Veggies to Plant Now for Fall & Winter
We know, it still feels like the middle of summer, so why on earth would we be thinking about fall already?
Well, in Powell River, we’re lucky enough to be able to garden almost year-round, not just indoors. Yes, we can have fresh, delicious spinach and lettuce leaves all winter long, as well as homegrown broccoli and cauliflower as early as November or December. That means it’s time to start planning and planting for your fall and winter gardening this year.
However, fall and winter gardening is a little bit different than summer gardening, as your vegetables will need more protection from rain and snow, and you’ll have to make sure you find the sunniest location in your yard for planting.
The other bonus of winter gardening is that it’s way less maintenance than during the summer. It rains more, so you don’t have to water as often (that makes good drainage in your planters critical), it gets too cold for most garden pests, and the weeds grow slower. So, adding mulch or straw around your plants will help control the weeds as well.
Protection for Your Fall & Winter Garden
Well, growing in the winter does mean your plants will need protection. Unheated greenhouses and cold frames are popular and work really well. Cold frames are pretty easy to put together and maintain.
You can purchase cold frames or build your own. We recommend the style with hoops and translucent plastic covering for your plants. Frames with flat tops are nice, but snow can build up and get really heavy, therefore, you’ll have to be vigilant about shoveling it off. Snow will slide right off of a hoop frame.
Choose the location for your winter garden that gets the most sun possible. In winter, your plants still need 4-8 hours of sunlight per day, so the less shade, the better.
Ventilation is critical, even when it feels too cold outside. Cold frames can get surprisingly warm when it’s sunny, even in the winter. A digital thermometer in your cold frame can make it easier to keep an eye on the temperatures. The general rule of thumb is that you should prop open your cold frames, with a space of about 10-15 centimetres when outside temperatures are around 4°C, and the tops should be open completely when temperatures are above 10°C. This should maintain your greenhouse’s indoor temperature, as cool season crops prefer 18-21° C.
Veggies to Plant for Fall & Winter Harvest
There are a surprising number of cool-season veggies that you can grow for fall and winter. Here are a few plants to grow and basic guidelines for when to plant them for fall and winter harvest.
Veggies to plant between early and mid-August
Cucumber
Cabbage
Kohlrabi
Turnips
Lettuces
Spinach
Crops you can plant any time from now until early September.
Beets
Bok Choy
Peas
Kale
Swiss Chard
Parsley
Turnips
Mustard Greens
Mulch Your Fall & Winter Crops
Mulch can make a huge difference for winter and fall crops. Mulch helps to regulate the soil temperature, reducing the extremes of freezing and thawing. Freeze and thaw cycles are the most problematic part of winter for most plants.
A thick layer of mulch around the roots of your winter crops will offer even more protection than a cold frame cover. Mulching also helps to keep down weeds, meaning less work for you and helps to regulate soil moisture levels as well.
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