Just because winter is almost here doesn’t mean you have to stop gardening. The seasoned gardener knows that there’s a special category of plants that thrive in winter conditions. So make room in those planters and dust off the garden hoes; it’s time to get planting.
Asparagus
This is one of those rare vegetables that takes 2-3 years to produce any sort of yield. Due to their lengthy lifespan asparagus needs to have the resilience to last throughout multiple winters, making them the ideal vegetable to plant this winter. If you’re turned off by the idea of waiting 2-3 years to get a return, you’ll be pleased to learn that these plants can produce a yield for up to 20 years. If you find that the soil is too hard to work, you can always start the asparagus in a fibreglass planter that can withstand the weather of winter and transplant at a later, warmer time.
Garlic
Garlic is beloved by many a gardener and chef not only because it’s such a staple in any kitchen but because of how easy it is to grow. Garlic only grows to less than seven centimetres deep and should be planted no deeper than three centimetres below the soil, depending on how soft or hard the soil is. Ideally garlic is planted a few weeks before the first frost of the winter, but once they’ve been in the ground for a week or two they’re able to withstand numerous frosts. If the ground is frozen over, start garlic indoors using a plant trough. Troughs are necessary for growing garlic because each piece of garlic needs about a foot to grow without bumping into another plant.
Onions
Another staple in any proper kitchen, onions are most at home in winter soil. It’s recommended that onions are planted in mid-autumn so they have time to mature for their summer harvest. The edible part of the onion isn’t seen but the floor’s surface, only its leaves. This being the case it’s important to mark and segregate onions from other parts of the yard so as not to confuse them with grass.
Lettuce
A salad and sandwich classic, lettuce can withstand air temperatures that are below freezing. Lettuce can at times be finicky and is best planted when the soil is a bit warmer than below freezing. In order to do this it’s advised that gardeners begin planting immediately or start lettuce in a planter and transplant at a later time.