It’s summer! It’s hot! And your garden is probably bursting with an abundance of squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, and corn. Melons are making cool summer treats and fresh herbs and peppers are enhancing the flavor of everything that we are grilling.
No one is ready to think about the colder temperatures and the whipping winter winds. But, it’s never too early to start planning your winter garden. Now is the time to decide if you are going to extend your growing into the fall and winter or if you are simply going to winterize your garden for a long, winter’s rest.
If you are not quite ready to say goodbye to fresh fruits and veggies, use our What's in Season? guide to determine what you can grow in the colder months. Unless you have a greenhouse, most of our summertime favorites cannot be grown in the winter. Many leafy greens such as lettuce, kale, bok choy, mustards, and swiss chard will keep producing up until a hard freeze, especially when covered with a row cover. Root crops like garlic, beets, onions, carrots, turnips, and potatoes also can be harvested into late fall. Herbs such as sage and rosemary will continue growing and be available for holiday meals.
Once you have decided what you are going to plant, then decide where you are going to plant them. Now this can be the tricky part as your garden is already full. No, you are not going to stop your summer gardening by pulling up your plants early. You are, however, going to consider which items will naturally slow in their production and which will die off after the first frost. When this happens, these will be the plants that you will dig up first to make room for our cool weather plants. If you have space you can plant cooler weather plants in between your summer ones. Just make sure that you are careful not to dig them up as you remove your dying summer plants.
Leafy greens already planted can be left or removed and replaced with new ones. The same is true for chives, dill, and parsley. You will want to plant new peas from seeds and veggies like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower as seedlings that you have started inside mid-summer or purchased from a local gardening center. Root veggies should always be planted directly into the soil. Garlic and onion bulbs, and asparagus should be purchased from seed companies or stores. Planting guides from the Home and Garden Information Center website, like Growing Garlic in a Home Garden, are a huge help in planning when you should plant each of your winter garden veggies.
And lastly, let’s not forget your garden soil. It has been busy supporting that abundance of summer produce that is currently being harvested. By fall it will need a little care. Healthy soil equals healthy crops which equals better yields. Consider purchasing compost now. When it is time, work it into the first few inches of soil before you plant or to put around existing plants that are being kept over. Consider purchasing and using a small amount of fertilizer in your winter garden as well. For more information about keeping your soil healthy take a look at Soil, Compost, and Fertilizer for the Home Garden.
And always remember, our weather can be a bit unpredictable sometimes. Make a point to check that your winter garden is well watered and that you watch the weather for frost and freezes so you can harvest your produce before it is damaged by the cold.
Assuming that you will choose to extend your growing into fall and winter, start planning now. Make your garden plan and stick to it. Purchase seeds, order bulbs, plant seeds for seedlings, and stock up on garden items that may be harder to find this fall. Because, while it’s 98 degrees right now, it won’t be long before summer is over and your fall garden will be ready to plant.
