Gardeners in northern zones might be snuggled up in their beds while visions of cherry tomatoes dance in their heads, and gardeners in southern zones are still pulling fresh carrots out of the ground and snipping kale for holiday meals.
But, there is some winter garden planning in both northern and southern zones that should be done before Rudolph takes flight. Whether it’s pruning, planning, or purchasing, there is garden work to do in early winter, no matter where you live.
Ordering Bulbs and Tubers
If you think it’s too early to start planning next year’s garden, maybe you haven’t received the first seed catalogs in the mail yet. Several have already arrived at my door, telling me it’s time to get a move on.
Spring-planted bulbs are on sale now, even though the vendors won’t ship them until spring. In fact, many premium dahlia sellers hold flash sales and sell out in a few hours–or minutes. Gladiolas, calla lilies, crocosmia, cannas, ranunculus, begonias, and, of course, dahlias all get planted in spring. Spring-planted bulbs and tubers also make great gifts!
If you find a vendor you like, sign up for their newsletter or follow them on social media. After the initial sale, there will often be a secondary sale to finish selling off inventory before shipping time.
Years ago, orders could wait a bit, but with the increased interest in gardening over the past several years, many top varieties sell out by January. Don’t be caught out in the cold!
Protect Young Trees
Newly planted trees and shrubs, or even those a few years old, are in danger during winter from cold weather and hungry critters. Rabbits, especially, can girdle (meaning to remove all the bark and living tissue) young ornamental trees in minutes. Hungry mice have been known to kill small trees as well. Deer dreaming of the alfalfa fields of summer will browse on any tender twig they can find — especially your new apple tree that was doing so well.
Frigid temps before snow blankets the ground can cause root damage to young trees and shrubs. Mulch over the roots with several inches of wood chips, straw, or other material. Don’t pile it around the trunk like a mound; apply it thickly and evenly, as wide as the drip line. Keep the mulch from touching the trunk.
Wrapping young tree trunks for protection against sunscald and bark injury can be done with white plastic tree guards, which also help with the rabbit and mice problem. Ensure the guards are fastened to the tree so they won’t slide up and expose the base of the sapling. Tubes of hardware cloth can also be used. Make them about six inches larger than the tree’s diameter and bury the base in the ground a couple of inches. If deer are a problem, use fence posts and chicken wire fencing to make a circular protection zone a foot larger than the tree’s branches.
Soil Testing
Instead of trying to get results from the lab in spring when they’re busy, now (if your ground isn’t yet frozen) is the perfect time to send those samples in. You’ll get results in plenty of time to make any recommended amendments, and you won’t be waiting for results in spring when you should be planting.
Most state universities offer soil testing. Search online for garden+soil test+your state.
Cover the Soil
Many gardeners in more temperate regions don’t receive the heavy blanket of snow those in the north enjoy. Bare soil is subject to erosion by wind and isn’t as hospitable for any overwintering microbial life in your soil.
Healthy soil is rarely bare in nature at any season. Be a copycat and cover your garden soils. It’s too late for most of us to plant cover crops, but a layer of mulch will do a lot to protect your soil all winter long, and by the time you are ready to plant in spring, it can just be worked into the soil. More food for your soil microorganisms! Straw (not hay), leaves, pine needles, or even newspaper (weigh it down) can all work well.
Speaking of leaves and pine needles, if you are raking your yard in the fall, keep those piles for mulch now or in spring. Don’t bag them up and put them on the curb — they’re too valuable!
Check on Stored Veggies and Tubers
With the holiday rush on us, it can be easy to forget that your prized bulbs, strings of onions, and a few winter squash are tucked away somewhere. These first few weeks of storage are critical and the time when most problems with storage conditions will surface.
Check on them every week or two, looking for mold (too moist) or dehydration (not enough moisture), and adjust accordingly.
For the rest of the winter, set a recurring appointment on your calendar to give them a peek every 2-3 weeks. Remove anything that is starting to show signs of mold or rot.
Do Some Garden Planning
Along with ordering bulbs and seeds comes planning the garden. After all, you can’t figure out what to order without drawing fun maps and chewing on a pencil!
Make a cup of tea and do some sketching, or try one of the many garden planning apps available. Either way, it will help you to make a list of what to order and to avoid ordering more than you can possibly use — something many of us do all too often.
Set Up a Seed Starting System
With pre-holiday sales, now is the time to buy those kits, grow lights, trays, heat mats, and other items you’d like to have for spring seed starting. Some crops will be started as seedlings in only a couple of months, so it’s just the right time to clear a spot in that spare room or figure out how to fit a few shelves and lights into your dining room.
A sunny window is usually not bright enough light, resulting in leggy, spindly seedlings. Get your garden off to a good start by getting ready for the seed-starting season now.
https://kellogggarden.com/uncategorized/winter-garden-planning-101/
Good stuff!
Bought a few seeds and have more picked out to get.
Bonus check cleared so I’ll be getting that $400 controller to read wind speed, direction and read drop down sides position.
Need more seed trays. Poly for tunnel and linear actuators are the last big purchases.
Then it’s just a whole bunch of work come Spring.
Broccoli and lettuce are still growing s l o w l y under their insect covers. There are some califlower turnips and rudebaga along the back fence.
They are watered every 4 or so days and fertilized weekly using 1 tbs 0-0-17 soluble kelp, 2 tbspn 5-1-1 fish emulsion, and Miracle Grow 10-50-10 flower boost in 2 gallons of water. (High P to encourage the broccoli to flower!) I used a broccoli variety which is only 24" tall when grown so it should be able to remain in the low tunnel the entire time its growing. (My understanding that a high potassium content protects plants against freezing and supports plant stucture.)
Not very clear, but my finger is on the broccoli head is starting to flower...will I get enough mild weather for it to mature?? 40s and 50s next week
We will see. If I can get 3 weeks of mild temps above 25 F I might have some small heads of broccoli.
Companion planted Lettuce, I think Yugoslavian Red Butterhead from Seed Savers The pipe heating cable is snaking around next to them. (Rated 40 F....works well)
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And have a few good recipes handy for when the picking starts.
Asian-style Early Lettuce Wraps
Tasty as the lettuce wraps found in restaurant chains,
and even healthier w/ just-picked early lettuce leaves.
Ing--- 1 tbl canola oil 1 lb lean grnd turkey (or pork) 1 jalapeno, seeded/minced 2 green onions, thinly sliced 2 minced gar/cloves 2 tbl minced fresh basil 2 tbl lime juice 2 tbl soy sauce 1-2 tbl chili garlic sauce 1 tbl sugar, 12 just-picked lettuce leaves
Filling---heat oil on med; Add turkey (or pork); cook 6-8 min (no longer pink), make crumbles. Add jalapeno, green onions, garlic; cook 2 min. Stir in basil, lime juice, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, sugar; heat thru.
Place meat mixture in lettuce leaves; top w/ julienned cukes, carrots, bean sprouts.
Cooking slide - watched this on the dvr last night. Great cooking program with Mary Berry. Ever recipe was a wow factor. Especially liked the onion and fennel tart. If you search for her recipes for this show they are online.
https://www.pbs.org/video/mary-berrys-highland-christmas-xxdzjh/
Thought of you Liz, you would love this.