Al-Wasm season boosts winter vegetable farming in Qassim

Farmers in the Qassim region are taking advantage of favorable weather conditions during the Al-Wasm season to cultivate a wide range of winter vegetables, helping to strengthen local agricultural production.

The vegetables grown during this period include leafy crops such as lettuce, arugula, spinach, coriander, and parsley, as well as root vegetables like carrots, radishes, and turnips. Bulb crops such as onions and garlic are also planted, along with legumes like peas and green beans, and other vegetables including cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage.

For fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, and zucchini, specialists note that successful cultivation requires suitable agricultural conditions. The use of greenhouses allows for temperature control and enables the production of various varieties outside their traditional growing seasons.

Agricultural diversity and its importance

Farmer Suleiman Al-Mushaiti emphasized that the Al-Wasm season is a crucial time to prepare for planting winter crops. He noted that crop selection and planting schedules depend on the plant's characteristics, temperature and water needs, soil type, and production methods.

Al-Mushaiti added that diversifying crops—between leafy, root, legume, and fruiting varieties—helps distribute production throughout the season. He encouraged adherence to proper agricultural practices and monitoring weather conditions to determine optimal planting, irrigation, and harvesting times.

He also explained that some vegetables are grown in open fields during suitable periods, while greenhouses provide an ideal environment for producing a variety of crops outside their usual seasons.

Agricultural diversity in Qassim is important for supplying local markets with a range of produce, maximizing the benefits of the farming season, and ensuring sustainable production by conserving water and maintaining crop quality.