What to Sow and Grow in Winter
Priya Hollis · Sep 15, 2026 · 5 min read
Quick answer
Short days slow the garden, but there is still plenty to sow indoors and plant outside for an earlier spring.
Winter is quiet in the garden, but it is a good time to get ahead. Some crops actually benefit from a cold spell, and early indoor sowing gives long-season plants the head start they need.
Timings vary with your climate, so use these as a guide and check seed packets.
1 Outdoors
- ✓Garlic — cloves benefit from cold to form good bulbs
- ✓Broad beans — hardy varieties can be sown in mild areas
- ✓Onion sets — autumn varieties in milder regions
- ✓Bare-root fruit trees and bushes
2 Indoors
Late winter is the time to start chillies, peppers, and aubergines, which need a long growing season. Microgreens and pea shoots grow quickly on a windowsill and give fresh greens in a couple of weeks.
3 Planning
Use quiet weeks to order seeds, plan crop rotation, and clean pots and tools. Note which crops did well and which did not last year, and adjust quantities so you grow what you will actually eat.
4 Protecting what is growing
Cover overwintering crops such as leeks, kale, and winter salads with fleece or cloches in hard frosts. Check stored crops like potatoes and squash regularly and remove any that start to rot.
This is general gardening information. Results depend on your climate, soil, and conditions. Follow label directions for any fertiliser or treatment, and check whether plants are toxic to pets or children before bringing them home.