Winter Gardening

Select vegetables that are tolerant of cold weather.

Gardening during late fall and winter can be a rewarding challenge to the more experienced gardener. A little of the gambling spirit can help since you are trying to outguess Mother Nature.

If you live in the Middle Georgia area you can expect an average of 255 frost-free days. Consider this point when selecting vegetables for the winter garden. Those vegetables selected should have some tolerance to cold weather and light frost. Some of the vegetables that meet these requirements include beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, radishes, spinach, turnips, and onion plants.

Plant condition in cold weather important

All of these vegetables should be started early enough to have fairly mature plants by the first of November in the Middle Georgia area. The condition of the plant at the time of cold weather will determine to a large degree how much cold the plant will tolerate before damage occurs. In general, the more mature the plant, the more tolerance it has to cold weather. Since vigorous growing plants are more easily damaged by cold, less nitrogen fertilizer should be applied to winter vegetables.

Acclimate plants slowly

A gradual decrease in night temperatures over several days acclimates the vegetables to these lower temperatures and therefore they can tolerate colder weather. Cold damage is more likely to occur if temperatures drop suddenly after several days of warm weather; in which case, temperatures do not have to reach 32° for damage to occur.

Remove frost before sun damages plant…

Winter gardeners should be on guard when that first frost occurs. If plants are in a vegetative state, light frosts can be washed off the plants in time to prevent damage. The frost must be removed before the sun warms the plant. It is best to keep a water hose handy and sprinkle the plants with water to melt the frost before the sun strikes the plants.

Coldframes and hotbeds…

Protective structures such as a hotbed or coldframe can also aid the winter gardener by providing a protected place to grow small amounts of vegetables. A cold frame is actually a small greenhouse. The top is covered with clear plastic or glass and it is heated by the sun. If heat cables are added to the bottom of the cold frame it becomes a hotbed. Hotbeds can be heated by electric soil cables and the temperature controlled.

If you should wish to build a cold frame or hotbed, call your local Extension Office for details. For more information on winter gardens contact your local Extension Agent.