To have a bountiful harvest from your garden, you need to be able to make it through the cold winter months. By following these suggestions, you can ensure that your garden will flourish even in adverse weather conditions.
1) Preparing the Soil
The key to getting a successful garden is having great soil. It’s best to have an area that receives lots of sun for at least six hours a day.
The best way to prepare the soil is by mixing in a lot of compost or manure. If possible, try and get a mixture that has a lot of different nutrients because your plants will be able to use them when they need them most.
Another great idea is to add in some grass clippings and dead leaves from your yard so that you can recycle these items instead of throwing them away.
2) Protection from the Elements
If your garden is not protected at all, you should look into getting an old storm window to use as a makeshift greenhouse. The great thing about using this method is that it isn’t expensive and if you aren’t planning on having one of these items permanently set up in your yard, then it’s easily storable.
You need just enough heat and light to make it through the winter, but you also want to be able to control how much is inside the structure. Too much and the seeds will be overwhelmed; too little and they will die off before they even have a chance of growing into something beautiful.
3) What Seed Varieties Should I Buy?
You must buy seed varieties that will grow in winter. This is because you can’t just expect a plant to sprout up from a cold, lifeless environment. If the weather isn’t warm enough then your plants won’t be able to survive and you’ll have nothing but wasted money.
It might also help if you choose plants that are native to your area. These will be able to handle the conditions a lot better than most other types of plants simply because they have been around them their entire lives.
4) What Insects Should I Look Out For?
One of the best things about gardening in winter is that there aren’t many insects around. This means that you won’t have to worry too much about bugs eating your newfound crop and ruining months of hard work in only a few seconds.
Of course, there is always a slight chance that one might be hanging around out of sight, but if you notice any activity then it’s best to cover your seedlings with bee-proof mesh or aluminum foil. This will prevent the bugs from reaching them and ruining all of your hard work.
5) Harvesting in Winter
If you’re in an area where the ground tends to be a little bit frozen, then it can hurt a lot to try and pull up the vegetables. This isn’t going to harm the plants themselves, but there is a risk that it will damage their root systems if you aren’t careful.
The best way for harvesting these items is by using a fork rather than your hands. The latter might be a little bit easier, but it will also have a higher chance of ruining your plants if you aren’t careful