Winter Garden ?

[kroberts]

Hello all,

I am considering trying to plant a winter garden (although it may be a bit late to start) and I would like opinions: Is it do-able? Types to plant?

I live in zone 6/7 (right on the line pretty much). Its been nice out. 57 right now in fact with on and off sprinkles.

I will be getting some old hay bales to build something of a raised bed. I'll fill partially with dirt/compost. Then I'll make covers with 2x4s and clear plastic to put on top of the bales.

I'd like to plant lettuce, spinach, maybe Brussels sprouts.

Has anyone tried anything like this (this late in the year)? Successes? Failures? Suggestions?

Thanks!
Kathleen

[Smoky]

Brusselsprouts you plant so they can grow a little in the late summer/fall weather and THEN ripen in the cooler early winter. I'm not saying it can't be done, just that is usually the timing.
As far as the others, try it and take notes is all I can tell ya. ;D And good luck, let us know how you did.

[Penny_Plinker]

From my limited experience, your plan would work from early fall up until November. I did similar this fall and had good success with Chinese cabbage, kale, and radishes. Without additional heat, it's all sort of wilty now, except for the kale which isn't dead but it doesn't seem to grow any, either, so it doesn't do much good.

Ya ought to go ahead and build it and try. Not sure about growing much in the dead of winter, but it'd surely work out for some very early spring plantings. You could start some broccoli real early, maybe in early march.

Another thought is that winter is the time to use your put up food from the summer before. We're enjoying using all of the green beans and tomatoes that wouldn't even get used if there was an abundance of fresh stuff. And also, winter is a good time you can do some sprouts in a jar for some fresh salad fixings. Just my thoughts, but i'll be watching this thread, maybe someone has some info on what else would be worth trying.

Penny

[kroberts]

I would like to do sprouts in the house too. *We used to do that. *Not sure why we don't anymore.

I only have a very small space to garden in. *And it gets a little out of control in the summer because the heat makes me sick. *So its hard for me to keep up.

But we had lots of nice fresh tomatos. *Not enough to can any, but enough to appreciate how far superior they are to store bought. *

Its funny but when it gets cold, thats when I start thinking about gardening and preserving. *When I can't do it. lol *I have a hard time with cold too so I'm not sure which is worse. :-/

Anyhow, I hope to put things together this weekend. *I'll give it a shot and see what happens. *And I'll keep eveyone posted. * :)