Autumn sowing: how to extend vegetable harvesting into the cold season

September is considered an important stage for continuing the harvest after the first frosts. Planting crops during this period allows plants to develop slowly as daylight hours decrease and temperatures drop. Root crops, such as carrots and turnips, are planted directly into the soil in rows spaced 25 to 30 cm apart. Previously, the soil is thoroughly loosened to a fine-crumb structure and moistened for uniform seed germination.

For winter harvesting, certain radish cultivars are suitable, including long and round red varieties, as well as specific cultivars like Rose d’hiver de Chine or Violet de Gournay, which are resistant to bolting and coarsening. Seeds are sown to a depth of about 1 cm, the surface is compacted, and irrigation is applied using fine spraying. Maintaining constant soil moisture and using a cover accelerate seedling emergence.

In September, winter salad crops are also sown: lamb's lettuce, chicory, head and leaf lettuce, as well as escarole. A distance of 30 cm is left between rows. For spinach and lettuce, cultivars adapted to short daylight hours and winter cultivation are chosen. White onions, in particular the Blanc de Rebouillon cultivar, are planted from mid-August to late September at a shallow depth, followed by seedling thinning.

Harvesting dates depend on the region, the chosen cultivar, the sowing date, and the application of protection means such as a cover or cold hotbeds. The success of autumn cultivation is determined by the selection of frost-resistant cultivars, maintaining soil moisture during the germination stage, and protecting young plants during a sudden cold snap.