Well, snow is in the air and temperatures are reducing to more chilly levels. These are preliminary events for the coming of Old Man Winter. No doubt you probably shut down your gardening for this year. But, if you are extremely stoked with gardening, then there is no reason why you can’t continue with it through the blistering cold and snow of winter 2020.
Here are some ideas that will extend the gardening season through the winter.
Plan Next Year’s Garden
It is always a good idea to plan. And, while you are locked indoors to protect yourself from the frigid cold, howling winds, and snow you can take the time to plan out next year’s garden. You can refer to gardening magazines to identify ideas that you want to incorporate into your garden during the growing season. Make a list of your ideas so when the time comes you can execute your plan from imagination to reality.
Bring Your Gardening Indoors
If you look closely you’ll find plenty of empty space where you can place a plant or two. One way to take advantage of limited space is to pursue vertical gardening.
You can also put out more indoor plants. The scent will surely improve the odor of your home. Pot more plants and make sure you give them enough sunlight. Also, don’t forget to water them thoroughly. The watering doesn’t have to be frequent. Water just enough to keep the plants moist or humid. Keep in mind that the indoor air is drier during the winter months.
Grow Food From Scraps
Salvage the tops of such vegetables as onions, lettuce, carrots, garlic and more plant in a pot, water periodically and place in a room with a growing light or place on the sill of a south-facing window.
Grow Fruits Indoors
Don’t let the cold weather deprive you of eating fruit during the winter. Instead of relying on buying fruit from the supermarket or grocery store, grow it. You can grow lemons in large containers, strawberries in hanging baskets, and blueberries in a greenhouse.
Grow An Indoor Herb Garden
Do some research and identify from herbs that can be grown indoor during the winter months. No doubt, you will want the taste of herbs involved in your holiday meals. In addition, fresh herbs can offer a healthy-boost to your immune system.
Fool Seeds Into Growing Like It’s Summer
One reason why plants don’t grow outside in the winter is the scarcity of needed resources like water, soil nutrients and the proper amount of sunlight. However, with light you can fool seeds into growing. Use grow lights to start seeds indoors during the late winter. It gives you a leg up on your spring vegetable gardening.
Compost During The Winter Months
Regardless the season, there are always kitchen scraps. Don’t throw them away. Instead use them for compost. When spring arrives, you’ll be glad you did.
Grow Vegetable Gardens Outdoors During Winter
There are vegetables that tolerate cold weather and can grow in the winter. Determine your hardiness zone and what vegetables grow best in your neck of the woods during winter. Help things along by building growing mediums and season-extending concepts like raised beds with mulch and inexpensive greenhouses.
Grow Flowers Outdoors In Winter
Just as there are vegetables that can tolerate the cold weather, there are also flowers that can do the same. Flowers including hellebores, snowdrops, and winter-hardy lilies will stand up to the snow and cold. Include a good assortment of perennial flowers and annual flowers in the garden that bloom regardless of the season.
Create A Winter Container Garden
Give your barren containers and planters some life during the winter with plants that can tolerate the cold. Fir, spruce, or pine branches as well as hollies and firethorn can add some color to the white milieu.
Sprout Seeds
Grow sprouts from seeds from such flora as mung beams, alfalfa, fenugreek, peas, and beets. Just make sure that you provide the sprouts with moisture.
Grow Microgreens
Also known as vegetable confetti, microgreens are harvested by cutting with scissors a month before germination. Some of the most common seeds grown as microgreens include sunflower seeds, chia seeds, buckwheat, broccoli, and cauliflowers.
(Source: gardenseason.com)
