Vegetables for early spring

After the winter vegetables and before new season crops are ready, lies the ‘hungry gap’, when vegetable gardens can be bare, unless you prepare early in late summer and autumn.

In northern regions, sow two weeks earlier to make sure plants are robust when winter arrives. A glasshouse, polythene tunnel, cold frame or cloche may be needed for crops to survive winter in the coldest districts, and can also be helpful in milder areas.

Spring cabbage

Sow spring cabbages in late July, and set out in September. Outer leaves can be cut from February as greens: they will still heart around June.

Chard and leaf beet

Sown in late July, chard and spinach beet can offer intermittent pickings during mild spells before April and May, their most prolific period. They run to flower in June.

Spring onions

Sow salad onions in August, and from April you can gather bunches of fresh, tasty spring onions that are invaluable for salads and stir-fries.

Spinach

In early September, hardy cultivars of spinach can be sown for gathering in mid-spring. Some hardy lettuces can be sown in early September, too. They have a hard time but generally pull through to heart up from April, especially if fleeced from February.

Turnips

Turnips can be sown in August for leafy spring greens before they finally flower. Protected with pigeon netting and slug controls, these crops will soldier on to fill your late-spring plate.

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