5 nutritious vegetables to grow in winter

We’re certainly feeling the winter chill – are you? Luckily for us with green thumbs, the winter months are an excellent time to start a new gardening project. Like a beautiful, organic vegetable garden. How does that sound? We’ve got some of our favourite vegetables to grow in winter listed here for you to peruse. If any tickle your fancy (and taste buds), order seeds and edible bulbs and get out those fleece-lined jackets. It’s time to get winter-planting!

Our favourite vegetables to grow in winter:

1. Asparagus

Green, lush, and full of flavour – there’s nothing quite like home-grown asparagus. Whether served cooked or fresh, the asparagus adds a unique flavour that complements many dishes year-round. (Discover our delicious asparagus quiche recipe.)

Where to plant them:

Asparagus plants thrive when planted in full sun, but can tolerate a bit of afternoon shade. Find a space in your vegetable garden that has light, and well-drained soil that heats up nicely in the morning sunshine. If the soil in your vegetable garden is not ideal for growing asparagus, add some Pokon Universal Potting Soil and Pokon Coco Growing Medium, and work the surface layers of soil. You can also add some Pokon Vegetable Garden Fertiliser just before planting for that extra kick of nutrients.

How to plant and care for them:

The asparagus planting process is simple and straightforward. Read our step-by-step planting guide. 

2. Peas

Highly nutritious and a lover of cold weather, peas are great vegetables to grow in winter. We love them cooked in hearty soups and stews, and they are so easy to grow too!

Where to plant them:

Choose a sunny spot in your vegetable garden for your peas, and make sure the soil drains well. There is no greater enemy to pea plants than wet soil, as they tend to be susceptible to root rot. To ensure the soil is dry enough for your pea seeds, you can work some Pokon Universal Potting Soil and Pokon Coco Growing Medium into the surface layer. We also recommend adding some Pokon Biofeed to the soil during the planting process.

How to plant and care for them:

When you are ready to plant your peas, dig rows about 2 to 3cm deep and then add the seed. Remember, your pea plants can grow over 2 metres in height, so be sure to prepare supports for them beforehand. As we discussed earlier, peas don’t do well in overly moist environments. So, be sure to water them sparingly.

3. Potatoes

One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four! What would home-cooked meals be without the humble spud? We love potatoes in all their forms, from fried to a crisp to baked and browned. 

Where to plant them:

Potatoes need a lot of direct sunlight to grow properly – roughly six hours per day. Find a suitable spot for them in your vegetable patch, and inspect the soil to ensure it is of good quality. If the soil is too dry or moist, prepare it properly with Pokon Universal Potting Soil and Pokon Coco Growing Medium. In addition, we advise you to sprinkle some Pokon Vegetable Garden Fertiliser on the surface before planting the seeds to encourage healthy growth. (You can also plant your potatoes in pots. Click here to learn how.)

How to plant and care for them:

Before planting your seed potatoes, ‘chit’ or ‘green’ them in an egg carton. To do this, place the carton in an area that receives bright light, and leave seed potatoes for about two to three weeks. When the seeds begin to sprout, they are ready for the veggie garden. Head outside and dig rows in the soil of about 15cm deep. Then place in each seed potato, ensuring they sit about 30cm apart from one another. Cover the tubers with soil and water them regularly, ensuring the ground is always moist for optimal growth. (If you choose to plant potatoes in pots, place an order for our PotatoPot.) 

4. Onions

Onions are also great vegetables to grow in winter. They are naturally hardy and cold-resistant, making them perfect for growing in the chilly weeks ahead. We love the versatility of onions in cold and hot dishes, not to mention their amazing flavour enhancing qualities!

Where to plant them:

Find a patch in your veggie garden that receives full sun, and has well-drained, loose, nitrogen-rich soil. If the soil is of poor quality or is too wet you can add some Pokon Universal Potting Soil to the mix. Onions require a lot of readily-available nutrients to grow properly, so prepare the soil with Pokon Coco Growing Medium a few weeks before planting, and add some Pokon Vegetable Garden Fertiliser on the day of planting.

How to plant and care for them:

Allow your onion seeds to grow in a tray a few weeks before planting. When the seeds are ready for the veggie garden, dig rows about 5cm deep and place in the seeds, spacing them 5cm apart. And add some Pokon Biofeed every week until the bulbs begin to show. Be sure to water the bulbs sparingly.

5. Kale 

Certain kinds of tough, leafy green vegetables, like kale, grow well year-round. So, why not plant some kale this winter? The seeds are easy to sow and grow, and the glossy dark leaves make for a vibrant seasonal salad and vegetable soup.

Where to plant them:

Kale plants do best when planted in full sun or semi-shaded areas with well-drained soil, so be sure to choose an appropriate position for them in your veggie patch. Next, test the PH level of the soil to make sure it’s between 6.5 and 6.8 (the ideal growing climate for kale.) If the soil does not meet these measurements, by now you should know what to do! Adjust it by mixing in some Pokon Universal Potting Soil and Pokon Coco Growing Medium. Just like with our other favourite vegetables to grow in winter, you can add some Pokon Vegetable Garden Fertiliser to the surface layer of soil for extra nutrients. 

How to plant and care for them:

Once you've found a suitable spot for your kale seeds, dig rows about 1cm deep and pour the seed in. After a couple of weeks of nurturing, you should notice the seeds beginning to sprout. At this point, thin them out so that each seedling is about 20cm apart. Remember to water the seedlings frequently – keeping the ground moist will ensure they grow into healthy plants.

Feeling inspired to grow vegetables this winter?

When T-shirts turn to jerseys and sandals turn to boots, warm up those green thumbs with quality time in your vegetable garden. We’ve got the seeds and edible bulbs you need for an exceptional season of growth. Explore our online store for vegetables to grow in winter.