How to Grow Winter Vegetables

Widen your winter horizons and enjoy an abundance of vegetables at the darkest time of year in this lovely book.

Many people believe that not much grows in winter, but a well-organised plot can still be productive with careful planning. In fact, many salads can be grown in winter, especially with a little protection from fleece, cloches or larger structures. Written by organic gardening expert Charles Dowding, this guide explains how you can come through winter with plenty of vegetables stored and ready to harvest.

Beautifully designed with full-colour photographs from Martin’s garden, How to Grow Winter Vegetables includes an extensive month-by-month sowing, planting and growing calendar, as well as plenty of tips on storing produce. Martin shares harvesting guidance, from garlic in July right through to spring cabbage and pea shoots in May. The guide also includes a whole section on frost-hardy salad plants and other vegetables.

How to Grow Winter Vegetables is a useful resource for anyone looking to utilise their garden and grow fresh produce throughout the year.

“"Whether you have years of gardening experience or are just at the novice stage there is so much to learn from this excellent book. It is a very well illustrated book with some wonderful colour photographs and will make an excellent reference book in your gardening library."”

This fabulous book is ideal for those seeking to extend their basic knowledge and experience. Gardens Illustrated
With Charles’s advice at hand you can be sure that there will be plenty to eat... Charles’ book is a paean to our weather, climate and soil. It celebrates all that is good about growing year round and I guarantee that you’ll actually look forward to winter after this read. Alys Fowler
Charles Dowding is an incomparable guide to the exhilarating, frustrating and downright addictive nature of growing salads and vegetables in the garden or allotment. [...] This gloriously practical and inspiring book is full of good photographs, and is handsomely produced in full colour by Green Books. The Lady
This book opens up a needlessly neglected and wonderful part of gardening - winter with your own vegetables is a much better place to be. Charles's book is a comprehensive, practical and inspiring guide. Sarah Raven
Whether you have years of gardening experience or are just at the novice stage there is so much to learn from this excellent book. It is a very well illustrated book with some wonderful colour photographs and will make an excellent reference book in your gardening library. Smallholder
An invaluable book, intelligent of course, and inspiring too. Anna Pavord

Charles Dowding has been growing organic vegetables for many years. An early pioneer of vegetable boxes, he runs courses in organic gardening from his farm in Somerset, England. Using no-dig methods on an acre of raised beds, he grows an extensive range of vegetables and year-round salads for local shops and restaurants. His website is

How to Grow Winter Vegetables shows that it is possible to enjoy an abundance of vegetables at the darkest time of year, whether stored or ready for harvesting when needed. It also covers growing for the 'hungry gap' from April to early June. Not much grows in winter, but a well-organised plot may nonetheless be quite full. You need to plan carefully, and well ahead (as early as spring) for sowing and planting at specific times through the year, so the main part of the book is an extensive month-by-month sowing, planting and growing calendar. Further sections cover harvesting, from garlic in July right through to the last of the overwintered greens in May, and storing your produce. Many salads can be grown in winter, especially with a little protection from fleece, cloches or larger structures. The book includes a whole section on frost-hardy salad plants, explaining how to ensure harvests of fresh leaves throughout winter. The beauty of winter and its produce is captured in glorious photographs from the author's garden. Click here for a sample preview

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