+10 vegetables to grow in your winter garden
Growing a garden in winter isn’t as strange as it might seem at first glance. Since in most gardening zones, the winters are mild enough for the hardier plants to survive and sometimes even thrive. But how do you create a winter garden, and which plants do you want to plant?
Choosing plants for our summer gardens can often already feel overwhelming. Certain plants prefer sandy or more clay-based soils, and some need a more acidic or alkaline soil. But at least we don’t have to worry about our plants dying from frost. They might bolt and flower too soon for our liking. But we are often still able to harvest them during that time. But in winter and the danger of frost, we need to think also about the hardiness of our plants.
So when we plan our winter garden, we want to look for hardy plants that can withstand some frost. And if you’re currently renting while you’re planning your garden, you will also need some containers that can withstand frost. Depending on your plans and your garden you might prefer to have mainly overwintering crops. So that you have an earlier crop come spring. Or we might want a collection of plants that we would even be able to harvest during winter itself.
What is a winter garden?
A winter garden is just that. A garden during the winter, but not a barren and empty place where nothing grows. But rather a place where winter hardy and frost resistant plants grow. Depending on your garden hardiness zone, you will be able to grow different plants and growing them will be less or more challenging.
It is a lot easier to grow vegetables and other plants if there is little to no snowfall in your area. Although there are plants out there that will survive plenty of snowfall. So always make sure that whatever plant variety you choose is suitable for your climate.
For me, planting a winter garden is relatively easy. Seeing as I live in Ireland and the winters are lovely and mild here with only some occasional snow from time to time. Even so, I still make sure to only plant hardy vegetables and herbs. For example, this year, I sowed a lot of brassicas. As well as some rainbow chard and some winter hardy broad beans. These are all hardy vegetables that are quite frost resistant and will allow me to harvest them during the colder months. Although some winter garden plants are planted during autumn to allow you to harvest them sooner during spring.
How to make a winter garden thrive
A winter garden requires somewhat different care than a summer garden. Because during the winter we have to worry about different pests or problems than during the summer. And if you’ve never grown a garden during the winter before, then you might need to adjust to the timing of your seed starting.
Giving your plants a good start
When you’re planning your winter garden, it might feel counterintuitive that the sun is still high in the sky and days are long and warm. But depending on what vegetables you want to grow, you will want to have them in the ground about one to three months before your first frost. Which often means that you will be starting your seeds during the second half of the summer. So that they will be big and sturdy enough to survive any frost that might come their way. So if you do notice any seedlings that stop or are slow-growing. Then try to find out why as soon as you can.
Vegetables tend to be hungry plants, and after a long summer of growth, you will want to give something back to the soil. Especially if you’re planning on growing more vegetables in the same soil during the winter months. Because plants need healthy nutrient-rich soil if they want to have healthy and strong growth. So I like to feed my soil with some organic liquid seaweed fertiliser. Although you can use any type of organic fertiliser you find effective to revitalise the soil.
Preventing and getting rid of pests
During the winter, you will notice that you will have more pest problems. This is partly because during the winter there isn’t as much food around. Therefore the pests will search out your garden that is filled with delicious produce. Luckily you can prevent them from coming to your garden and get rid of the ones already in your garden. A great way to do this is by planting some onion or garlic varieties to deter some mammals. Or grow some herbs like sage or oregano. To attract some beneficial insects that will protect your plants from less than desirable insects like aphids.
If you notice any holes in your plants, then you might have a slug or snail problem. In which case you can go out on a midnight adventure with a torch. Since during the nights, they are most active, and with your torch, you will be able to find them easily and pick them off and release them again outside your garden.
Protecting your garden from winter problems
If you live in a place as wet as Ireland, you might not need to water your plants at all during the winter. But if you do happen to live in a somewhat drier climate, then you might want to keep this in mind. Try to always water in the morning to prevent the water from freezing on your plants as well as preventing any rot or mould problems. Also, ensure that you water the roots and don’t spray your plants with too much water. This will prevent mould issues as well as make it less inviting to slugs and snails.
