Planing my winter garden

[Logar]

That is so cool that you even have the ability to grow a winter garden. We get very little snow here but from mid-late November until mid-late February the days very rarely get above the low 40s and nights tend to be in the 20s or 30s. The only growing I am planning on doing this winter is some fodder.

I am jealous lol. Keep us updated.

 

[Debbie292d]

I've used frost blanket but I was wondering, does it really work?
Each time I use it everything freezes.
I'm planing, I guess early this year too make sure everything stays alive!

Frost blanket? Never heard of it. It really depends on how low the temp is going to be. If it's just hitting 35F, we use sheets just in case it goes a little lower than they say. If much below that, we use something heavier.

 

[CCsGarden]

Frost blanket? Never heard of it. It really depends on how low the temp is going to be. If it's just hitting 35F, we use sheets just in case it goes a little lower than they say. If much below that, we use something heavier.

They sell it at Lowes. I get the big roll but this year I will have too try the sheet.

 

[CCsGarden]

That is so cool that you even have the ability to grow a winter garden. We get very little snow here but from mid-late November until mid-late February the days very rarely get above the low 40s and nights tend to be in the 20s or 30s. The only growing I am planning on doing this winter is some fodder.

I am jealous lol. Keep us updated.

I'll keep everyone posted. Hope I have luck!

 

[Sally PB]

Can you make arches out of pvc or wire or fencing to go over your plants? Then you can drape the frost protection over that.

The purpose of the frost sheet/blanket is to trap the warmth of the soil down by the plants.

Greens and root crops are your best bet. Anything tender that can't handle frost is probably not going to be able to handle even 25 degrees with a frost cover. Peas can handle the chill, but they may get too tall to cover effectively.

 

[CCsGarden]

Yes, I I have done that in the past. I'm starting all new this year with hopefully better plans.
I will make a mini wire greenhouse! sounds like really good idea!

 

[Sally PB]

This last spring we had lots of warm weather, and then 3 nights of frost. To help warm the ground during the day, I spread black plastic garbage bags on the soil next to the plants that were in danger, then covered the plants at dusk.

This was to save blueberries that were in blossom. 28 degrees will ruin them, and we were forecast for 26. Nearly all the flowers made it through 3 nights with this treatment.

 

[Bawkbok]

I've learned sheets don't work well as they get very wet and heavy. If there is a frost, they can actually weigh down your plants and get them wet, they too will freeze under the sheets. Sheets don't even work well down here in FL. The freeze cloth or blankets are good. We don't get frost here but it might occasionally drop below freezing so I do cover some shrubs and tenders.

I was just thinking today I need to start planning the winter garden and get to the nursery. That is one benefit of living deep south, one can garden year round. The square foot method works well for us and honestly, almost everything I plant is actually for the chickens although we eat out of it too of course. Our green peppers are still going strong surprisingly and the spinach is going gangbusters. There's so much just from one plant I don't even know what to do with it all.

Dill might work well for you as it's a cold weather herb. Just know it doesn't like to be in the wind so you might want to plant it on the east / south side of a windbreak shrub or structure. Once established, it should actually grow year round for you and the Monarch butterfly caterpillars love dill. We counted 17 on the plant a month or so ago.

 

[CCsGarden]

Thanks all for your advise! I'll come up with what veggies I'm going to grow and let you know how it goes!

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

Arugula likes cooler weather, and I’ve heard kale does too although have not grown that myself.