5 Ways to Scratch the Vegetable Gardening Itch in Fall & Winter



Gibby's Garden

For those of you that have vegetable gardening in your blood, how do you scratch that itch for wanting to get out in the garden when winter hits and the garden‘s under a foot of snow? Read, research, browse and plan your garden during fall and winter - that’s what I do.

Read, Research, Browse and Plan

Read about Anything and Everything Gardening

I love perusing the sale section of the bookstore for books on gardening. Since my passion is organic vegetable gardening, I tend to stick to buying and reading books on this topic which can include planning, planting, growing guides and organic pest control. I also scour the internet during fall and winter reading up on tips and how-to’s to improve my garden next spring.

Here’s a List of Some of my Must-Have Gardening Books

Garden Pest Control: Organic Gardening Basics Volume 7
Compost: Organic Gardening Basics
The Vegetable Gardeners Bible, 2^nd Edition
Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Tips for Vegetable Gardeners
Blue Ribbon Preserves

Research Vegetables, Growing Conditions and More

Fall and winter are great times to get in a little gardening research. Take your time and look up different types of information. Here are a few ideas to get you started on your quest to learn.

Growing Conditions for Specific Vegetables
Vegetable Nutrition
Vegetable Varieties
Time Saving Tips
Frugal Gardening Tips
Space Saving Tips
Monthly Gardening Tips
Pest Control
Container Gardening
Vertical Gardening
Companion Crops
Weed Control

Browse and Shop for Vegetable Seeds and Score a Deal

Before vegetable planting season begins and stores are fully stocked with supplies, browse the internet and seed catalogs to find sales and the best deals on seeds and transplants. (Winter is my favorite time do this.)

Start Planning your Vegetable Garden Now

Make a list of the vegetables you want to plant and group them together with those that have similar growing conditions. I like to do this after I’ve bought my seeds or done my research. Figure out which plants grow the tallest and shortest and which ones go in the middle.

Draw a rough diagram of your garden marking individual rows, mounds, trenches or trellises. Write in where each vegetable is to go. Make sure the veggies you plant will receive enough sunlight in their allotted spots and the soil conditions are right.

You can also make a list of gardening supplies and tools you’ll need to pick up. If you haven’t already bought your seeds, make a list of which ones you want making sure to jot down the variety that grows best in your area.

Here are a few Guides to Help Plan your Vegetable Garden

Planning a Vegetable Garden
Choosing Vegetable Seeds
Soil Preparation: Getting Those Gardens Ready
3 Tips for Figuring Out Where to Plant Vegetables
Choosing Which Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden
How Many Vegetables to Plant per Person
Average Frost Dates for the North (2012 – 2013)

What type of gardening information do you read, research or write about? Have any suggestions?

Tips for Making Winter Composting Easier



Image: Diego Grez/Public Domain

 Just because the snow is flying and temperatures are dropping doesn’t mean you can’t continue to add ingredients to your compost pile. There are a few steps you can take to make winter composting easier before and after winter weather sets in.

3 Tips for Composting in Winter

Tip #1: Mark Your Compost Pile

I compost directly on the ground meaning I don’t use a tumbler or bin. When fall rolls around and I’m ready to start the second pile of the season, I always pound 4 stakes into the ground to mark exactly where my pile is. This way when the snow starts to pile up, I have no problems locating my compost pile when I want to add scraps.

Tip #2: Buy a Kitchen Compost Bucket

Kitchen compost buckets are fairly inexpensive and a great way to collect kitchen scraps during the winter. Instead of trekking to your pile every day, you can store scraps in the bucket reducing the amount of trips you have to make outside to your pile.

These buckets are small and designed to fit on the counter or under the sink. They lock in odor and some come with bags to make keeping the bucket clean easier. Simply remove the bag or carry the bucket itself out to the compost pile to empty it.

Tip #3: Keep a Path to the Compost Pile Shoveled

I always keep a small path to my compost pile shoveled beginning with the first adequate snow fall of the season. I shovel it after every storm to keep up with the snow and to prevent myself from having to carve out a path when the snow is a few feet deep - a killer on the back.

I make a point to add my scraps to the pile at least once a week during winter and don’t worry about turning my compost until the spring thaw reawakens the landscape around me. I try to spread out my scraps evenly on the pile over the fallen snow. When the snow melts in the spring, my scraps settle into place where they resume the decomposition process.

Do you have any tips to make winter composting easier?

