Winter sowing of vegetables and greens: crops for winter sowing, reviews

Gardeners know how precious every hour of spring sowing is, and how busy spring days can be. Winter sowing of vegetables and herbs can make the job easier, offering many advantages.

Experienced gardeners manage their time wisely, successfully sowing many vegetable crops in the fall. However, this method has its own peculiarities, and it's necessary to first study the theory before moving on to practical applications.

What is winter sowing?

The explanation for the term is implicit in the name itself—a method where seeds are sown not in the spring, but in late autumn, before winter. This is done by selecting areas of the plot cleared after the vegetable harvest and preparing seed material for specific crops.

Traditional spring sowing involves waiting for the snow to melt and the soil to warm up. This delays the emergence of the first shoots. Winter sowing of vegetables results in early germination and harvest.

Advantages of winter sowing

Those gardeners who have already tried this option in their plots note the many advantages of winter sowing and planting:

• saving time (some crops are already happily “sitting” in the ground in the spring);
• obtaining an early harvest (2-3 weeks);
• plants undergo winter hardening under the snow, grow strong, hardy, healthy;
• sprouts of seeds sown in autumn sprout more uniformly in spring;
• Having harvested the vegetables earlier, the bed is used for summer crops.

Difficulties also arise, for example, when the weather is volatile, with sudden early frosts and prolonged rains. When winter frosts linger, germination slows down, and plant development is inhibited. But the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, and accumulated experience and consideration of all factors will help avoid problems.

Crops for winter sowing

Only early-ripening, cold-hardy crops are sown in the fall. This is because lower temperatures can cause some vegetables to flower and bolt later in life. This reduces fruit quality and yield. It's also important to remember that not all varieties, even cold-hardy ones, are suitable for winter sowing.

Dill

Parsley and dill varieties are suitable for pre-winter sowing. Because dill germinates at 2ºC, it's best to wait until the weather cools down to a steady level before sowing.

In spring, by May 15-20, dill is ready for harvesting. Suitable varieties:

• Aurora;
• Grenadier;
• Daredevil;
• Esta.

Dill is being sown in rows, planting dry seeds to a depth of 3 cm.

Parsley

Sowing parsley in the winter is beneficial in every way, as it allows for uniform germination and early greens. Spring sowings always germinate slowly and with difficulty, resulting in a significant loss of time.

Leafy and root varieties are sown. Large-leaf varieties are particularly successful:

• Station wagon;
• Aster;
• Breeze;
• Kucheryavets.

Of the root varieties, Sugar is suitable.

Salad

When the temperature readings are +2ºC…-2ºC, it’s time sow lettuceThe recommended application rate per square meter is 0.8 grams. It is recommended to incorporate the fertilizer into the soil no deeper than 2 cm.

Varieties:

• Rhapsody;
• Dubachok;
• Vitamin;
• Gourmet;
• Festival.

With proper care, the first greens will appear on the table by May Day.

Coriander (cilantro)

This crop has a late sowing time, as the seeds are hardy to -10ºC. Coriander varieties include Stimul, Debut, Taiga, Borodinsky, and others.

Watercress

The crop is characterized by immediate germination and rapid growth. Winter cress is sown only after the onset of cold weather.

The seeds are planted in the soil no deeper than 1.5 cm. Varieties:

• Narrow-leaved;
• Curly.

Leaf (salad) mustard

As soon as the first light frosts arrive, it's time to sow salad mustard. Suitable varieties include Greenleaf and Redleaf. The recommended rate is 2.5 grams per square meter.

Spinach

This useful green crop is sown twice in autumn:

• at the end of September, to obtain a rosette of leaves;
• when frost sets in (end of November).

In the first case, the spinach will develop leaves, survive the winter successfully, and begin to grow quickly in the spring. In the second case, the seeds will germinate in the spring and produce their first early greens in May. Suitable varieties:

• Station wagon;
• Juliana;
• Progress;
• Guarantee.

Carrot

Winter sowing of carrots is possible at temperatures of +2…+5 °C. The seeds are planted to a depth of up to 4 cm.

Varieties:

• Supernant;
• Artek;
• Canning;
• Alenka.

Carrots are ready for harvesting in early or mid-June.

Beet

They are waiting for the onset of stable cold weather and only then sow beetsTemperature: from minus 2 to minus 5 degrees Celsius.

