Overwintering Vegetables

Recommended Varieties and Sowing Timeline (For zone 8)

Did you know that there are so many vegetables that can grow overwinter here on the island? You just gotta be thinking of the winter at the beginning of summer. Here are a few of my favourite overwintering varieties and the approximate timeline to sow and transplant in your garden.

A few tips:

• When planting brassicas out, ensure to cover with a mesh so that cabbage moths cannot lay their eggs on the leaves (the larva like to eat through the leaves).

• Make sure to put a board or burlap over your carrots, rutabaga, and parsnips so the seeds do not dry out!

• Direct sow seeds a little deeper than normal, as the summer heat can quickly dry out the top layer of soil.

• Start most, if not all, of your brassicas inside as transplants or they will most likely be munched on by bugs before they are strong enough to grow. Also, new seedlings can quickly die back in the summer heat.

Broad beans

• Aquadulce Claudia

  • Sow in late October to November

Purple Sprouting Broccoli

• Winter wonder

  • Sow indoors in mid to late June

  • Transplant early August

Cabbage

• Deadon

  • Sow indoors early to mid-June

  • Transplant late July to early August

Carrots

• Bolero

• Scarlet Nantes

  • Sow directly in late June to early July

Cauliflower

• Galleon

  • Sow indoors in late June to mid-July

  • Transplant mid to late August

Kale

• Winterbor

  • Sow indoors (or directly in a shady area) in July

  • Transplant mid to late August

Leeks

• Bandit

  • Sow indoors March

  • Transplant in June

Parsnips

• Hollow Crown

• Gladiator

  • Direct sow April or May (can sow in June and July but will be thinner)

Rutabaga

• Laurentian

  • Direct sow in early July