September planting of vegetables allows for both winter harvests and spring treats; our vegetable expert provides a list of crops to sow this month

September marks the beginning of autumn, and it's time to prepare your kitchen garden for the colder months. Here's a guide to planting winter vegetables that will provide a harvest throughout the colder months.

Winter lettuce seeds can be planted directly into their growing position in September, or started indoors and transplanted outdoors in a few weeks. A great variety to sow this month is the Winter Density lettuce seeds, available on Amazon. Winter lettuce varieties grow happily in the fall and slow down as temperatures drop, with ideal protection from cold frames, hoop tunnels, or cloches.

Carrots can be sown this month undercover in a protected environment, such as a greenhouse or polytunnel. Varieties such as 'Nantes' or 'Parisian' make great vegetables to grow in a greenhouse in the fall. Parisian carrot seeds can be found at True Leaf Market, and develop unique, short, globe-shaped roots.

September is also an ideal time to plant elephant garlic. This variety produces large bulbs that can weigh up to 1lb. Elephant garlic needs a long growing season to develop and split into cloves, and should be planted into a sunny position in the kitchen garden from September to October. Remember to pick the garlic scapes in spring, as they are a delicacy.

Bunching onions, green onions, salad onions, spring onions, or scallions are all similar and hardy varieties available for sowing in September.

In Germany, plants that can be sown in September for harvesting salad leaves in winter include field salad (Feldsalat), spinach, and kale (Grünkohl). These are frost-hardy and suitable for late sowing with harvest extending into winter.

Ishikura Winter Long from True Leaf Market is an ideal variety to sow this month. It's a hardy winter variety that is frost-tolerant and pest-resistant.

By planting these winter vegetables now, you'll be able to enjoy a bountiful harvest throughout the colder months, making your kitchen garden a source of fresh produce even in the depths of winter.

September planting of vegetables allows for both winter harvests and spring treats; our vegetable expert provides a list of crops to sow this month