WHAT TO GROW IN YOUR WINTER GARDEN

Grow

Winter can be more than dormancy and mid-term elections. There are plenty of crops that can be grown throughout the winter and they include some of the most nutrient dense ones; kale, bok choi and spinach. If you live in a climate with mild winters your winter garden can be overflowing with:

Brassicas
Greens
Roots
Alliums
Herbs
Cover Crops

I garden in Los Angeles where we always have something growing, it doesn’t snow and when we see frost we get scared and stay inside. Most of my tips here are for those who garden in warmer parts of the country but the vegetables I describe are all tolerant of cool temperatures. If you live somewhere with harsh winters plant these vegetables in late summer before the cold sets in.

BRASSICAS

This is one of the most agriculturally important plant genera. It includes kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, arugula, bok choy, mustard and many more. Below are some of my favorite brassica varieties to try:

*Purple of Sicily Cauliflower and Romanesco Broccoli.*

GREENS

This category includes lettuce, swiss chard, spinach and many lesser known greens like endive. Frosty nights actually help draw out the sugars in these plants and improves the taste. Hot days, however, cause them to bolt. Bolting is when a vegetable plant produces flowers. To do this, the plant draws energy and sugars from its leaves to put into flower and seed production. This, in turn, will turn the leaves bitter. Cutting off the flowers (like with basil) will not prevent this bittering.

Below are some varieties of greens I recommend.

Roots

Root vegetables do not transplant well so direct sow them. Most root vegetables will not germinate below 40°F so make sure to get them in the ground before nights get too cold. Try these varieties:

ALLIUM

This genus includes garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, scallions and chives. I am a garlic lover and love trying out new varieties each year, it is like tasting rare wines. Garlic is best planted from individual cloves in October or November. For onions, if you live in the north look for long-day varieties, southern gardeners should stick to short-day varieties.

HERBS

Parsley, dill and cilantro are my winter herbs. But, it is a great time to plant perennial herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage. After planting, give my Winter Herb cocktail a try.

COVER CROP

Winter is a great time to grow cover crops. These plants, also known as green manures, return nutrients to your soil, prevent soil erosion, retain water, provide nectar for pollinators and suppress weeds. For more details on how to choose and grow cover crops take a look at my post:

Gardening With Nature: How to Grow a Cover Crop

This year I am experimenting with combing winter crops by growing a crop of white clover underneath my kale plants. The white clover fixes nitrogen in the soil as well as works as a living mulch. At the same time, it provides forage for bees and I can snack on it too. Click on the below link to purchase white clover seed.

Purchase White Clover Seed

Winter gardening is slower paced than other times of the year. Crops grow slow and deliberate. Pack them in tight and get lots of fresh vegetables. Take a cue from nature and work slow and methodical. With good planning, you can have a productive garden year-round.

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Bio

Rick has been exploring sustainability and ecological farming for 15 years. He has taught sustainable gardening to everyone from 2 to 90-year-olds and currently teaches gardening at MUSE School Calabasas. You can read more of his work at www.thecarrotrevolution.com