Oh, winter! It’s no surprise that the coldest season of the year often gets mixed reviews. Whether you love it or hate it, it’s going to arrive in a few short months, so it’s best to prepare for that inevitability. Although winter is great for making snowmen, it also renders gardens northern areas useless. If you’re a devoted gardener like I am, you know you can’t keep your passion dormant for months until the heat comes back. The good news is that you don’t have to. Here’s a guide on how to plan a winter vegetable garden so you can enjoy fresh, homegrown produce year round.
Step 1: Choose Your Method
We’re all familiar with huge glass greenhouses, but did you know that you can have your own miniature, inexpensive one? Or, more interestingly, that this isn’t the only way to cultivate a winter vegetable garden? Other popular methods for cold-weather gardening are cold frames, hoop tunnels, and cloches.
Greenhouses
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When you think about growing produce indoors, greenhouses tend to be superstars. These structures consist of metal frames covered fully by glass panels. Those panels allow solar light and heat to fill the greenhouse, creating a false summer-like climate. This is pretty much ideal for growing vegetables, fruit, and flowers year round.
These large greenhouses are popular with urban farmers, since the glass also blocks out harmful air pollution. Sadly, they’re often huge and expensive, which can be off-putting. In recent years, however, people have gotten creative and made miniature versions with the same materials. For example, Ikea now sells mini polyester greenhouses (36x8x49 cm) for only $20.00!
Discarded windows are also great for transforming into small-scale greenhouses. You just need to create a frame for them, then screw the windows into place and seal up any cracks.
Cold frames
Photo: Flickr Creative Commons
Cold frames are another popular method for cold weather gardening, as they can be made with almost anything! They require a box, made with materials like bricks, wood, metal, or even hay. That box is then placed in a spot where you’d like to set up your winter vegetable garden. (That spot should ideally get as much direct sunlight as possible.) You’ll then need to cover the box with a clear lid, made of plastic or glass.
These are easy to build, deconstruct, and manage while tending to your plants. They also allow gardeners to stylize them to fit their own garden’s size and shape. Here’s a tip: an old bookcase with a glass door makes a perfect cold frame. If you’re interested, check out thrift shops for any that have been thrown out.
Cloches
Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons
Want to know the easiest and cheapest way to have a winter vegetable garden? Use cloches!
These are basically small, domed greenhouses built for a single plant. People have used a variety of objects, from water bottles and cake domes to Mason jars and milk jugs. This easy method simply requires you to cover a plant with a protective dome. If using a Mason jar, for example, just turn it upside-down so it covers a seedling completely. If you’re using a large water bottle (like a 5-gallon drum), cut the bottom off it. Use smaller cloches for herbs and lettuces, and larger ones for cabbages.
Hoop tunnels
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Hoop tunnels are one of the newer methods of winter gardening and are basically self-explanatory. To make one, you’ll need flexible metal rods and clear plastic sheets. Bend the metal rods into semi-circle shapes. Prepare a raised bed, fill it with soil, then secure the hoops to the base at regular intervals.
Cover those hoops with clear plastic, and secure that to the frame with heavy twine. This method does have to be outside and requires a significant amount of land, but it’s a cheap greenhouse substitute. Best of all, it allows you to grow large crops of plants at once.
Step 2: Choose Your Vegetables
Even considering the above methods—which allow you to grow your favourite vegetables in the dead of winter—some vegetables are just better suited to colder climates than others. It’s like growing blueberries in North America, and bananas in South America: they thrive best in the climates they’re suited for. Like us, some plants prefer a day on the beach than a day on the slopes. The following are a few vegetables that not only grow well in colder temperatures, but actually prefer the chill!
Kale
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If you have been alive for the past few years, then you’ve undoubtedly seen this leafy green rise to fame. Kale is a dark green or purple leafy vegetable from the Brassica family, which includes cabbage and broccoli. It’s packed full of vitamin A (to help eyesight), vitamin K (to boost blood coagulation), and vitamin C (to strengthen the immune system).
This vitamin-dense superfood is delicious in a wide range of recipes, from salads and smoothies to hearty stews. Try crisping it up in the oven as a healthy potato chip alternative! Another fantastic quality is that kale is an easy growing crop that fares well in colder climates.
First, decide on your preferred winter vegetable garden method. Then, clear away the top soil level to form a smooth surface, and confirm that the soil is in good condition. That is, still fertile, not frozen solid, and has good drainage. Kale can be grown from seeds, so scatter them in rows that are about 30 inches apart, as well as 5 millimetres deep. Cover with a light layer of soil and pat down, and water consistently, but sparingly.
The minimum maturity rate for kale is 10 days—when the leaves reach an approximate height of 5 centimetres tall. These baby kale leaves are very tender, and perfect to be eaten raw. Kale leaves can be harvested individually, rather than cutting down the full plant.
