11 Things You Can Grow in Your Winter Garden
Winter is the time of year when the growing season begins to slow down. But you don’t have to bring your garden to a complete halt just because the weather has changed. Here are a handful of items you can continue to plant and cultivate throughout the colder months.
1. Broccoli
Broccoli can tolerate temperatures in the 20s and 30s, which makes it a wonderful and steady contender for cool weather gardens. Don’t be surprised if you see damage to the leaves when the temperatures drop into the 20s, though. Nevertheless, if your plants are acclimated to the cold, they often survive and produce wonderfully for a late autumn or early winter harvest. One of the most important tips for healthy broccoli production is to harden off your young plants prior to transplanting them to the garden for the season.
2. Carrots
Carrots enjoy soil temperatures between 45 and 85 degrees, which means you might need to invest in a little protection if you plant to grow them throughout the winter. Plastic tunnels work wonders on carrots that are grown in raised beds and containers. Since there are so many varieties of carrots available, it’s important to do your research first to know which ones are more cold hardy and thrive in your garden zone.
3. Arugula
Arugula is a delicious crop that enjoys cool weather as long as it is grown in well-drained soil. Unlike some other winter plants, many kinds of arugula are hardy enough to handle cold winters easily in cold frames or unheated greenhouses. It’s also helpful to know that you can usually allow this plant to go dormant in winter and expect it to bounce back again in early spring.
4. Cabbage
There are many varieties of cabbage to choose from, and each one has its benefits and drawbacks. However, most types of cabbage can stand temperatures as low as 26 degrees and often do better in crisp fall and winter air. Many say a light frost can actually improve the quality and taste of cabbage, which means you have every reason to give this one a shot in your late-season garden!
See more:Â Indoor Gardening Guide
5. Peas
You won’t have a pea bounty in the winter, but they are on the shortlist of the earliest crops to harvest in the spring. They can tolerate mild frosts and enjoy the great outdoors as long as the temperatures don’t dip below 31 degrees. You can start planting these seeds indoors four to six weeks before the last frost in your area and then transplant them outside once the weather is consistently above 31 degrees. Just be sure to provide them with ample water and a trellis or other vertical item for their vines to climb.
6. Kale
Kale has developed quite a reputation for its ability to thrive in cold weather. Some say it can tolerate temperatures as low as 10 degrees. Like cabbage, kale is known to improve after a light frost, so don’t be afraid to leave it outside when the forecast begins to turn in the winter. And while cabbage usually comes with a set of pesky pests, but kale tends to be more insect resistant.
7. Garlic
Garlic is one of those plants that you need to prepare for well in advance of harvest time. The planting date depends on the type of garlic and your garden zone, so be sure to do your research before you hit the ground running. Several gardeners will plant their large bulb varieties in the fall and let them develop underground during fall and winter. When spring rolls around, you’ll spot their leaves and be ready to harvest a bounty of bulbs in the summer.
8. Lettuce
Many leafy greens thrive in cooler temperatures, and lettuce is no exception. If you want a consistent crop throughout the entirety of winter, you may want to resort to a cold frame, hoop house or greenhouse. Otherwise, if properly hardened, some varieties can thrive in temperatures as low as 20 degrees. Be sure to start your seeds indoors first, as many kinds germinate best at roughly 75 degrees.
See more:Â 8 Best Herbs to Grow in Your Windowsill
9. Parsley
Winter is the perfect time to cozy up with hearty meals, but that doesn’t mean you should completely sacrifice the fragrant herbs of summertime. Parsley is one of those delightful plants that lands in the cold-hardy category and can grow all year round. It may not produce quite as quickly in the winter, but you can still overwinter these plants and receive a steady harvest of fresh leaves to season your stews and soups throughout winter.
10. Potatoes
If you live in a southern region, you may be able to plant potatoes in your winter garden. Depending on your zone, you can plant these hardy little crops between September and February. The best thing about potatoes is that they can grow in virtually any sized garden. Whether you have a potato bag, container or in-ground garden, you can easily overwinter these crops and enjoy the fruits of your labor in early spring.
Recipes: 10 Tasty Potato Recipes for Any Occasion
11. Swiss chard
Swiss chard is like a little miracle plant. It can survive the warmer temperatures of summer and still tolerate the frosts of late autumn and early winter. Once again, hardy greens like this taste better when exposed to a touch of cold. But you want to keep an eye on the forecast, as they can suffer and die if it gets below 15 degrees for an extended period of time.