| When the term Winter gardening is mentioned, | | | | and continue to enjoy fresh herbs throughout the |
| consider the fact this does not mean starting a | | | | winter. Selections such as sage, rosemary and cilantro |
| garden in the winter the way you would in the spring. | | | | make tasty additions to Thanksgiving turkey and |
| Instead, winter gardening is actually an extension to | | | | winter stews. |
| the growing season. Depending on where you live, | | | | If you do not have room or funds for a greenhouse, |
| there are a number of vegetables that can be | | | | a cold frame can help you raise more delicate veggies |
| started in late summer and harvested through the fall | | | | during the winter. A cold frame is easily constructed |
| and on into the winter. | | | | by placing a storm window over a raised bed. |
| Your winter garden actually begins in the spring with | | | | Tunnels can also be used to help extend the growing |
| planning. As you develop your plans for the | | | | season of summer veggies. Bend 1/2" or 3/4" PVC |
| vegetables you want to grow, consider planting a | | | | pipe over the bed and cover the arches with clear |
| number of those that mature in mid-summer to free | | | | plastic. Except in times of extreme cold, plants should |
| up space for others which are hardy enough to stand | | | | do well under these tunnels. |
| up to cooler temperatures. By getting these | | | | As you get your late summer plants started, be |
| selections into the ground before late summer, you | | | | cautious about the type of fertilizer you apply. |
| will give the plants time to develop strength so when | | | | Nitrogen in the fertilizer will cause plants to grow |
| the temperature drops, they will able to tolerate it. | | | | rapidly and new plant growth is very moist and soft. |
| As you begin to make your selection for late | | | | If the temperatures drop rapidly, the plants could be |
| summer planting, it does not take a rocket scientist | | | | damaged. When thinking about fertilizer for your fall |
| to realize tomatoes and summer (note the season | | | | veggies, consider compost instead. The compost will |
| name) squash are not good selections. However, | | | | offer a double benefit the plants will be able to |
| members of the cabbage family (broccoli, cauliflower, | | | | absorb the nutrition they need from it and the mulch |
| collard greens) are ideal for winter gardening. Garlic, | | | | will help insult the ground and keep it from freezing |
| leeks and other onion family members do well too, as | | | | quickly, which will protect young roots. Grass clippings, |
| do root crops such as beets and carrots. | | | | straw or shredded/crumbled leaves make good |
| If you like fresh herbs, consider growing these in | | | | mulch. A word of warning though slugs love the |
| containers rather than your garden plot. Then, when | | | | environment mulch creates. Be on the lookout for |
| the temperatures drop, bring the containers inside | | | | them. |