Winter Gardening can mean different things to different people...

“Winter gardening”—it does not mean you can grow a warm-weather plant, like tomatoes, in the snow, although you absolutely could with the proper heating and covered protection. It does mean however (based on where you live), that you might be able to extend the life of certain plants by protecting & covering them well into the winter months. 

Keep in mind, if you are trying to start new seeds outdoors in colder weather, such as lettuce seeds, your soil temperature will need to remain warm enough for your seeds to properly germinate. That's the hardest part. Once seeds are germinated and the plant is established, colder temperatures won't bother it!

Think of winter gardening as an extension of summer & fall! How far are you willing to push? This was fun for me. Figuring out cool ways to cover & protect, that’s really all you have to do. If you are working with the correct cold-hardy plants, you will succeed! 

WHAT DOES WINTER GARDENING MEAN TO YOU?

I actually like to enjoy my winters! Sit back, watch the birds devour my purposeful leftovers, and soak in a welcomed break! But, I also highly enjoy working outside on a beautiful winter day! It's very therapeutic to me. Plus, I really wanted to push the limits and extend my winter gardening capacity & techniques. I set goals for myself and my food forest.

I wanted to see how far I could stretch my harvests, hopefully extending specific groups of food (cold-weather crops) into the late fall & early winter. I wanted to see how many days of the year I could specifically grow lettuce. I wanted to extend my hardiness zone and accomplish a few warmer sections. And I really wanted to be able to dig up carrots and potatoes in the middle of winter, without having to worry about storing them—just dig and eat! What are your winter goals?

My thoughts on Winter Gardening:

Without any protection, I can already harvest many cold-weather outdoor veggies well into November & December here in PA. I can grow all kinds of root crops, carrots, potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, onions, leeks, etc., that are perfect for the constant rainy/wet/cold seasons. Plants like cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and all sorts of wonderful greens are outstanding, edible plants here.

But then, production slows down to a screeching halt usually by January. So, I figured if I added a few mini-greenhouses, or some type of winter protection, as well as a larger, easily accessible greenhouse, it would add a whole new dimension to my Edible & Herbal Food Forest! This would complete my 4 Seasons Of Harvest!

If you want to winter garden, figure out the BEST cold-weather seeds/plants, as well as your warm-weather seeds/plants that will winter over and germinate, like dill & tomatoes, first! By working with these seeds/plants, you will up your chances of extending your harvests too! 

There are very easy and economical ways to extend your harvests. I prefer to create small mini-greenhouses out of everyday household supplies, such as bigger, clear, plastic pots & tops used as coverings. I am always collecting and recycling different sizes of containers throughout the year. Something as simple as a roasted chicken container, will make a great mini greenhouse cover for some lettuce seeds while they germinate. I have seen some pretty creative greenhouses made out of all sorts of CLEAR, recycled materials, such as cassette cases, plastic wrap, umbrellas, old windows, plastic bottles, and large glass jars. Think outside the box!

 

WHAT WINTER GARDENING CAN DO FOR YOU

Here are some good reasons why you might consider winter gardening:

• Winter gardening is also a new beginning and a time to seed. Creating “planned burials” outside will save you time and money. In PA, we have the opportunity to work with a lot of plants that benefit from winter planned burials. This is definitely a useful skill. I discuss it further in the winter gardening chapter of my Edible & Herbal Food Forest GUIDE.
• Winter gardening also means it’s time to rev up the indoor lights for any plants that need overwintered. You will always have the opportunity to save/dig up/collect any special/heirloom plants that won’t survive your winter and bring them indoors under lights. I am not a big fan of this myself. I have to do it with my potted citrus trees! Just make sure you shower/clean/trim your plants, and check for bugs when bringing outdoor plants inside for the winter. For years now, I have been finding replacements for plants that need to be dug up in the fall, or carried back and forth each year.
• Winter Gardening also means it’s time to get your plants going for the up & coming year. Starting your own seeds under indoor lights is the healthiest/quickest/cheapest way to produce abundantly happy, stress-free plants, year after year.

SET GOALS!

It is really simple to grasp. How cold does it get where you live, and how far are you willing to cover, protect, and start new plants indoors? Everything else is basically the same—you can dig, you can harvest, you can basically do everything that you normally do in the summer, in the middle of winter. You’re just doing it under cover, and at a much slower, and sometimes stalled state! How far do you want to take it? You should make simple goals, instead of trying to break barriers. 

Pick one plant at a time to master!

FOR INSTANCE: FIND YOUR OWN GO-TO COLD-HARDY LETTUCE!

Just one, super-hardy, delicious lettuce is all you really need! Ace that, then move to something else—maybe arugula or kale—keep going, plant after plant.

Find the best winter gardening plants for YOUR landscape.

MY FAVORITE COLD-HARDY LETTUCE FOR PA: Eva's Burgundy.

This lettuce can survive freezing temperatures through the winter, and still come back strong in the spring! I have picked it from under 2 inches of snow! Then, it gave us yummy lettuce all spring, summer, and fall! It’s an incredible, hardy, all-season lettuce.

CONCLUSION:

As the garden sleeps beneath its winter blanket, remember that this quiet season is full of promise. Every seed tucked away, every plan sketched in your gardening journal, and every bit of care you give now, will bloom into abundance when the warmth returns.

Winter may quiet the garden, but it never silences the gardener’s spirit.

Don't forget to grab your Edible & Herbal Food Forest GUIDE where I dive deeper into winter gardening, and SO much more!

Always remember:

The Future Is Worth The Patience Of The Present

-Michele

The Homemade Gardener