Winter Gardening Guide

Winter gardening saves me. It helps me get through these short dark days and gives me hope for spring. Unless you live in an area that is covered by snow for much of the season, there are ways to add color to your garden as well as edible plants for fresh seasonal produce. First, it’s always best to check to see what your hardiness zone is. Once you know what your zone is, you can them determine what the best plants for your region are. This map from the USDA the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is my go-to answer for winter gardening. Once you know your zone, then figure out what to plant and browse through the Average Blooming Dates to see when these little lovelies will show their color. Follow the tips below plant and vegetable suggestions as well as garden prep and maintenance.

· It’s time to plant bareroot trees and bushes for summer fruit harvest. Consider peaches, grapes, strawberries and blueberries, as well as apples and sweet cherries. Choosing bareroot is more economical and is light and easy to transport. · Use planting beds and plant low growers in the front with taller plants in the back. Planting beds are easier to cover during frost, dry out quicker than in-ground planting beds and heat up quicker preventing the roots from freezing. · Break up the soil before planting and remove stones, hard clumps of dirt, dead branches and any rotting plant life left over from summer. · Follow seed spacing recommendations on the seed packages · Plant hardy greens such as kale, arugula, mustard and Swiss chard. · Try something exotic like Romanesco broccoli, or give an old favorite a chance such as Brussels sprouts. · Cauliflower in an excellent winter vegetable and can be roasted, used in soups and even mashed liked potatoes. · Mulch around your blooming garden. Mulch protects the roots from extreme temperatures and slows the growth of invasive weeds. · Cyclamen is a popular annual that adds instant color to your yard. Plant in pots and place throughout the yard for a quick and easy uplift. This plant grows to about 8-10 inches and does best in light shade. · The leaves on Fire Power nandina turn crimson in winter adding energy and elegance to your garden. This is an excellent variety for pots and grows to about two feet tall. · For another winter blooming perennial try Hellebore. This plant grows best in light shade and blooms in lime, pink and plum. · Plant bare root roses now. All planting directions will be on the packaging. · Don’t forget herbs in your garden. Adding the fresh taste of homegrown herbs adds distinctness to your cooking and is an easy gift to share with others. Try chives, sage, parsley, thyme and oregano. · Continue to compost kitchen cuttings and leaves for healthy dirt later in the spring. · Finally – remember to plant bulbs for easy spring color. If you live in a warmer climate be sure that the ground is cold enough before you plant to prevent premature blooming. Additionally, you will not need to remove the bulbs once the blooms are over. Most bulbs will bloom for about three years. A few suggestions are daffodils, tulips, ranunculus and narcissus.


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *