Planting autumn vegetables in the vegetable patch: cabbages, leeks and salads

After the summer harvests, the vegetable patch can stay productive thanks to autumn vegetables, harvested until the first frosts and often beyond. Cabbages, leeks, spinach and winter salads withstand cool temperatures and are happy with a simple soil to prepare. This guide shows you what to plant, when and how to protect these crops from the cold.

Which vegetables to plant in late summer and autumn

The great autumn classics are the cabbages (Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower), leeks, spinach and winter salads like lamb's lettuce, chicory or winter lettuce. In late summer, you also plant garlic and onions for a harvest the following spring. Depending on the region, plant between mid-August and October, taking early frosts into account in the north and at altitude.

1. Locate the areas of the vegetable patch freed by the summer harvests
2. Plant the leeks separating the plants by 15 cm in a staggered pattern
3. Space the cabbages 50 to 70 cm apart depending on the varieties
4. Sow lamb's lettuce, spinach and salads in rows spaced 25 to 30 cm apart
5. Plant garlic and onions in September-October for the following spring

Preparing the soil before planting

After the summer harvests, remove the plant residues, loosen the soil with a fork without turning it over and incorporate 2 to 3 cm of mature compost. An input of sieved wood ash (about a handful per m²) benefits cabbages and leeks, which like rich soils. Avoid replanting the same family of vegetables in the same spot two years running.

Protecting the crops from the cold

A fleece laid over hoops protects the crops from frosts and gains several degrees, especially at night. A mulch of straw or dead leaves at the foot of the plants keeps the soil warmer and limits weeds. In cold regions, bring in or cover the most sensitive salads as soon as the first frosts.

Precautions and mistakes to avoid

• Planting too late: the plants do not have time to establish before the frosts
• Replanting the same family of vegetables in the same spot two years running
• Watering excessively: a waterlogged soil makes roots and bulbs rot in autumn
• Letting dead leaves accumulate: they encourage slugs and diseases

A vegetable patch planted in autumn offers fresh harvests until winter and occupies the ground instead of leaving it bare. By choosing suitable vegetables, preparing the soil with good compost and protecting the sensitive crops from the cold, you extend the season by several months. You rediscover the pleasure of cooking vegetables from the garden when the season seems over.