Only varieties that do not bolt and are resistant to low temperatures are suitable:

• Red ball;
• Bordeaux;
• Darynya;
• Thekla;
• Cold-resistant 19.

Root crops for soups and salads are dug up starting at the end of May.

Turnip

Sowing turnips before winter will help protect the crop from the dangerous cruciferous flea beetle in the spring. Seedlings emerge early before the pests begin to fly, resulting in higher and better yields.

Varieties:

• White Night;
• Atlantic;
• Primer.

Celery

Leaf celery (Yablovsky) is recommended for fall planting, although experience shows that root varieties also produce good yields. A key feature of planting is high density, as denser plantings promote better germination.

Horseradish

Gardeners typically propagate horseradish vegetatively. However, if sowing seeds is necessary, autumn is recommended. Sow in rows, using the following varieties:

• Latvian;
• Rostov.

Leeks

Heat-loving leeks are suitable for fall planting only in southern regions. In the central and northern regions, traditional spring planting times are recommended.

Varieties:

• Winner;
• Columbus.

Onion sets and nigella

Winter sowing of onion sets and nigella is popular among gardeners. This type of planting reduces the hassle of spring and summer because it is less susceptible to pests and produces early harvests.

Follow planting patterns, taking into account the bulb size. Sets are planted to a depth of 4 cm, and nigella seeds to a depth of 2 cm.

Varieties:

• Shakespeare;
• Myachkovsky 300;
• Radar;
• Odintsovets;
• Music.

In mid-May, the greens are already being cut from the onions, and by July, turnips will be on the way.

Welsh onions

Even inexperienced gardeners can grow a harvest of chives if they sow the seeds before winter. With minimal effort, the garden will be filled with early greens in the spring.

Varieties:

• April 12;
• Gribovsky 21;
• Salad 35;
• May.

Multi-tiered onion

Another representative of frost-resistant crops is multi-tiered onions, planted approximately 12-15 days before the onset of stable frosts.

Varieties:

• Odessa winter 12;
• Memory;
• Likova;
• Gribovsky 38;
• Chelyabinsk super-early.

Garlic

In northern regions, winter garlic is planted with the cloves planted 12-15 cm deep. The best time to plant is mid-August. Another option is to plant before the cold weather sets in, planting at a depth of up to 5 cm.

In the south, the usual time is early November, in the central zone – no later than early October. Varieties for winter sowing:

• Lyubasha;
• Polesie souvenir;
• Alcor;
• Komsomol;
• Messidor;
• Hermann;
• Saved.

Radish

To plant radishes, wait for cool temperatures to arrive. The usual sowing time in temperate climates is November, to prevent the seeds from sprouting prematurely.

The norm for 1 square meter is 10 grams.

Varieties:

• Spartacus;
• Lighthouse;
• Persistent;
• Hussar;
• Greenhouse;
• Early crisp.

In spring, the first harvest is collected at the beginning of May.

You may be interested in:

When to plant daikon outdoors in the Moscow region
Daikon is quite picky when it comes to planting seeds outdoors. Incorrect planting timing can…Read more…

Parsnip

Parsnips are excellent for winter planting. The crop has a low germination rate, but when planted before winter, germination rates increase. Suitable varieties include:

• Student;
• Round;
• The best of all.

Fennel

Since autumn, this crop is sown only in the south; in the middle zone and in the north, there is a high risk of plant death.

The seeds are planted in the ground to a depth of 2 cm.

Varieties:

• Aroma;
• Well done.

Sorrel

Any variety of the crop is suitable for fall planting. Greens emerge early in the spring, and as early as April or early May, they can be harvested for salads and soups.

Potato

Planting potatoes before winter isn't a common practice, but it's an option. Select high-quality tubers weighing 120-150 grams and plant them during mild frosts. In the spring, you'll need to install trellises to prevent subsequent frosts from damaging the seedlings.

Varieties:

• Margarita;
• Lily;
• Nevsky;
• Yavar;
• Lapis lazuli.

Cabbage

Winter sowing of cabbage is only possible in the south, but it's not particularly popular. There are varieties that are resistant to spring frosts, but there's always a risk of freezing during subsequent frosts.

Suitable varieties of white cabbage include Zarya, Sibiryachka, and Dumas. Among red cabbage, the best are considered to be Gako 741 and Krasnaya Rannyaya.

