![]() ![]() Winter vegetables need a solid start before winter arrives, because once cold, dark days settle in, plants won’t grow gangbusters, like they do in the summer months. These vegetables thrive outdoors all winter long in the mild-winter regions of the Pacific Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. Beets, carrots, rutabaga, radicchio and savoy cabbage also fit into this category. These veggies include a host of healthy greens, including leaf lettuces, arugula, Asian greens, endive and Swiss chard. Semi-hardy vegetables tolerate light frosts (29 to 32° F). In regions where winters are mild, like the Pacific Northwest, Southeast and Southwest, hardy vegetables thrive outdoors all winter long. These cold-weather winners are kale, spinach and mustard greens. Radish, turnip and collards also fit into the hardy veggie category.Ī trio of hardy vegetables can tolerate temperatures from the upper teens to low 20s. Examples of hardy vegetables include English peas, kohlrabi, leeks, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. In other areas, you might need to provide frost protection on occasion throughout winter. Hardy vegetables tolerate hard frosts (25 to 28° F). Amending soil ensures that ample nutrition is readily available to plant roots. Reduced microbial activity affects how plants grow and take up nutrients. It’s important to prep the winter vegetable garden in this manner because many soil microorganisms won’t be as active during the colder season. Rely on soaker hoses and drip irrigation for the most efficient watering, delivering water directly to soil.Īnother key in the winter vegetable garden is adding organic matter or fertilizer to soil prior to planting. Also, plants don’t grow as quickly, so water needs diminish. In many regions, winter vegetable gardens don’t demand as much water, since winter rains arrive to help with irrigation chores. Cool-season pests may appear, such as slugs and aphids, but the slower pace of cold-weather growing makes staying on top of problems a little easier. First, once temperatures drop, many warm-weather pests and diseases disappear. ![]() Tending a winter vegetable garden is similar to a warm-weather growing experience-with a few key exceptions. ![]()
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