Brussels Sprouts
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Brussels sprouts have an… “acquired taste”, which has garnered them a bad reputation among children worldwide. That isn’t the sprouts’ fault! They just need to be treated to the right recipe, and soon enough everyone will be begging for these little green gems. Start your sprouts indoors first if you plan to add sprouts to your winter vegetable garden.
After your Brussels sprouts have formed shoots, you should expose them to the cold bit by bit over a period of 10 days. After that, you can transfer them to your exterior garden. Plant them in 1/4 inch-deep rows, 2 feet apart. Keep soil moist and fertile with a layer of mulch. Brussel sprouts require equal amounts of shade and sunlight, and are ready to harvest after 8 weeks. When you pick them, choose the bottom, fully grown sprouts first.
Endives
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With the cold temperature found in many European countries, denizens there have had to find ways to stay fed during the winter months. Thanks to them, we have endives. These vegetables come in many different shapes and colours, from closely packed, handheld bundles to frilled, green leaves the size of your head. No matter what your preference is, there’s an endive variety to satisfy your salad.
Each variety requires different growing conditions, but there are basic similarities. Sow seeds in rows that are 8 inches apart, and 5 millimetres deep. Seeds will begin to sprout after just 2 days! After 18 days, you can tie individual stalks with twine around their bases to encourage an ombre colour effect. (Don’t do this for more than a few days, however, or they’ll die.) Harvest each head completely. Keep the soil cool, but allow maximum sunlight and water sparingly. Endives grow well in any soil types.
Cabbage
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When it comes to winter vegetables, cabbage takes center stage. Not only can this vegetable grow even better in the winter than in summertime, it’s ideal for preserving. You can make ferment it into sauerkraut or kimchi, and enjoy their super probiotic qualities. Cabbages come in many different shapes and sizes as well, so there is bound to be a variety to suit your preferences.
Plant seeds directly into outdoor soil, in your prepared winter vegetable garden. The soil must be high in organic matter, and can be as cold as 10 degrees Celsius. Make sure to leave at least 24 inches in space between rows. Water consistently with full sun. Winter cabbages are less prone to splitting open than summer-grown ones.
Leeks
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Although not a common vegetable in North America, leeks are members of the Allium family (such as garlic and onions), and packed full of cardiovascular-boosting properties. Thanks to their thick stems, leeks are so durable that they can withstand the cold soil in chillier climates. Plant leek seeds directly onto your preferred winter gardening method, at 1/4 inch-deep intervals. Make sure that the soil is loose and well-drained, and keep it moderately moist with 1 inch of water weekly.
After 2 weeks, the seedlings should have sprouted. At this point, you’ll need to thin them so each individual plant has a 6-inch berth around it. After 2 more weeks, wrap the base of each leek with paper to their white hue. Harvest leeks 4 weeks later by undercutting the roots and pulling the vegetables up with a gentle twisting motion.
Carrots
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Did you know that carrots can be grown in wintertime? Well, it just so happens that they grow really well in cold climates. Packed with eyesight-nurturing beta carotene, these orange (or purple) beauties are one of the few vegetables that tastes great without any dressing. Plant them directly in loose and pure soil, like all root vegetables. They also require a careful, watchful eye during their journey from seed to maturity.
Since you’ll be growing carrots in weather that can freeze soil, you’ll need to plant your carrots early: before the first frost. Plant seeds1/2 an inch deep, in 2-inch-wide rows, then cover with soil and pat firmly. Water once a week with about 1 inch of water, and weed regularly. Your carrots should be fully grown after the stems have reached a height of about 3 inches. Harvest by twisting the stems and pulling upwards, then cut off the greens and store your carrots in a cool place.
Radishes
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A favourite at my house for their super-easy growing, harvest-as-you-see-fit nature, these little red gems pack a spicy punch. They’re also full of immune-boosting vitamin C. Plant radish seeds in rich, loose soil at about 1/2 an inch deep. Make sure to water constantly and heavily. They’re quick to mature, and small sprouts will appear above the soil after about a week. Wait until the sprouts’ leaves are large and fully open, and then harvest as you see fit. Since radishes are so small, they’re ideal for container gardens.
Your Winter Vegetable Garden Awaits!
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There you go! We’ve given you the methods and the ideas, so all you need to do now is to go and make your winter garden dream a reality. Here are just a few final tips to help you along on your journey:
First off, the key to having a successful winter vegetable garden is not necessarily the amount of heat. Rather, it’s how much sun your plants get. Make sure to maximize the amount of sunlight that your plants receive, whether artificial or natural, to boost photosynthesis production.
Secondly, water freezes quickly in cold weather, which can also freeze soil solid. As such, water your plants sparingly, but more often.
Also, aim for vegetables that have a shorter maturity rate. You’ll be able to harvest them early, avoiding any kind of cold weather blight.
Just follow these tips, and you’re sure to have a winter-delicious harvest!
