We don’t have to limit our growing and harvesting season just to those few short summer months. Many gardeners are now successfully growing and harvesting almost year round. You too can extend the season. Here are a few basics and below you’ll find some good links to read more.
Extend the Season
- Choose crops for their cold hardiness.
- Add some sort of winter-protection such as a cold frame, a simple greenhouse, the quick-hoop system (or in the fall and spring, just a layer or two of floating row cover). The goal of these options is to capture some of the earth’s natural warmth, especially at night, and block the chilling, drying effect of wind.
- Or extend the underground warmth by protecting root crops for example with bales or heavy layers of straw.
Read More
Extending the growing season resources – courtesy of Dr Amy Turnbull
RHS – Vegetables – Growing for winter
Winter Gardening Tips from Mother Earth News
Gardeners Guide to Growing Winter Vegetables
How to Make your Own Cold Frame – Organic Gardening
Keep Vegetables in the Ground this Winter
About The Author: Amy Turnbull
Scientist, researcher and professor at Fanshawe College. Avid grower of edibles in her home garden.
More posts by Amy Turnbull