Guide to Backyard Composting
Choosing the Best Location to Start a Fall Compost Pile

Choosing the Best Location to Start a Fall Compost Pile



Image: Sten/CC-BY-SA

If you’re wondering whether or not you can compost in the winter, the answer is yes and fall is a great time to start a new compost pile. There are several factors to consider when choosing the best location for your compost and depending on the region in which you live, the amount of snowfall you get is one of them.

4 Factors to Consider when Choosing a Location

When scouting out the best location to start your fall compost pile, consider the following factors and choose a location that is convenient to you and one that won’t cause friction with the neighbors come spring.

Proximity to House: If you live in an area that gets lots of snow fall and you are planning on adding scraps to your compost throughout the winter, then choose a location that is close enough to your home so that you won’t have to trek through mounds of snow to reach your pile.

Spring and Summer Considerations: When choosing a location, keep in mind that when the snow melts your compost pile will be visible. Since it won’t be fully composted yet, make sure to choose a location you’ll be happy with come spring.

Proximity to Neighbors: Will your neighbors be able to see or smell your compost pile once the snow has gone? Consider the proximity to your neighbors property line and their field of vision and smell when choosing a location this fall.

Type of Compost Bin: If you use a tumbler, your best bet is to choose a location with some cover so you won't have to dig through a pile of snow to open the tumbler or give it a good spin. If your bin is on the ground, don’t worry about shielding it from the snow as snow won’t hurt the compost pile.

Grow Radishes and Carrots Indoors this Winter

Image: MartinKozák via Wikimedia Commons

Don’t let winter thwart your love of gardening, especially if you live in a cold climate like the north. Try growing something new in a window box or container like radishes or carrots, both of which are easy to grow indoors. In a few simple steps you can provide your family with the taste of summer while the snow piles up outside.

Choose an Indoor Container

There are a few rules of thumb when it comes to choosing a container to grow radishes and carrots indoors. First, it must have drainage; your root vegetables will thank you. Radishes and carrots grow best in well-drained soil. Soggy soil often leads to root rot.

Secondly, the container needs to be at least twice the depth of the root vegetables when they reach maturity. For instance, if the variety of carrot you choose to grow matures at 4", your container should be at least 8" deep.

Thirdly, the container should be a proper fit in your home. Think about where you’ll be placing your containers - remember they need sun. Will you go with a window box or pots to line a sunny stairwell?  

Preparing the Soil for Indoor Growth

Radishes and carrots both prefer a light, well-drained sandy soil. Stay away from heavy soils like clay and loam. Think about the soil in your outdoor garden bed where you grow radishes and carrots. The soil in your indoor containers should mimic that soil.

Radishes and carrots don’t need to be fed quite as much as other heavy feeding vegetables. A little compost or man made fertilizer goes a long way. When fertilizing, keep the amount of nitrogen you introduce to the soil to a minimum. Too much nitrogen will cause your radishes and carrots to focus on growing foliage rather than developing their roots.

I prefer to grow organic vegetables, so I either use composted manure or finished compost. If you choose to buy a man made fertilizer, opt for one with a low nitrogen ratio. Look at the three numbers on the bag # - # - #, nitrogen should appear first.

Great Indoor Radish and Carrot Varieties

While there are some jumbo varieties of radishes, many have short, round roots making them great to grow in a container. The same can’t be said for carrots because some varieties can grow 10 - 12" in length. I’ve put together a list of varieties that will do well in an indoor container. If the local nursery is closed for the winter and the garden center doesn’t have any seeds in stock, check online. You can order from online seed catalogs at any time.

Indoor Radish Varieties

• Cherry Belle
• Champion
• Black Spanish Round
• Easter Egg
• Rover

Indoor Carrot Varieties

• Atlas: Matures at 2"
• Baby Mokum: Matures at 4"
• Caracus: Matures at 4 1/2"
• Scarlet Nantes: Matures at 6"
• Danvers Half Long: Matures at 6 - 7 ½"

Sowing for a Winter Crop

Sowing radish and carrots seeds is easy in a container. Simply follow the directions on the back of the seed packet remembering to thin the root vegetables once they reach a height of 2". To eliminate the thinning process and make sowing easier, make your own seed tapes.

When you grow radishes and carrots indoors during the winter, you’ll have a nice supply of fresh, crunchy vegetables that you’d normally have to buy at the grocery store. To make sure all your radishes and carrots aren’t ready for harvest at the same time, sow your seeds at different intervals. Growing vegetables indoors during the winter makes a great project for kids and is one that can be turned into a learning experience.