Winter Vegetable Gardening
Raised Bed Ready For Frost Cover

Winter vegetable garden

Extending your garden's growing season well into the winter months is possible is you're prepared

Where To Grow Your Winter Garden

When you're planning your winter vegetable garden, consider placing your garden in an area that's protected from the north wind.  Also, you want your garden to receive the most of the winter's weak sunlight.

Which Vegetables to Plant in Your Winter Garden

Pick only plants that are cold hardy and plant them so they will have plenty of time to mature before the coldest part of winter arrives
Some popular winter vegetables and their maturity time:
  • 90 Days to Maturity
    Beet, Carrot, Parsnip, Rutabaga, Globe onion, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower
  • 60 Days to Maturity
    Early Carrot, Leek, Turnip, Kohlrabi, Early Cabbage, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard
  • 30 Days to Maturity
    Chive, Radish, Leaf Lettuce, Spinach

When to Plant Your winter Vegetable Garden

Timing is everything!  Especially when planning your winter vegetable garden.  Find out when your first and last frost dates for your particular zone (you can call your local Extension office).  Once you know the date of your first hard frost, calculate backward from the above maturity dates to determine when to plant.

You can extend this time somewhat by using season extenders to protect your plants from all but the hardest of freezes.

Winter Weather Protection

Some vegetables (for instance, collards and Brussels sprouts) actually improve in flavor after a light frost.  However, even the hardiest of vegetables need protection.

Here are suggestions for winter garden season extenders:
  • Greenhouses:  If you're lucky enough to have a green house, it's possible to keep something planted all winter.  Heating the greenhouse during the coldest times will keep even less cold hardy plants going.
  • Cloches:  These are tiny portable greenhouses that fit over individual plants to protect them from forsts.  Remember to remove them when the sun comes out to prevent over-heating.
  • Raised Beds:  Raised beds are useful for extending the growing season for several reasons.  The soil in a raised bed usually stays warmer and you can add mulch, tires, and black tarps to further heat the soil. By building simply removable covers, you can cover the entire bed for frost and light freeze protection
  • Cold Frames:  Cold frames are a necessity in the coldest climates.  Usually built of glass, the lid  can be lifted during the day to let excess heat escape and closed up before sundown to preserve the warmth.  They are especially useful for getting a jump start on your spring garden by providing warmth and protection for your seedlings.

Winter vegetable gardening is possible with a little planning while paying close attention to your local weather man.