Winter Gardening at Keythorpe Hall: A Season of Preparation and Care

Winter might seem like a quiet time in the gardening calendar, but at Keythorpe Hall’s Victorian walled garden, it’s one of the most important seasons. The garden remains a hub of activity, focusing on organic growing practices and preparing for the abundant seasons ahead.

Essential Winter Tasks

Winter is a time for soil care, an integral aspect of organic gardening. At Keythorpe Hall, we embrace regenerative methods to maintain soil health. Composting and mulching are key priorities, ensuring that our soil remains rich in organic matter and teeming with life. We also apply well-rotted manure to many of our beds, replenishing nutrients and readying the soil for spring planting. Cover crops and green manures such as winter field beans help prevent erosion and enrich the soil further by fixing nitrogen.

Pruning is another essential task. Cutting back our raspberry canes and pruning fruit trees such as cherries, pears and peaches that adorn the Victorian walls encourage healthy growth and maximizes yields come summer. The extensive apple orchard with its many varieties is also pruned. Winter pruning also helps shape the garden, keeping its structure and charm intact.

Overwintering Crops and Flowers

The frosty Leicestershire mornings require thoughtful planning to protect and cultivate plants. Beneath the walled garden’s shelter, vegetables like celeriac, parsnips, and beetroot continue to thrive in the ground, providing a hearty winter harvest. The frostbite helps these root vegetables sweeten in taste.

Inside the polytunnel, we prepare for spring blooms by overwintering Icelandic poppies and ranunculus. These delicate flowers benefit from the polytunnel’s protective environment, ensuring early and vibrant displays from April onwards. Outside, we planted tulip bulbs in Autumn, taking advantage of the winter months to establish their roots.

The polytunnels are also home to a variety of overwintering crops, including lettuce, spinach, rocket, winter purslane, parsley, and coriander to name a few. Brussels sprouts, cabbages and kalettes flourish in the garden’s crisp winter air, adding to the diversity of produce available during the colder months.

Planning and Preparing for Spring

Winter is also a time for reflection and planning. At Keythorpe Hall, we carefully design our crop rotations, seed selections, and planting schedules to promote biodiversity and resilience. This planning ensures that every bed in the garden serves its purpose, whether for vegetables, flowers, or cover crops.

The application of compost and manure not only enriches the soil but also allows us to lay the groundwork for a productive growing season. By investing time in these preparations, we ensure the garden’s continued success as a haven of organic abundance.

Supper Clubs 

Winter vegetables don’t just stay in the garden—they make their way to the table. The head chef curates seasonal supper clubs, introducing the winter vegetables to the menu. This highlights the garden’s role as a source of inspiration and sustenance throughout the whole year. Please check out our website to book your place on the up-and-coming supper clubs, where you can sample the garden vegetables in a unique farm to table setting.