By sowing slow growing vegetables in one raised bed, you can collectively harvest around the same time. This saves space and rewards you with harvest later in the year. Some vegetables reward patience, let’s discover which vegetables to sow in the UK between March and April to setup your long quietly growing raised bed.

What are Slow-Growing Vegetables?

Root vegetables and Alliums are the long season crops taking between 5 to 8 months from seed to harvest.

These vegetables are sown in Spring between March & April so they are ready in October and November.

Slow growing vegetables are great for grouping together in one bed as they stay in the ground for a long period of time.

Which Slow Growing Vegetables are worth the wait?

Patience is required for the long time crops, but they are very worthwhile. Although they take up one bed, nearly all year, you will have something to harvest in the autumn when theres not much else to harvest and they are low maintenance.

Leeks

Sow: March – Indoors or undercover in a greenhouse.

Sow In: Root trainers or deep pots.

When to Plant Out: When they are 12 to 15cm long.

Varieties:
Fast Growing = Try ‘Krypton’.

Vigorous = Try ‘Oarsman F1’.

Thick White Stems = Sow ‘Porvite’.

Popular = Sow ‘Musselburgh’ and ‘Bandit’.

Parsnips

Sow: March – Directly into the soil.
Sowing Tips: Sow in drills 1-2cm deep.
Germinates in: 4 – 8 weeks so don’t give up hope!
Varieties:

Short Roots = Sow ‘White Gem’.

Almost Core-less = Try ‘Tender & True’.

Canker Resistant = Gladiator F1 & Picador F1.

Sweet Flavour = Albion F1.

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Celeriac

Sow: March – In cell trays or pots – indoors.
Germinates: at 15-20 degrees C and takes 2 – 3 weeks to germinate.

Sowing Tips: Don’t cover the seeds with soil as they need light to germinate the tiny seeds.

Varieties:

Popular Heirloom Variety = Giant Prague – I’m growing this.

Nutty Flavour = Monarch & Mars.

Smooth Skin = Brilliant. (Easier to remove skin).

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Why Grow Slow Crops Together?

Theres a few reason why you should grow slow growing vegetables together:

• Save Space – All slow growers in one raised bed means theres no swapping veg in and out of the bed. If anything you can add quick crop like radishes (which are ready in 4 weeks) around them whilst they progress slower.
• Less Disturbance – Theres little to no disturbance of the soil or roots which is better for healthier plants.
• Low Maintenance – Once these vegetables are in the bed, they will be low maintenance, which means you can leave them to their own devises and come back when it’s time to harvest.
• Group Harvest – Talking of harvests, slow growing vegetables all harvest around the same time in Autumn to winter – October to December.

Example Raised Bed Layout of Slow Growing Vegetables

Three vegetables growing peacefully together in one raised bed.

Parsnips have lower foliage than Leeks. Leeks will grow taller above the other vegetables. Celeriac grows a bulb which sits half in and half out of the soil with leaves above the bulb.

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Growing Vegetables is not always about Speed

Vegetables like celeriac and parsnips remind us it’s not always about the speed from sowing to harvest. When sowing slow growing vegetables, you are doing so with intention. They need time, space and growing time to grow under the soil. You’ll be able to concentrate on your other sowings whilst the slow growers quietly do their thing in the background.

Think Like a Grower

Fast Crops teach Excitement,

Slow Crops teach Patience.

For a balanced Vegetable Garden, you’ll need both.

Further Reading

Sow, Grow & Harvest in February
Sow, Grow & Harvest in March.
Sow, Grow & Harvest in April.