Gardening in winter: Make the most of the cooler climate

Although gardening becomes more difficult in the winter months, there are some herbs and vegetables that will flourish when it’s cooler.

The three main things needed for produce to grow are good soil (you could make your own compost) and enough sunlight, so make sure that the place you will plant your herbs or vegetables is in a place that is most likely to receive warmth.

Garlic

This ancient vegetable grows well in winter and takes up little space in your vegetable patch. Plant garlic in fertile soil but away from places where water will sit around the roots. Plant a few cloves in a row, with the head up and the blunt end down. The best time to plant garlic is towards the end of autumn as it is expected to take about nine months to mature.

Thyme

Thyme is a herb that is frost resistant, thus making it easier to flourish during the colder winter months. Sow the seeds in compost and well-drained soil and in a position that will best receive sunlight. Depending on the temperature, thyme can grow from anywhere between two weeks to one month. Gather the sprigs as you need it for your home cooked meals.

Lettuce

When you think of lettuce, the idea of a salad comes to mind. Amazingly enough, this plant can withstand the chill of winter. Varieties of lettuce that grow well in winter include: watercress, lamb’s lettuce and land cress lettuce that stand out in terms of resistance in colder months.

Sow the lettuce seeds into small trays first which will help the plant grow better and will protect it from insects around the garden. Grow the seedlings in the tray until you can see that the roots have filled the holes or plugs underneath the tray which is safe to say that they are ready to be potted in a bigger pot or in your garden bed. Depending on the variety of lettuce that you have, it should take you around two months before they are ready to be plucked for a green salad.

Keep those green fingers warm even during winter.

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