Depending on how cold your winters are, you might want to make some special amendments to your garden. Like, ensuring that during the coldest moments, there is some horticultural fleece to protect your plants. You could just lay it on top of your plants, wrap it around some trees or shrubs, or fasten it to hoops to protect whole beds at a time. But if your winters are milder, you might only need a bit of mulch to protect your plants from the cold night.
What vegetables can you grow?
Broad beans and winter peas
Broad beans and winter peas are two hardy varieties of the Fabaceae family and are both delicious either cooked or raw. And although winter peas are typically used as a winter cover crop so that they can be used as a green manure, they are edible. When I was a little girl, we would often eat broad beans because they grew so abundantly. We would eat them from the time they were young tender and sweet. To the time that they because starchy and almost musky, at which state they really are only any good in combination with bacon.
Broccoli and broccolini
Broccoli and broccolini are good options if you’re looking for a delicious brassica. Especially the broccolini that allow you to harvest multiple times are enjoyable to grow. If you prefer cauliflower over broccoli, then it could also be a good winter crop since it also tends to be quite hardy. Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t tend to produce side shoots like broccoli usually does, thereby making a second harvest improbable.
Brussel sprouts and flower sprouts
Brussel sprouts and flower sprouts are also delicious brassicas that do very well during the winter. The Brussel sprouts are a traditional Christmas dinner veggie here in Ireland as well as in Britain, although they are delicious all winter long. Another fun new variety is the flower sprout, which is a cross between the traditional Brussel sprout and kale.
Kale
Kale is an easy to grow winter vegetable that just like broccoli and Brussel sprouts belong to the brassica family. But unlike them, it is a vegetable that we grow for the leaves. Thereby allowing us to harvest them much sooner and more often than those relatives.
Annual spinach and perpetual spinach
Annual spinach and perpetual spinach are both also nutritious and delicious leafy greens that ensure regular and easy harvesting. Although both varieties contain relatively high amounts of oxalic acid, so daily consumption is better avoided. You also might be interested in the fact that perpetual spinach is actually related to beetroot, unlike annual spinach.
Arugula or rocket
Arugula or rocket is also a delicious and versatile leafy green. It is an easy to grow perennial vegetable that I like growing year-round. Throw it in a salad, on top of your sandwich or use it in your cooking like you would spinach.
Onions and garlic
Broad beans and winter peas are fun and easy to grow as well as being a staple in most kitchens. Both onions and garlic tend to be very hardy plants in general. But there are also specific winter varieties that flourish even more during winter. Although in most cases, you won’t be harvesting during the winter with most varieties. But if you do want to do some more harvesting of the allium family, then try some green onions or some garlic chives. Both of which are primarily grown for the leafy stems instead of the bulb.
Radishes
Radishes are a nice crop to grow in between your other winter veg. Because radishes grow so quickly and can usually be harvested within a month or two or sowing. They allow you to grow and harvest something while you’re waiting on your other plants to grow to a decent size.
Beets and carrots
Beets and carrots can be grown in between other crops to fill up any gaps. Although they do take longer to grow than radishes. But if you find that some of your plants that you started up as seeds did not do so well. Then fill the gaps up with direct sow plants like beets and carrots are a great way to get the most out of your garden.
Rainbow chard and swiss chard
Rainbow chard and swiss chard are both very similar in their growth, taste, and appearance apart from the colouring of the stems. Where swiss chard has white stems. Rainbow chard can come in a variety of coloured stems, like white, yellow, pink, or red. They are both delicious in a stir fry, and especially the rainbow variety can be fun to cook and eat, thanks to its wide array of colours.
What are you growing this winter?
After having learned all about winter gardening. Do you now want to start a winter garden for yourself too? And which vegetables or other plants do you want to grow? Do you want to grow some rainbow chard, or are you more into growing some onions? Or maybe you want to try your hand at growing some broad beans. I would love it if you would let me know down below in the comments or DM or tag me on Instagram. That way I can see all the wonderful things that you are doing.
Pin it for later:
