Winter Vegetables

2011-11-29T15:21:00.000-08:00

The term "winter vegetables" is usually used in the U.K. For most of that country, root vegetables and hearty plants like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, leeks, etc.can be grown throughout the winter. Not so for those of us in the frozen north, like me in Minnesota. Nevertheless, most gardeners in Minnesota and other northern climes don't realize that they can extend their season well into November, sometimes even into December. Global warming seems to be our friend in this case. I just harvested the last of my broccoli. I have bedded my Swiss chard with a generous layer of leaves and expect to harvest a couple of meals from them in December.

I am a veteran northern gardener in an urban community garden. I work hard to get my plants going in the spring, plant them outside as early as possible, double-crop most of my garden space, and generally do what I can to lengthen my season.

I look forward to conversations about community gardening and about gardening in the northern part of the U.S.

Constant Gardener

Winter Vegetables