August is the time to sow winter vegetables

First of all, winter vegetables are basically the same varieties we grow in spring, summer and fall. The only difference is these specific varieties are bred to grow vegetatively in hot weather and to mature in cool weather. Some vegetables, like Brussels sprouts and parsnips, are traditional winter vegetables that are always a treat for Christmas dinner. The vegetables I am referring to are meant to be sown now for harvesting anywhere from December through April.

This month wise gardeners, who work in very sandy, well-drained soils and who use a little protective mulching, will be seeding special varieties of beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips and even onions for terrific winter crops. Unless a severe cold spell turns them to mush, these late crops are a real treat and believe me, their flavour is terrific.

One of the most popular winter vegetables for the home garden is cauliflower. There are several excellent European varieties, but ‘Galleon’ seems to be one of the best. Seeded now, these plants will grow quickly and mature in February. If you plant them much earlier, the plants become too lush and vegetative and as a result, they can be badly damaged by heavy winter frosts. Seeded too late, they never seem to develop far enough to produce good-sized heads, so timing is everything. You may want to do a little experimentation, but early August is the time you can seed for success.

The same is true for winter broccoli. The purple-sprouting varieties have become the most popular and are incredibly sweet and tasty.

It seems unlikely that cabbage plants could over-winter, but the English variety ‘January King’ will do just that. Seeded now, it will mature in 200 to 250 days, producing compact three to five pound heads. ‘January King’ will usually finish ‘heading out’ in February and will be ready for harvesting from March through April. It has excellent flavour.

Endive is beginning to catch on as a vegetable in Western Canada, but it’s something for which you really have to develop a taste. Most Europeans love it.

Chives and leeks are always nice to have in the garden to spice up an egg sandwich or a salad, but you can also grow winter onions. If they are planted now, they’ll grow up to four inches across by early spring, and their flavour will be mild and sweet.

All the kids who detest spinach will be delighted to know that it too can grow through the winter. From a July sowing, ‘Bloomsdale’ and ‘Perpetual’ are varieties which can be harvested from February onward. I’ve always found that Swiss chard will do much the same, if you harvest before it goes to seed.

While you are planting a selection of these vegetables, don’t forget about some beautiful exotic flowering kale. I don’t know how many salad bars I’ve seen decorated to the hilt with dark cerise and white kale leaves. They look gorgeous and can really spruce up your culinary designs too. Red Bor is, by far, the hardiest variety, and once it has had a good frost, it is the most beautiful and most delicious.

If you do a little digging, you’ll find all kinds of other interesting winter gems, like corn salad and winter lettuce.

In this part of the world, we’re still novices when it comes to the art of winter gardening. Don’t go overboard, but for a bit of fun, try a few of these vegetables. The seeds are available now and for the sake of a few cents, you just may discover a whole new season of great garden harvesting. Transplants are also available, usually in early to mid-August.