Purslane is a lovely leafy green, but it's quite small in winter. Grow in September and eat the leaves in a few months.

September-November has been quite mild here in southern Sweden these past few years. Perfect conditions for leafy greens! I keep sowing and try to remember that it wouldn't be so bad if some of my many sowings were to fail if the temperature suddenly drops.

The daylight is waning fast and soon there won't be enough for my vegetables. So, I need to make sure to sow before this happens. I have a few different goals with my sowings. Some of them will be overwintered while I plan on harvesting others later in fall and winter.

I wasn't planning on storing the vegetables I harvest in fall. Instead, I need to grow just the right amount that I know we can eat. My experience is that we eat a lot more than I originally thought, so growing a lot is still the plan.

I'm not looking to grow large leaves, and that's why I decided to broadcast-sow the seeds over a larger area. They grow in tight rows and I harvest by simply cutting the leaves.

What I grow in September:

Beds outside:
Radish
Arugula
Lamb's lettuce
Spinach
Lettuce
Pea shoots

Pre-grown, plant outside later:
Radish

Polytunnel:
Spinach
Lettuce
Purslane
Garlic (grown for the leaves)
Pea shoots
Cabbage leaves
Watercress

Pre-grown, plant in the polytunnel later:
Lettuce
Purslane

I just love watching my little sowings this time of the year! The days get shorter but life defies all odds in my polytunnels. And in the beds outside too of course! In my book, growing vegetables is something you can do all year round!
/Sara Bäckmo