~Winter Gardening~

Many people see the fall and winter as a time to close down the garden and wait until the spring to start up gardening activities again. However, there are plenty of things you can be doing through the fall and winter months to continue enjoying the pleasures of gardening.

Winter is an important period in the gardening season, more so than you’d think. While winter is in full swing, compost is continuing to decompose and get ready for use for the spring. Additionally, winter is a great time to grow cover crops which will help improve the soil for the next season.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency website states that: "Yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 26 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream." By composting the kitchen scraps and yard waste, we can reduce the stress on already overburdened landfills in this country.

There are also plenty of plants that you can grow during the fall and winter, both indoors and out. Also, you can strategically plan a winter garden so that you can enjoy color and attractive plants all year long.

Planning ahead is key
Forethought is essential to getting your winter garden off to a good start. Even though many vegetables will mature and keep well during cold weather, most need warm soil temperatures to germinate and grow to a sufficient size before cold weather sets in. Of course, you can start seedlings indoors and nurture them there until they need to be hardened off and transplanted out. If you want to start some vegetables from seed to transplant later, sow your seeds in August, when soil and air temperatures are conducive to germination and strong growth. Be prepared to transplant by Labor Day, so your seedlings can take advantage of Indian summer’s mild weather.

 Some plants, such as onions, leeks, and cole crops, take a while to become established. Plant these early in August. Peas, carrots, beets, spinach, and lettuce can be direct-seeded and planted in succession for an extended harvest, but start planting in early August. Start peas, carrots, and beets between August 1 and 15; direct seed spinach around August 1.

Leaf vegetables include the commonly grown chard, all lettuces and spinach. If you want to get a little more ethnic, try planting collards, kale, mustard, endive and chicory. Leaf vegetables like water, so make sure you keep their soil almost constantly moist (drying only slightly between waterings).
Root vegetables include my favorites: beets, carrots and radishes. There’s also onion and its kin, leeks and garlic. Some old-fashioned root veggies that a seasoned gardener should try include parsnips, rutabagas, turnips and salsify. And some unusual roots – and root-like edibles – that I think are worth the growing effort are celeriac (celery root), fennel. (a bulbous stem, often sold in supermarkets under the incorrect name of “anise”) and kohlrabi (another bulbous stem, a mild relative of cabbage). Root vegetables like deep, rich soil.
Veggies in the flower buds category are represented by broccoli and cauliflower. Because these plants “head up” best when night temperatures average about 45-50° F, adjust your planting schedule so that the vegetables mature along with when your local weather experts predict such temps.
The pods, of course, are the peas, including English peas, snap peas and sugar peas. An odd relative that deserves more attention is broad bean (also called fava or faba), which also likes cool weather. But don’t think that all beans fit in this growing season – common beans are strictly warm-season vegetables. These veggies, too, like a regular watering schedule (but not as moist or as frequent as the leaf vegetables).



This year I kinda lucked out with my summer garden and it lasted until, well.... now.  I got most the old stuff out of the ground and sowed seeds the week before Halloween and everything has already sprouted....  I am in Davis, CA which is an area that gets delta winds and it can tend to be chillier.  But since my soil is soooo amazing and this year has been mild I am in business...  Winter gardening is super easy seeings how you don't have to water as much, which for someone like me that lives in a metered water community that is a plus.  You go out every few days and survey the land with a nice hot cup of tea and your rain boots... It is a way for me to still feel in touch with the earth and still feel like I am helping the planet out in a way, even if I am feeding only my family!  My girls love it too since it can be such a drag being in the house for a few months.  This gives them a reason to put on their rain-boots and rain jacket and run around and splash in the backyard if only for a few minutes before returning in to the warmth...  Don't let the rain get ya down...  Stay active in that garden...  You would be amazed at how much grows and flourishes in the winter...  Not just for us Californians... ;)  Here are a few websites I go to for tips and growing information.

 http://www.gardenguides.com/117467-good-plants-winter.html

 http://www.sproutrobot.com/

http://urbanhomesteading.com/

http://organicgardening.com/

 Easy, practical, delicious – growing an organic winter food garden is a skill anyone can learn.  Eating seasonal vegetables is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body!  It doesn't have to involve a lot of work and certainly doesn't require a big investment in special products or equipment.



Tread lightly!!!