A gardening expert is urging people to plant particular seeds this month to ensure a plentiful harvest throughout the winter months. Benedict Vanheems, from the GrowVeg YouTube channel, reveals there’s an array of vegetables you can grow in your garden plot.
But he warns that timing is crucial. In his clip called ‘You must sow these seeds in September’, he reveals a range of Asian greens that are both distinctive and bring a spicy flavour plus wonderful textures to your winter salads and stir-fries. The horticulture specialist recommends sowing mizuna, mibuna, komatsuna and mustards during September. “The great thing about these leafy lovelies is that they don’t mind being sown at this slightly cooler time of the year,” Benedict says.
“They will grow away quickly to give a harvest in a few months’ time.”
Benedict explains that the Asian greens are all sown in a similar fashion.
He covers a tray with newspaper, fills it with sieved, multipurpose compost, then creates approximately half a dozen shallow holes for the seeds. He then drops three or four seeds into each depression.
He adds: “Because I’m going to be sowing four different types of leaves into this one tray, it’s going to be super important to label as I go.”
He goes on to say these plants require some protection from freezing temperatures.
If you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, you can position your trays inside whilst ensuring you provide plenty of room between the young plants for optimal light exposure as they develop. If you’re planning to garden outdoors, it’s vital to ensure your plants have sufficient protection against frost.
Ideally, place your vegetable patch in the warmest and sunniest part of your garden, preferably against a south-facing wall.
In case you anticipate an overnight frost, protect your seedlings with a layer of old newspaper, horticultural fleece, or a garden cloth or tarpaulin.
Benedict also points out that some greens are sturdy enough to survive even rather cold weather. Lamb’s Lettuce, American cress and claytonia, often known as winter purslane, can withstand fairly cool temperatures.
He uncovers a hidden benefit of claytonia, revealing: “When the tiny, ever-so-delicate white flowers appear in spring, you can eat those too.”
So, what can you make with some of Benedict’s ingredients? Well, food blog ‘Running to the kitchen’ has a mizuna salad recipe, as follows:
MIZUNA SALAD INGREDIENTS
- 1 large bunch mizuna, washed, dried and roughly chopped
- 1/2 a large tart sweet apple such as Honeycrisp cut into matchsticks
- raisins
- sunflower seeds
MIZUNA SALAD DRESSING
- extra virgin olive oil
- freshly squeezed lemon juice
- dijon mustard
- apple cider vinegar
- honey
- salt and pepper
METHOD
Whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing in a separate small bowl or jar and pour on top of the assembled salad before serving.
