As summer begins to slip away and the evenings grow shorter, a lot of gardeners hang up their gloves, thinking September signals the end of vegetable planting. However, September brings a great chance to start new crops that will quietly bed in over winter, brave the chilly weather, and reward you with an earlier harvest next year. With just a bit of planning and the right varieties, you really can keep your garden busy and fruitful right through the winter, and the team at British Garden Centres have put together their recommendations of overwintering vegetables to plant now.

Why plant overwintering vegetables?

Planting overwintering vegetables has several advantages. Plants that establish young roots in autumn often grow more robustly once daylight and warmth return in spring. Overwintered crops are also often stronger against pests since much of their vulnerable seedling stage occurs when insect numbers are lower, and having an occupied plot or patch in the garden in winter discourages weeds and helps soil structure by holding nutrients in place.

Our recommended overwintering vegetables

Garlic, Onions, and Shallots: Garlic is one of the best-known overwintering vegetables. We recommend planting cloves in September and October, and they will develop deep roots before the ground freezes. By next summer, each will have divided into a full bulb, full of taste and flavour. We recommend you look for hardneck garlic in your local garden centre as this tends to resist cold better.

Onion and shallot sets specially bred for autumn planting can be put in the ground or containers now. These overwintering sets produce an earlier harvest than their spring-planted cousins and are often ready by late May or June. Shallots grow in much the same way, delivering multiple bulbs from one small set.

Broad Beans: Broad beans sown in September have time to put on a sturdy root system before winter slows them down. In spring, they then grow quickly and are among the earliest vegetables that you can harvest. Varieties such as “Aquadulce Claudia” are specifically bred for overwintering. We recommend, for added protection, you might want to cover them with fleece or cloches during any frosts.

Peas: Hardy peas can survive the winter, emerging as temperatures climb in the start of the year. These pea plants are often sturdier and produce earlier than their spring-planted versions. You may wish to offer them some shelter with a cloche or tunnel to prevent excessive waterlogging in heavy soils.

Brassicas and leafy greens: Hardy brassicas excel at overwintering, with kale and spring cabbage being two great examples. When sown in early autumn, kale can produce leaves right through winter if temperatures are not too harsh, and it will bounce back readily in early spring. Spring cabbage seedlings transplanted in September will sit tight and then start growing once daylight increases, giving a fresh, leafy harvest before most other greens are available.

Spinach is another leafy option worth growing now, as winter varieties are bred for resilience against the cold weather. They provide a steady supply of leaves in autumn, pause in winter, and then burst into life again early in the year. Hardy varieties of lettuce are suitable. They germinate well in September soil and can withstand frost with minimal protection.

Root vegetables: Look out for fast-maturing winter radishes and turnips that can be sown in September. These generally produce a quick crop before severe cold sets in, and in sheltered areas with a fleece covering, you may even be able to keep picking throughout the season. While not all carrot varieties are suitable for overwintering, some can be sown in September and harvested in the spring.

Herbs: Several hardy herbs can be planted now for overwintering. Parsley survives cold conditions and offers fresh leaves when many other plants are dormant. Coriander, especially varieties bred for autumn sowing, resists bolting in cool weather and sustains flavourful harvests into winter.

Strawberries: Planting strawberries in September is a smart way to get a head start on next year’s harvest. By putting healthy strawberry plants or runners into the ground now, they have time to establish strong roots before winter sets in. This wintering period helps them settle in, and come spring, they’ll burst into growth earlier, giving you juicy, sweet berries well ahead of the usual season. Just make sure to mulch around them to protect the crowns from frost and keep weeds at bay.

Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres, adds: “Overwintering your vegetables is one of the most rewarding ways to extend the growing season and get the very best from your garden. By planting this September, even beginner gardeners can enjoy fresh, homegrown produce earlier and healthier next year.”