By: James Meehan

Winter is the time that sends us packing inside our homes. However, if you live in congested temperate zone, then winter gardening will be adventure and fun. Winter gardening can provide you good supply of fresh vegetables. If you can garden in open space then nothing, better. Select a space that gets full exposure to sun. A bed under deciduous trees is best for winter gardening.

The first step is preparing the soil. To prepare the soil, add compost and arrange for proper drainage. This will make the soil fertile for the plants and seeds. Before planting, make sure that you remove old rotten crops and sow cover crops. This will lessen the growth of winter weeds. You can also till the bed and cover the soil with mulch to discourage the growth of weeds.

Choose plants that thrive in cooler temperatures and need less sun. In flowers, pansies, calendula, stock, and nemesia, in vegetables broccoli, cilantro, cabbage, peas, lettuce, onions, and reddish grow good in winter. Escarole, carrot and other root crops are also good veggies to grow for winter.

To provide proper air to plants, space them further apart than what you do in summer. To provide proper sunlight, position them in such a way that the taller ones do not shade the smaller ones.

You can plan for winter gardening inside your house too if you have sufficient space. This would really be fun and a time for ‘team work’. You can involve your spouse, children, and other family members. The growing vegetables would provide a fresh supply for food. You can find other small projects that can be executed in the given space and time.

Winter-blooming shrubs like sweet olive, daphne, and witch-hazel will add to the beauty of your landscape. Even when the flowers are scanty and gardening takes a backseat, you can enjoy a full-fledged garden in the winter.