Growing a Winter Garden - Tips For Success!

This year, September did a poor job at easing us into fall, which is usually a graceful transition-month, as we ease back in to our sweaters.

One minute, we were doing everything that we could to stay cool during the heat wave, and the next minute we're being hit with one of the wettest Septembers in history. Basically, one minute it was summer, and the next minute it felt like winter.

This drastic jump in seasons meant that the garden took a hit! And if you’re like me, you’re not ready for the growing season to end yet, either - especially the veggie garden!

Luckily we’re blessed to with relatively mild winters here on the West Coast of British Columbia (gardening in Zone 8b) and there are many vegetables (and some flowers) we can grow year round.

Although I should have been prepping our winter garden in August and September, there is still things we can do in October to prepare for a Winter Garden!

Growing in the winter looks a bit different...

Even if a plant is considered "cold hardy", it will grow at a much slower rate due to decreased day length, colder temperatures, and excessive wind and rain. Many seeds also won’t germinate if the soil temperature is too low (e.g below 10 degrees C). The goal is to start growing your winter veggies in August or early September, so that they are at a mature size for harvesting throughout the winter. 

Some plants will need to be started indoors to transplant later on, and others can be planted directly into the ground.

I use seed trays (I prefer these biodegradable ones) for seeds that need to germinate indoors (broccoli, bok choy, caggabe), which I then plant into the ground a month later. I like the control you get in seed trays and how they prevent young delicate seedlings from being devoured by slugs or pill bugs.

Some plants don’t transplant well though, so you’re best to plant those directly into the garden (this includes radishes or peas). By the time November rolls around, the plants will slow down their growth, but they’ll be mature enough for you to harvest leaves from, or pull root crops from the ground throughout the winter months. 

Some of the best winter crops are found in the Brassicaceae or mustard family. This includes kale, collard greens, mustard greens, cabbage, turnips, pac choi (bok choy), and brussel sprouts. These highly nutritious plants can withstand cold temperatures without added protection, and may even improve their flavours after a frost, as they increase the amount of sugars in their cells (which act as a natural anti-freeze). 

The Best Plants for Winter Gardening

• Herbs like parsley, rosemary, cilantro and thyme handle the cold just fine, as well as bay trees, sorrel (a tangy leafy perennial), and arugula

• Spinach performs well in cold temperatures and will bounce back in the spring if it gets knocked down by a particularly harsh cold spell

• Swiss chard leaves can be plucked throughout the winter and the rainbow varieties can add gorgeous colour to a drab winter day

• If you plant peas by August, you can get a batch of peas before the winter. However if you missed that window, plant peas later in the fall and eat their tasty greens instead

• Legumes are broad beans are hardy and can be planted as late as November, though you won’t get beans to harvest until spring

• Radishes are speedy growers and can be harvested in the cold, but they need warm soil to germinate so will need to be planted well before your first frost (8-10 weeks)

• Established lettuce can be picked until sub-zero temps start up

• And don’t forget about microgreens! I love to make mixes with seeds from plants in the mustard family, spinach, arugula, beets, and hardy herbs like cilantro and parsley. The great thing about greens as they can be sown in flats or pots that are easily covered or moved around

• There are also many flowers that will add beauty all winter - like edible and colourful Violas (pansies), pink and white Bellis (english daisies), or funky Erysimum (wall flower)

West Coast Seeds as an amazing variety of Winter-Harvest Seeds that you can check out HERE!

So now that you know what to plant and when, there are some great ways to help protect your plants and extend the growing season....

Here are 8 tips to help improve your winter garden

By utilizing these tips, I’m able to germinate seeds even in the middle of winter!

One year I was shocked to find a random tomato seed had germinated under a cover in January! So don’t worry if you missed the August planting boat - there’s still time to get some seeds in the ground for your winter veggie garden.

1. Mulch mulch mulch! Two inches or so of organic material like dead leaves, straw, or arborist wood chips are all excellent options. Not only will the mulch moderate soil temperatures to prevent freezing and protect plant roots and keep plants growing, it will also break down over time and add much needed nutrients to your soil. Be sure to leave a little space next to your plant stems to maintain airflow and prevent disease 
2. Plant in the sunniest part of your garden to maximize sun exposure. Remember that the winter sun hangs lower in the sky, so a sunny spot in the summer may end up being shaded by the house next door or that tall hedge in your yard over the winter months
3. Plant next to a brick or stone wall, fence, or other protective structure that can absorb and bounce heat 
4. Use heavy weight garden cloth such as Remay to protect from frost and increase soil temperatures. These clothes allow rainwater, air and most sunlight to still get through while offering great protection. For winter select a heavier 1oz fabric. You can drape the cloth directly over plants but it’s better to secure it over a structure like PVC tubing or a wood frame and then weigh down the edges so it doesn’t blow away
5. Build a Poly-tunnel - an easy and inexpensive way to create a greenhouse-like environment. You can buy a kit or make your own by getting creative using what you have - they’re made of plastic polyethylene sheets draped over a structure (like PVC tubes) to create a mini-greenhouse which increases temperatures under the dome. Be mindful that you’ll need to roll up the sides during the day to allow air flow and potentially need to supplement watering as rain can’t penetrate. I made a funky pyramid structure out of wood with poly stapled to it, that attaches to the raised beds with hinges, and was easily propped up for airflow on sunny winter days
6. Use cold frames can be made from all sorts of different materials to form mini-greenhouses around your plants. I’ve used old glass windows, polycarbonate panels, wood, bricks, straw bales, and even old metal doors to create structures and they worked incredibly well. Be careful though, these structures can work SO well that on a sunny winter day, your plants can actually get scorched and dry out
7. Grow your winter crop in raised beds can help your soil from becoming waterlogged (if you live in a wet climate, like me), which essentially “drowns” plant roots by decreasing the amount of oxygen in the soil, thus killing your plants. Raised beds also warm up quicker during the day 
8. Grow next to a wind barrier like a hedge or fence can really help with this which shelters your plants from harsh winds and excessive evaporation.

I hope you feel inspired to try a winter garden! Please leave your questions and comments below :)