Rob Smith is getting going with undercover winter leaves
My selection of winter leaves are all growing away nicely
For those us of us lucky enough to have a polytunnel or larger greenhouse, it really can prolong harvests throughout the colder months of the year. Simply having that little bit of extra protection from the elements can make the difference between a successful crop or a failure at this time of year. I’ve planted hardy winter gem lettuce called ‘Vailan’, mizuna, mustards and tatsoi in the empty beds in the tunnel and in my veg trugs, which have covers over them.
All the plants have grown steadily for the last couple of months, giving me fantastic winter salads fresh from the plot, proving you don’t need expensive heated greenhouses if you pick the right varieties for growing when it’s colder. When growing winter leaves, make sure you don’t overwater them – in fact, they’re better to be on the dry side or they may rot or die off. When watering, always make sure it’s in the morning and try and avoid wetting leaves; this gives the plants all day to use the water and for the excess to evaporate, otherwise the plants will be sat in the cold and wet overnight, which is a recipe for trouble.
Even if you’re careful, there are bound to be a few casualties at this time of year, either due to the weather, human error or all creatures great and small. This is why I always plant more winter crops than I can ever use, as you’re a better gardener than me if every plant survives!
Another easy-to-grow crop that needs some TLC at this time of year is wasabi. This water-loving Oriental plant has happily grown in a deep trough which I tucked under one of my veg trugs to shelter from the worst of the weather. Now’s the perfect time to clear any dead leaves and rubbish from around your wasabi plants, allowing the smaller, new leaves to make the most of the weak sunlight during January. Make sure plants are good and moist, but not stood in solid water, as the plants can be damaged if the roots freeze in solid ice. When this is done, tuck them back under a table or beside a wall for added protection. Wasabi don’t like direct sun, so a shady spot is perfect for them.