Once summer crops have finished—or even while some are still producing—it is time to prepare the winter garden.
Remember to plan companion planting and crop rotations. A future post will explore these techniques in detail; here is a brief definition of each:
Crop rotation
Crop rotation means considering plant families and crop types when planning each season, then alternating them so that the soil is not depleted.
For example, after a demanding crop has finished, plant a species with lower nutrient requirements in the same place.
Companion planting
Companion planting combines suitable species in the same space so that each benefits the other. Good combinations can improve access to light, water and nutrients and support biological control of pests and diseases.
Growing through autumn and winter also offers several advantages:
- There are fewer pests.
- Watering often requires less attention.
- Some crops do not tolerate heat or long hours of sunlight, making this the ideal season for them.
Although some crops tolerate brief temperatures as low as −4 °C, they are most resilient once well grown and established. Prepare the garden early in autumn so that plants can establish before winter’s low temperatures and possible frosts.
Once these factors have been considered, choose the crops for your winter garden.
Option A
Your area experiences little frost and temperatures rarely fall below −1 °C.
In this case, you can start crops from seedbecause they should have enough time to germinate and grow before the cold weather arrives.
Option B
Your area experiences occasional frosts, with some days falling to −6 °C.
In this case, it is advisable to start with seedlingsrather than seed. This gives young plants enough time to establish before frost arrives.
In either case, winter-garden options include:
Onion
Lettuce
- Artichoke
- Chard
- Spinach
- Lamb’s lettuce
Beet
Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Carrot
- Peas