hungry gap crops- any idears

[greenfingers]

like everyone who has ever grown veg in the history of growing veg, winter (thats dec through feb) tends to be a bit short on the crop frount, im always on the lookout for crops that do well ia this time of year.
last year we discovered chard (a brilliant vegetable, if you havent tried it do)
spinach is also a prernnial faveourite for this time of year.
leeks, and carrots also feature and we tand to grow brassicas like kale and purple sprouting though some years the purple spreouting doesnt perform untill it gets warmer.

does any one have any more idears as to what i could plant as a bit of a buffer for this time of year?

[Green Aura]

If you've got covered growing - greenhouse. polytunnel, or even large cloches, you can grow salady stuff - loose leaf lettuce, rocket, mizuna, radishes.

Indoors sprout seeds and legumes - take 3-6 days depending on type.

[red]

PSB variety called 'rudolf' starts at Christmas

[Jandra]

Leeks are a favourite here!

And I seem to remember from your intro that you have 3 greenhouses, so you could do as I did this year (or rather, last year). In October sow salad greens and rocket in your greenhouse and if you sow plenty you'll have pickings trough winter, though not that much. I harvest the larger leaves selectively. The growth stops and with more than a touch of frost the greens go limp. But as soon as it thaws, the greens perk up ( I was pleasantly surprised!) and when the days start lenghthening again and temps get slightly higher they put up a growing spurt! I can now cut enough salad greens for two for several salads a week, from a patch of 2 square foot.

You need to choose your varieties well; they must be suitable for cold weather. I had Lettuce "Brun d'hiver" and no-variety-mentioned rocket. Mizuna might also work well and some mustard greens.

Corn salad should grow well outside, especially if you cover with straw or fleece when its freezing.

Beetroot, parsnip, carrots and possibly celeriac should keep well into the hungry gap in large buckets with moist sand or sawdust in a frost free (but cool) shed. Beware the mice, though.

Happy growing,
Jandra