Plan for Winter in Your Summer Garden
Winter might be the last thing you think of when you’re enjoying fresh summer produce, but with a little planning now you can enjoy fresh food from your own garden all year long. The key to a fall or winter harvest is to seed crop in July and August to achieve adequate growth by the end of October. This way, your crops can take advantage of the long hours of light to get a head start before cooler temperatures hit. Due to the seasonal lack of light and growth, vegetables harvested from November through March must be mature by the end of October.
Viewer Tip: Start planning and planting now and you can eat a winter’s worth of harvest later in the year. Find a warm and sheltered spot in your garden and plant in the middle of summer (July and August). Crop possibilities vary widely with climate, but generally there are crops that are well suited to winter production in most cold climates, such as the cabbage family, roots and greens. Check with your local Extension agent or garden center for ideas about will work in your area.
Season: Summer
This information is provided by ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about at http://attra.ncat.org.
