The Fall and Winter Vegetable Garden
Imagine eating fresh vegetables from your garden all winter long. You don't have to live in Florida or southern California to harvest fresh vegetables in January. Many people famous for their cold-weather gardens live in the northern parts of the U.S.
- Eliot Coleman's Four-Season Farm is in Maine on land that was part of the old Nearing homestead.
- Helen and Scott Nearing were pioneers in winter gardening.
- Lea and Gretchen Poisson tend their solar garden in Vermont.
- Lewis Hill is another Vermonter who extends the growing season.
- Binda Colebrook gardens in the Maritime Northwest.
In most parts of the U.S. and in many countries, there is sufficient daylight to harvest vegetables year round. The key is the word "harvest". Vegetables grow slowly during the short days of autumn. Even the hardiest vegetables stop growing during the weeks surrounding the winter solstice. But while new growth isn't possible during those weeks, harvesting fresh vegetables is. If you plant vegetables so that they will be ready to pick by the shortest winter days and protect them from freezing, you can eat fresh vegetables from your garden even during the coldest days.
There are three steps to fall and winter gardening success. Begin by choosing the right vegetables. Unless you live where the winter is warm, you need to plant the right vegetables, ones that will thrive- or at least survive-in freezing temperatures. Think carrots, broccoli, leeks and salad greens, not tomatoes, corn and squash.
Next plant your vegetables at the correct time to make sure they will be ready to harvest during the winter. Finally protect your homegrown bounty from freezing with row covers, cold frames, solar cones and umbrellas, plastic tunnels and hoop houses.
Winter gardens are easier to tend than summer one. There is little to no watering needed during winter. Insect problems are reduced. Since your garden is under cover, you don't have to worry about deer, rabbits and raccoons beating you to the harvest. And you have the fun of eating lovely fresh-from-your-garden vegetables in the middle of winter.