THERE’S just 10 weeks until Christmas.
And if you’re already worrying about how you’re going to afford the big day during the cost of living crisis, a gardening expert has revealed there’s four plants you can plant now and enjoy at Christmas.
Firstly, an “iconic Christmas staple that’s loved by all” – the humble potato.
“Surprisingly, a couple of potato varieties can still be planted now, and harvested just in time for Christmas,” Craig Wilson, gardening expert and founder of the online gardening retailer Gardener’s Dream, said.
“Varieties such as ‘Charlotte’ and ‘Maris Piper’ potatoes can withstand the cooler months which makes them the perfect choice for a Christmas dinner for their buttery and nutty flavours.”
For the best harvest, Craig advises keeping soil temperatures cold.
“Anything below 9 degrees Celsius is best to keep up a healthy and consistent crop,” he added.
“And be sure to plant your potato seeds at least 20cm deep for the best results.”
You might not think of the next veg as going well with a Christmas roast, but Craig insisted radishes are “great when roasted alongside garlic and parsley” and can be added to parsnips and potatoes to “bring out their nutty flavour”.
“Radishes are a quick-growing vegetable that you can harvest right before Christmas,” he said.
“Varieties such as ‘Mooli’ or ‘Black Spanish’ are notably winter hardy and can be sown in October for an early harvest in December.
“Radishes love cooler temperatures in the winter months and will thrive in a sunny spot in the garden or on an allotment patch.”
But you must remember to keep the soil moist to avoid a bitter crop, Craig added.
Another word you might not associate with Christmas is “salad”.
However, Craig reckons rocket makes a brilliant addition as a side salad or a garnish – and it’s perfect to plant out now in time for Christmas.
“Rocket seeds can be sown directly into pre-prepped rich soil,” he said.
“Rocket thrives in moist but well-drained soil and in partial sunlight, which is perfect for October.
“If planting outside, it’s probably best to cover over to protect from winter frosts.
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the jobs you need to tackle in October.
“It’s a good time to trim deciduous hedges – like box, yew, hawthorn, hornbean and beech – plus hedge trimmers are a great upper body workout!
Make leafmould – gather up all the fallen leaves and fill either bin bags or plastic carrier bags. Seal the top, stick a few small holes in the bag – and then store for a year or more. Free compost!
It’s unlikely you’ll get any more red tomatoes so have one final harvest and chuck the plants on the compost. See if you can get the green ones to ripen by putting in a drawer (some say with a banana). Also keep the seeds from a couple – and plant again next year if they went well.
Finish getting in your spring bulbs. Ideally you’d have done daffs and alliums, but tulips are better in the ground when the soil temperature gets a bit colder.
It’s good to leave some plant litter in the ground – it adds to the nutrients as it rots down, and provides shelter and food for insects. But remove the manky brown bits collapsing all over the lawn/winter structure.
Mulch – it not only suppresses weeds, but keeps the soil warm, improves water retention and adds a little winter duvet to your outside space.
October’s a good month for carrots, peas, asparagus, broad beans, and rhubarb.”
“It can be harvested in as little as 4-6 weeks, giving more than enough time to get it onto plates for a delicious Christmas salad.”
And lastly, spinach.
Creamed spinach is a “beautifully rich addition” to a Christmas dinner, Craig promised, and “pairs extremely well with turkey, chicken, and other roasted vegetables”.
“Thankfully, winter spinach thrives in cooler weather and can be harvested in as little as six weeks,” he explained.
“Varieties such as ‘Giant Winter’ or ‘Perpetual’ are ideal for sowing in October, and will be ready to harvest in time for Christmas.”
Don’t plant your spinach in the garden though – it should be “protected from heavy frosts with a cover-over or in a greenhouse”.
