All is not frost (lost) in winter gardening

Portable greenhouse over pots of greens

Sunday, December 11, 2022

It is not too late to throw a coat of protection on your fall planted edibles to continue harvesting all winter.  There are many fall crops that continue to live on into winter like kale, spinach, mustards, winter hardy lettuces, carrots, beets and more.

For a full listing of winter hardy edibles:  The winter edible garden

Many need no cover at all.  All appreciate some cover and will have more growth when given additional warmth.  Options include cold frames, cloches, row covers and portable greenhouses.

  

Cold frames work well if you have a grouping of low growing plants or starting seedlings.  

Cold frame using a repurposed window and house for added warmth

Cloche (the glass or plastic bell shaped overs) works great for covering single plants that don't get too tall.  

Cloche for single plant

I love using a portable greenhouse over my potted greens that I gather together and cover for the winter.  

Earthboxes, self watering pots, in portable greenhouse

Lastly, row covers are great if you have a garden bed row of plants that you want to cover.

Row cover on right, cloches on left

The one thing to keep in mind is that when the sun comes out temperatures inside the covers can increase 50 degrees F over the outside temperature so on clear, sunny warmer days, you may need to vent your cover to keep from burning your cold loving plants.