Grow A Winter Garden Even Under Snow

Okay, so the sun is not out there as long. Avid gardeners don’t let that stop you. Winter doesn’t have to be a time of scarcity. Bring life back to the cold winter months. It’s absolutely amazing to see tiny little green stalks popping out from under the snow.

There are steps that you can take to assure that your garden will look colorful all winter long. Plant beautiful shrubs or trees with vibrantly colored bark with artfully textured twigs. These cater to feed our winter birds, and add color to instead a drab winter garden. Some vines appear to be ice sculptures with the winter freeze. Such architectural delights!

No need to spend a bundle on fertilizer. Compost and mulch is one of the best fertilizers that you can use, and certainly very affordable. Many gardeners place bales of hay on top of their new plantings to keep them warm. Snow is one of the best covers for both carrots and parsnips.

Now of course, you will definitely want to have your winter gardening facing south. Your new winter vegetables will need as much winter sunshine as possible to be a success.

Planting different evergreens work great in the wintertime. They help to shield the plants and not only look absolutely beautiful, but serve as a windbreak. Boxwood shrubs normally stay green all winter, and when planted on the north side of your garden, will also give you added protection for your winter garden.

One of the things that you can do to keep your plants healthy in the winter is to cut back on the watering. This will help to prevent the green foliage from freezing.

Unbelievingly, some live where it’s as low as -25 and still sell fresh produce all year round at their local farmer’s market. Many of these planters plan for the whole year when they plant, and not just for the summer. These growers usually use the wooden frame structure technique. Now, what exactly is this technique? Well, it’s a wooden frame that is topped by other glass or plastic that covers and protects the plants from the elements. Yes, these types of structures are the ones that are often used to start seedlings in the spring. They can definitely now have double uses.

Turnips, parsnips, carrots, beets and leeks are all ideal choices for your winter garden for up until about the end of December, depending on your geographical area of course. Fresh carrots are often pulled out of the snow in December and often, even in January! After that up until about the month of April spinach, Swiss chard, and kale come into play.

Many will attempt potatoes and yams in potted pots on the balcony. Others will try fresh herbs on the window sill.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ideas. Growing your own fresh produce is so beneficial.

For those that are in the coldest areas of the country, using potted plants are always another great choice. Some go as far as to have a winter garden as planting in their house, rooftop, balcony, and window sills, or next to a trellis stashed away neatly at the corner of the house.

To know which types of seeds to select for your climate and zone, gather one or two planting catalogues and note which seeds will grow and work best with your geographical area.

Don’t forget to keep your statues, bird houses and bird feeders for the winter garden, as they make a magnificent addition to your winter fashion wardrobe. Gates decorated with wreaths also add a festive theme to your garden entry.

Grow your own vegetables all year round. It’s not as hard as you think. You will be amazed at not only the amount of money that you will save, but the absolute fantastic taste difference.

By: Louanne

Louanne has a passion for gardening. You may find several gardening tips and gardening resources at ez-gardening-tips.com EZ-Gardening-Tips.com Top gardening directory and gardening articles.