We had a good rain this weekâabout an inch and a half. My garden beds sure appreciated the soaking. The weather has been mostly sunny the last week or so, but a cold front came through last night. The low temperature in my greenhouse was 28F. It was colder outside, and it is going to freeze again the next few nights. I was just out inspecting things this morning, and I thought it would be a good time write out a short post on winter gardening.
In my opinion, winter gardening is the best kept secret in horticulture. More people need to know how easy it is to grow veggies in the wintertime, especially in a warmer climate like Oklahoma. There are so many frost tolerant plants that thrive here. This year I have been harvesting Broccoli, Beetroot, Spinach, Lettuce, Pak Choi, Radishes, and Carrots since November. There are a number of others that are on the verge of harvest, or will surge in growth as the Spring Equinox approaches.
The key to success with a winter garden is to start your plants early enough so that they can become established before the days get too short. This means sowing seeds of winter crops in August and September for November, December, and January harvests.
Brassicas and lettuces are a great place to start your winter garden. But, there are plenty of other plants will survive a little frost. Parsley, Sage, Onions, Cardoon, Scabiosa, and Calendula, are some others that are going strong during these cold months. My approach is one of experimentation. You never know what will grow until you try, and you will be likely be surprised when you do. Happy New Year, and Happy Gardening.