At a Glance:
UK growers can extend productivity into autumn by planting hardy crops like garlic, onions, spinach, and peas. Success depends on soil preparation, frost protection, drainage, and early sowing, ensuring healthy growth through winter and a strong spring harvest.
Autumn Harvest is More than Just Pumpkins
Orange is the colour of autumn, from bright pumpkins and Halloween decorations to the golden leaves falling around us. But there is more to the season than carving pumpkins. Autumn seasonal vegetables in the UK are varied and plentiful, offering growers plenty to enjoy.
Even as the weather cools, the ground frosts, and plants shed their leaves, there are still many crops you can harvest, and plenty of vegetables you can plant in autumn to prepare for a strong spring–summer harvest.
Whether you are a first-time gardener or an experienced one looking for answers to what vegetables grow in autumn in the UK, read our blog till the end to find out the best tips and tricks. At Allotment Online, we are enthusiastic growers who share tips and advice. You can sign up for our newsletter to get the latest insights and tips for growing your own autumn seasonal vegetables in the UK.
How to Grow Autumn Vegetables in the UK
Before learning about which vegetables you can plant in autumn, let us take a look at the preparation it requires. Sowing and nurturing plants is not easy; you cannot simply plant seeds and expect a good harvest.
Most plants thrive in sunshine, warmth, and moist soil. Autumn and winter bring the opposite conditions; shorter days, colder nights, and frosted ground, making it much harder for vegetables and plants to grow. While globally autumn is often seen as the time of harvest, many wonder if new plants can survive such harsh conditions.
Here is how to prepare for autumn sowing vegetables in the UK:
Harvest Existing Crop
Some autumn harvest vegetables in the UK include carrots, beetroot, turnips, swedes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, leeks and potatoes, among others.
You can also harvest fruits such as apples, grapes, melons, strawberries, blackberries and tomatoes (yes, it’s a fruit and not a vegetable).
Prepare the Soil
To reduce the dependence on chemical fertilisers and prevent soil and water pollution, prepare your own organic compost. You can mix fruit and vegetable scraps, plant and grass clippings with dry leaves, twigs, wood chippings and straw. Sprinkle water and soil, and turn it every few days.
Dig up any old roots and tubers left in the ground and mix the compost. For clay soil, it helps break apart the dense particles, and in light soil, it helps increase water-retentive properties. You should dig to a depth of 15 to 18 inches.
Depending on what autumn sowing vegetables in the UK you want to grow and whether they need alkaline or acidic soil, mix lime or sulphur/ammonia-based fertilisers into the soil.
Plant Autumn Vegetables
Some vegetables you can plant in autumn include: garlic, onion, shallots, broad beans, spinach, peas, mustard greens, pak choi and other over-wintering varieties.
Special Precautions for the Upcoming Winter
Growing plants in the autumn can be rewarding, but it requires taking some special precautions to protect against the colder temperatures, snowfall, frost, rain and shorter days. Here are some special precautions you need to take for autumn sowing vegetables in the UK:
Protection Against Cold Temperatures and Frost
Young plants and seedlings need to be protected from the low temperatures and frost during the night and early morning. You can use horticulture fleece, cloches and cold frames, which are available from gardening stores or online platforms.
You can also sow the seeds in containers and keep them indoors at night, while placing them in the sun during the mornings. Container-growing also allows you to move the plants easily, and cloches and fleece can be placed on them.
If there is enough space on your property, you can also build a greenhouse.
You can also ask your local garden centre or our Allotment Online growers about hardy or over-wintering plants.
Soil and Drainage for Autumn Sowing Vegetables
Rain and early frosts are common through September and October, and excess water can quickly become a problem for autumn crops. Waterlogged soil not only harms plants and reduces yields but can also attract pests and encourage disease.
To avoid this, improve drainage by raising your beds or mixing grit and compost into the soil. Adding organic matter such as compost, mulch, or straw will also help condition the soil, retain the right amount of moisture, and protect young plants from the worst of the weather.
Sow Early to Make The Best of Fading Daylight
If you’re planning on growing autumn seasonal vegetables in the UK, it’s best to sow seeds or plant plugs early in the season. This gives young and vulnerable plants time to establish before the colder weather sets in.
When practising succession sowing, remember to sow little and often to ensure a steady supply of produce rather than one large harvest all at once.
For those in colder areas, or if you’re a less experienced grower, it’s wise to start with fast-growing crops such as radishes, baby carrots, or pak choi as these mature quickly and are more forgiving in changeable autumn conditions.
Check for Pests Who Love the Damp
Slugs and snails love the damp soil, while also chewing on young plants and their roots. Damp conditions also lead to different diseases such as root rot, damping off, downy mildew and blight.
In early autumn, keep an eye out for pigeons and caterpillars too, as they can quickly damage vulnerable seedlings. Regular checks for pests and signs of disease are essential and catching problems early can make all the difference in saving your crops.
Browse Allotment Online for Gardening Tips & Start Growing!
Autumn seasonal vegetables in the UK are plentiful, and with the right infrastructure, you can get plenty of produce. At Allotment Online, we have dedicated resources for all the winter veggies, fruits, nuts and herbs that you can grow. Our community of growers also share valuable tips and insights to help you get the best out of your growing.
If you’re looking to get started, find your nearest allotment plot and learn about the rules and laws.
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