Many vegetable growers feel that as soon as the weather starts to get colder, the growing season is over. This not true in most sections of the country, in fact, in many zones, gardening can be carried on throughout the winter season.
Winter gardening not only will improve the condition of the fertility of your soil in top notch condition, but you will be able to harvest delicious produce that is not only less expensive but of much higher quality than the produce available at your local supermarket.
By learning the average date of the first killing frost in your region, you simply plant the winter crops early enough so that they are mature before that killer frost. The USDA North America Gardening Zones map shows the dates for your information.
Examples of crops that generally mature in 90 days are; beets, carrots, parsnips, rutabaga, globe onions, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflower and beans.
Examples of crops that generally mature in 60 days include: early carrots, leeks, Turnips, kohlrabi, early cabbage and Swiss chard.
Examples of crops that generally mature in 30 days include: chives, bunching onions, radishes, and broccoli. Leaf lettuces, mustard greens and spinach.
Physical methods to extend the growing season
Wind breaks and shelters
Taking advantage of windbreaks and walls can raise the ambient temperature of your garden by as much as 10 to 15 degrees. Planting close to a south facing wall or structure allows for reflected solar energy to be concentrates on your plants.
Cloches
Cloches are like miniature greenhouses and provide solar warmth for your crops. They come in various configurations designed foe rows or individual plants, and can be as simple as an empty plastic bottle with its bottom cut out.
Cold frames and hot beds
A cold frame is a structure built to specifically grow plants in colder weather and can lengthen the growing season to a large degree. The ideal cold frame is about 18 inches at the back sloping down wards in a southerly direction to 12 inches in the front. An old window sash is a good solution and can be any dimension. Provide a means to partially open the top for ventilation during sunny warmer weather. During cold spells, it is advisable to cover the cold frame with a tarp or burlap to provide some insulation.
A hot bed is a cold frame with a source of heat under the soil; this can be electric heating cables, although the tried and true system of a deep layer of decomposing manure will provide enough heat to keep the hot bed frost free.
Greenhouses
A greenhouse is probably the ideal solution to the problems of cold weather gardening. They can be heated or not and come in a variety of sizes and forms. Remember to carefully tend to the greenhouse by providing the correct temperature ranges. When it gets too warm in the green house, it definitely needs to be ventilated or your crops may be severely damaged.
Other Considerations
Mulching and cover crops
Mulching serves many purposes in the winter garden. It helps insulate the plants roots, it discourages the winter growth of grasses and weeds, it reduces moisture loss and helps prevent erosion. When spring arrives, remove the mulch or till it in. If left on top of the soil, the soil will not warm up as fast and it is much easier to sow seeds or plant in soil without mulch.
Mulch can be any organic material such as compost, leaves, peat moss, straw, hay, shredded newspapers, grass clippings etc. After mulching add a dusting of lime or fertilizer, 2 or 3 in. of manure, and till it in to a depth of 8 to 10 inches.
The decomposition of these organic materials over the winter, will add valuable nutrients to your garden. After this is done, plant with a cover crop of fast growing green plants winter rye or legumes; this will create an environmentally friendly green manure.
This is also a good time to test your soil PH for its value. Vegetables normally do well in a slightly acidic soil condition. Check with your local extension service for more advice on this subject. Soil testing kits are quite inexpensive and will give excellent results.
Your garden journal
Keep a record of what, where and when you planted your various crops and the results obtained. This will be invaluable in your future gardening efforts.
The USDA North American Vegetable Growing Zone Map is here for your convenience.
