What do WWII battles, ballistic missiles, and the deadly brown tree snake have in common?
Just like carrots, turnips are very resilient and can grow all year-round. However, sowing in the late summer will often produce a sweeter end product.
To optimize growing conditions, plant your turnips in an area that receives full sun or partial shade, and ensure that your soil is fertile and well-drained.
For best results, experts recommend that you leave your carrots under a layer of mulch and harvest them through the early winter.
Carrots are a very versatile vegetable. They grow all year round, too. Although, growing them in the cold weather makes them sweeter.
This root vegetable will survive in temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius), meaning that they can be harvested well into the cold season.
Bear in mind, too, that carrots grow well under tunnels. It is important to keep the soil from freezing, however, so that they can be harvested any time.
Whenever people think about growing their own vegetables, it is often warm-season crops, such as tomatoes, peppers, and squash, that spring to mind. However, there are plenty of hardy vegetables that are able to survive the cold. In fact, there are some that prefer colder temperatures to the harsh heat of summer.
Wondering which vegetables to include in your winter garden? Check out this gallery for some ideas.
To ensure your spinach is ready to form the base for winter salads and dips, plant your seeds around eight weeks ahead of the first frost date.
Spinach is a very hardy leaf that can survive temperatures as low as 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 degrees Celsius). At the same time, it manages to be tender enough to cook with.
Use covers to extend the harvest season, if necessary. Make sure to plant your spinach in well-drained soil that receives full sun or partial shade.
You will need to plan ahead, however, if you want to have sprouts for the winter: they have a long growing season and need to be planted around four months before the first frost.
Love them or hate them, brussel sprouts are a winter garden staple for a reason: they can survive in temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius).
For best results, brussel sprouts should be planted in full sun and watered regularly during summer to protect them from the heat.
If in doubt, it is a good idea to start growing this plant indoors during the fall, moving it outside once the seeds have germinated.
It can be tricky to work with lettuce seeds, because they are so small. To make things easier, try mixing them with sand for greater visibility.
Lettuce seeds also do very well in brisk temperatures. Their seeds should be planted in the fall and harvested between one and three months later.
Mustard greens are very fruitful and they sprout quickly. For best results, place them in full sun and make sure the soil is well-drained.
Laying the seeds out in rows can also make them easier to see. Just like mustard greens, lettuce enjoys full to partial sun, as well as rich, well-drained soil.
Mustard greens may look delicate, but don't be fooled, they are very tough. They can survive in temperatures a few degrees above freezing.
In areas such as Southern California, people can plant cabbage seeds as late as September. They will be ready to pick by the winter.
Broccoli plants tend to flounder in harsh heat. Plant them 10–12 weeks before the first frost, and you should have a strong harvest on your hands.
Cabbage seeds perform best when placed in full sun and well-drained soil.
Just like cabbage plants, broccoli plants enjoy full sun and well-drained soil. Provide them with these two things and you will have broccoli throughout the whole winter.
Sure, cabbage has a reputation for being great in soups and salads. However, it is also known for its impressive ability to thrive in the cold.
Broccoli has a lot going for it: it is delicious, nutritious, and surprisingly versatile. Add resilience to the mix and you have a winning fall vegetable.
And finally, cauliflower. Famous for being paired with cheese, cauliflower is a staple winter vegetable that takes between 50 and 80 days to go.
To keep your cauliflower crop healthy, be sure to remove plant debris from your garden. This will also help to get rid of any bugs that might appear.
Sources: (Martha Stewart)
See also: Fun facts and legends about fresh fruit and vegetables
If you want to plant cauliflower in your winter garden, bear in mind that the seeds should be planted around 10 weeks before the first frost.
However, if you want to grow kale for the winter, it is important to protect your plant from a specific bug: the cabbage worm.
Kale is another versatile leafy vegetable that, with the right amount of sunlight and moist soil, should be perfect for a winter harvest.
Given half the chance, these bugs will lay their eggs all over kale leaves. To protect your plant against this pest, simply cover it with a summer-weight fabric over hooks.
Best winter vegetables to grow at home
Incorporate the cold into your cooking
LIFESTYLE Garden
Whenever people think about growing their own vegetables, it is often warm-season crops, such as tomatoes, peppers, and squash, that spring to mind. However, there are plenty of hardy vegetables that are able to survive the cold. In fact, there are some that prefer colder temperatures to the harsh heat of summer.
Wondering which vegetables to include in your winter garden? Check out this gallery for some ideas.