What to sow in late summer in the vegetable garden? At the end of August, buoyed by the joy of the harvest or overwhelmed by preparations for the return to school, gardeners often neglect the last seasonal sowings. I'm no exception. And when the holidays end, it's already almost too late for some vegetables!

In the vegetable garden, sow in late summer to harvest through to spring

Even though, in autumn, we return to the mellow flavour of pumpkin and other cucurbits, it's very pleasant to have some "greens on the plate": a small salad of lamb's lettuce to accompany beetroots, a large handful of spinach quickly sautéed, a fine chicory. Let us also remember the flavour of the turnip, an essential ingredient in winter soups… And remember the early-spring shortages when the harvest basket stays hopelessly empty.
Feeling motivated? Here, as a reminder, is a non-exhaustive list of vegetables to sow from today (until the end of October for some) to fill your harvest baskets from autumn through to spring.

7 vegetables to sow, from late August to the end of October, in the vegetable garden

1) Chicories, all chicories!

Chicories, raw or cooked (gratin-style or braised…), are essential winter salads. I won't go on — we've already discussed them here…

2) Turnips

The yellow turnip 'Boule d’Or', with its pretty amber colour and very mild flavour, is one of my favourite winter vegetables. It goes down well with children, in soup, mashed or stuffed. Varieties 'de Croissy' and 'Noir Long' are also well suited to autumn crops and can be sown until the end of September.

3) Lamb's lettuce

Very rich in vitamin C and iron, lamb's lettuce is one of winter's "boosting" vegetables. It makes lovely salads. Have you ever tried pairing it with kiwi, avocado and a few pine nuts? Delicious! 'Vit' is a variety known for its productivity, rapid growth and excellent flavour. Cold-hardy and early 'Verte de Louviers' is also of very good quality. A little later in autumn, sow 'Verte de Cambrai': later-maturing, it will provide harvests until March.

4) Spinach

Spinach, although not always loved by children, is both delicious and "practical". It can be eaten as a salad at the young-leaf stage from autumn or cooked at maturity, up to the end of April. Among winter varieties, you'll find 'Géant d’hiver' of course, but also 'Monstrueux de Viroflay' and 'Parys', an F1 hybrid particularly resistant to cold and disease.

vegetables to sow in late summer

Turnip Boule d'Or, lamb's lettuce and spinach Géant d'Hiver

5) Long radishes

Long radishes are still little grown in the vegetable garden. Yet they are easy…and bring a range of colours! Why not try 'Rose d’Hiver de Chine'? Its name is a little dreamy, isn't it? Its flesh, white and crunchy, sliced very thin, is ideal in salad or simply on a slice of buttered bread. 'Chandelle de Glace' has a pretty ivory skin and is just as tasty… as are radishes 'Noir long d’hiver de Paris' and 'Violet de Gournay'. All keep very well.

6) Winter lettuces

As temperatures fall, it's possible again to sow lettuces. Don't miss out — wait a little, but it's a joy to harvest them from March. 'Merveille d’Hiver', 'Brune d'Hiver', 'Artic King', 'Bourguignonne' (also called 'Grosse Blonde d’Hiver') are all hardy and withstand winter cold admirably.

7) Early round cabbages for spring

Round cabbages 'Cœur de Bœuf des Vertus', 'Cœur de Bœuf moyen de la Halle', and 'Cabus express' (smaller) are three early cabbages known for producing, quickly, lovely conical heads with tender leaves in spring. Don’t miss them!

vegetables to sow in late summer and autumn

Long radish, Lettuce Brune d'Hiver and Cabbage Cœur de Bœuf Moyen de la Halle

There — you're briefed on late-summer sowings in the vegetable garden 🙂 You'll see, they're all easy and, if in doubt, consult our advice sheets.

Some of these crops may need a little protection if winter is severe; I will cover this in due course. So follow the blog or, better, sign up to the newsletter to be notified of new articles!