Successful winter plantings of Calabrese broccoli, Garantiya cauliflower, and Pekingese Khivinskaya 5 cabbage are also good. Early varieties are not suitable; it is advisable to choose mid-season or late varieties for winter sowing.

How to sow vegetables before winter

To get early vegetable produce, you need to know the simple rules for planting crops before winter.

Choosing a location

Well-drained, sunlit areas with no standing water or slopes are ideal. Good drainage and fertile soil are essential.

It's best to protect the beds from cold winds with a fence, railings, trees, or outbuildings. On sand, the beds should be up to 20 cm high; on other soil types, 12-15 cm is sufficient.

It's important to choose locations where snow doesn't accumulate. Otherwise, when the weather warms up in the spring, the snowdrifts will melt slowly, leaving the seedlings in water.

Deadlines

The basic rule is that sown seeds should swell in the soil but not germinate. To achieve this, they are sown when the soil temperature is no higher than 0°C. A sign that the soil is ready for winter sowing is the appearance of a hard crust on the surface after the first frost.

Traditionally, the period from late October to mid-November is considered suitable. However, the timing is adjusted based on the region's climate, the current year's weather, and weather forecasts.

Preparing the beds

The area of ​​the plot for autumn sowing depends on the number of crops to be sown. The beds are prepared in advance, approximately 2-3 weeks before the planned work.

Walkways are always left between the beds, and the edges are reinforced with boards or slate. All plant debris is carefully removed, the beds are dug up, loosened, and the necessary fertilizers are added.

On acidic soils, dolomite flour is added in advance (approximately 120-150 grams per square meter) and the area is dug over. On heavy soils, peat and compost are added.

Add 0.5 buckets of humus and one cup of wood ash to the soil. The recommended dosage is per square meter.

Complex compositions and ready-made fertilizers are suitable:

• nitrophoska;
• Kemira;
• Solution.

Sow the crops in furrows, placing the seeds deeper than when sowing in spring. Prepare dry soil for backfilling in advance. Do not cover the seeds with frozen soil.

Seed preparation

Only dry seeds are suitable for sowing, so choose large specimens. No disinfection solutions are allowed; dusting with dry ash is permitted.

To speed things up, many gardeners glue seeds onto strips of toilet paper and then plant them directly into the furrows. This allows for precise spacing, preventing overcrowding.

Sowing before winter

Work is carried out on a clear day, after clearing the area of ​​snow. Seeds are sown into furrows according to the pattern, or prepared strips are laid. Then, the soil is covered with dry soil and snow (if snow has fallen). If there is no snow, the plantings are covered with spruce branches, peat, or humus.

The layer will protect the plants from the cold and prevent a hard crust from forming on the surface. Small seeds are conveniently sown with river sand.

Features of winter sowing

Sown seeds swell in the soil before frost but don't have time to germinate. They'll lie under the snow until spring, and then sprout quickly and evenly. This is especially convenient during the long, cold springs in most regions of Russia.

In spring, due to insufficient sunlight, the soil takes a long time to warm up and dries slowly. This delays planting. However, if crops were sown in the fall, the sprouts will emerge early, and any subsequent frosts will not harm the hardened plants.

Winter sowing is beneficial during dry springs, as it will use up the winter's stored moisture for swelling. Covering the seedlings with agrofibre in the spring is recommended, as this will encourage even earlier germination.

It's best to stretch the material over the arches, and then, when the weather becomes consistently warm, remove the covering. To quickly melt the snow, scatter ash over the area.

It's important to remember that vegetables grown this way are not suitable for storage. They are eaten in the spring and summer, and crops for storage in cellars and basements are planted in the spring.

Reviews

Irina, Saratov

I always sow carrots and parsley in the fall. They produce good root vegetables, and by May I'm adding these early greens to everything. Carrots go in soups and salads. In the spring, I'm already craving something fresh, and a vegetable garden like this is just what I need.

Nikolay, Vologda

I'd never tried growing vegetables by sowing them in winter before. But when my parsley failed to sprout in the spring yet again, I decided to experiment. I bought seeds early, prepared the bed, and sowed them in November. I got winter greens by the end of April, even though spring was early and warm. This is the only way I'll plant them now; I'm also planning on dill and lettuce this year.

Conclusion

Winter sowing of vegetables allows for an early, excellent harvest. This option significantly saves time in the spring and eases the arduous labor of gardeners.