apart from one another, and then cover with soil.
- Last but not least, stick your supports into the ground next to each seed. This will help you remember where you planted the seeds, and give the shrubs something to grow up.
- Remember to water your peas every week, ensuring the soil never dries out completely.
Want to grow more than just vegetables? Discover our plant offering.
Find vegetables to plant in winter at Lifestyle Home Garden
There are so many wonderful vegetables to plant in winter, but we recommend starting with staples like potatoes, carrots and peas. Do you have any questions about growing winter veggies? Message our team of gardening professionals, or visit us in-store and we’ll gladly assist you.
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