Growing a Winter Crop

By April Hensley

Our garden had an abundant year. The red heirloom corn did great. I’m hoping to grind it for cornmeal. The number of jalapeños we got this year was crazy! I saved seeds because the plants were so prolific with large juicy peppers. I’m still trying to figure out different ways to use them all.

On the flip side, I had a terrible time with bugs. Even on the tomatoes, stink bugs and armyworms were munching away well into October. Aphids completely decimated the onions, garlic, and several flowers. We plan on trying a lot of new things next year to combat them.

The great thing about cold weather is no munchy bugs in the garden—hopefully! So, I’m going to try a winter garden this year. There are lots of labor-intensive things we have to do to make that happen though.

• First, we need to remove all the dead plants and weeds in the garden.

• Plowing comes next. Our soil got very hard so we will loosen the top few inches. If you have raised beds, you can hoe or use a small cultivator.

• Our garden is absolutely depleted of nutrients in the soil. I’m off to a garden center to buy mushroom, cow, and/or chicken compost. They all work really well to give the soil new life. I have a compost pile but it is not enough for such a large area.

• The plants will have to be protected from frosts and freezes. I’m going to use row cloth with PVC arches. Old glass windows can be used or a greenhouse depending on space and what you are growing. Mulch with leaves and straw for extra protection

• I’m planting spinach, radishes, parsnips, broccoli, onions, and garlic among a few others, by mid-November before the truly frigid weather sets in. Whatever you choose should be cold-hardy unless you plan on growing in a heated greenhouse.

• Seedlings like kale, broccoli, and cauliflower can be purchased or you can start your own seeds indoors.

• Radish and carrot seeds will be planted directly in the soil in a sunny area. We will immediately cover with row cloth to keep off chilly winds and keep heat in causing the seeds to germinate.

• Harvest as needed or when the plants reach maturity.

• Winter hardy garlic, onions, strawberries, rhubarb, and asparagus do not need to be covered in zone 7. They are harvested in spring.