A little bit of frost won't hurt kale, in fact it will make them even tastier. 

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Grow food All Year LOng

If you live in relatively mild climate of Zones 6, 7 and 8, and would like to harvest your own veggies year round, try your hand winter vegetable gardening. Here, on the Southwest coast of British Columbia (Zone 8), our temperate winters provide a perfect opportunity to grow hardy, cool season crops. Our winters are short, rainy and mild. We can expect frost from November 2nd to March 28. That’s pretty good compared to the rest of Canada.  

Surprisingly, this Tuscan kale survived and went on to produce huge and tasty crop.

​The conditions are so good in the Lower Mainland of BC, that it is not necessary to harvest carrots, beets, parsnips and other root crops in fall. In fact, it is better to keep them in the ground as the coolness often enhances their flavor and keeps them fresh. They must have good draining soil though so they don’t turn to mush. Good drainage is essential for winter gardening especially in soggy BC. If it is a problem, consider raised beds and big planters. For poorly draining clay soils, mix in compost, SeaSoil, composted manure and other organic matter. 

Winter gardening in cooler zones of 6 and 7, are a bit more challenging. Select an area protected from winter winds and in full sun. Against the house or heated garage is a perfect spot to give plants extra protection. At least you won’t have to worry about the slugs like we have to in rainy B.C.
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The opportunity to start a winter garden begins once summer crops are harvested and gaps appear in the veggie garden. A sheltered spot out of the way of cold winter winds and in full sun is ideal. Keeping the soil insulated is important too, hence the need for mulch. Straw works well so does sawdust, however, my fave is fall leaves. They are free and work like a charm. 

Swiss chard is kept a bit warmer surrounded by a leafy mulch.

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What to Plant

​Swiss chard, broccoli, kale, Brussel sprouts, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, beets, parsnips, onions, garlic, leeks are cool season crops that don’t mind the slings and arrows of winter. Not just any variety of these plants will do though. Siberian kale says it all. Westcoast Seeds have made inroads in developing winter veggies and are a local BC company in Ladner. They have an excellent winter catalogue that comes with an comprehensive chart to make sense of it all.

​Depending on the crop, harvest from fall through winter (ex: carrots, kohlrabi, lettuce, mescluns, pac choi, peas).  Semi-mature cauliflower, broccoli, onions and garlic will survive the winter and won’t put on much growth until spring. Once this happens, they will mature and be ready for harvest just before spring planting time.

​Root crops will remain relatively dormant underground and benefit from the insulating properties of the soil. Harvest them as needed. Others will need to be protected from killing frosts with floating row covers as they will continue to grow slowly throughout the winter such as cilantro, chervil, mescluns, lettuce.

Beets are best left in the ground to overwinter.

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Things to Know

Pick the Right Varieties: Please note that the varieties of veggies that we plant in spring are not suitable for winter gardening. They have been bred for summer weather: long, hot, sunny days. I use Westcoast Seeds catalogue as my bible for sowing, growing, harvesting and storing veggies. 
Transplants: If growing veggies from seeds is not your cup of tea, check out your local plant nurseries as they might have transplants ready to just plop in your garden. You will have to shop around though as not all nurseries carry veggie plants for winter gardening.
Rotate Crops: Don’t plant the same crop in the same place, especially in the same place you’ve just harvested from. A four year rotation is recommended to reduce diseases and insects.
Protection: Some plants will need protection not just from freezing temperatures, but from bugs too. Floating row covers, also sometimes referred to as tunnel cloches, are covered with either plastic or the fabric-like spun-bonded polyester (Remay). The fabric allows light, air and water through and has some insulating value. Plastic does not allow rain or air through, and might overheat on sunny days. Open up the ends of plastic covers to prevent overheating, but remember to close them at the end of the day. 

Hardy winter scallions inlcude Kincho, Pacific 22 and Ramrod.

Rotate crops to prevent diseases and insects. Companion planting is a good idea too.

Protect plants with a floating row cover.

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Here's a few examples of some common winter crops. 

Harvest the main broccoli head and others will sprout along the stem for an extended harvest.

​Broccoli – Start seeds indoors last week of June to the first week of July. Harden off the seedlings before transplanting them outside in early August (10 to 12 weeks before last frost). You can also directly sow the seeds in the ground in August. Harvest throughout fall and winter by removing the initial head. Continue to harvest the side shoots that will quickly form along the main stem.  To protect them from cabbage moths and provide a bit more warmth, cover them with a floating row cover. Ex: Natalino, Red Spear Purple Sprouting 

​Lettuce – There’s numerous ways to grow a late crop of lettuce. Sow indoors in July or directly sow seeds outdoors in August for fall and winter harvests. Or purchase transplants and plant from late August to October. Harvest individual leaves instead of the entire heads for continued harvesting. Cover with a floating row cover, cloche, to keep the frost from nipping the leaf tips and to keep heavy winter rains from turning them into mush. Ex: Winter Density, Rouge d’Hiver  

Lettuce is a quick growing crop and benefits from being grown under a floating row cover.

After making it through the winter, this kale produces flowers and tender new leaves.

Kale – One of the hardiest of veggies. Start seeds indoors about 2 weeks before the last frost (late July, early Aug). Transplant outside in 4 weeks. They usually don’t need protection. Kale is so hardy that plants started in spring will survive to the following spring. Since kale is a biennial, so it will flower the second year, then die. Before that happens it will produce tasty yellow flowers on tall stems and their leaves will be small, tender and sweet. Ex: Redbor, Winter Red

​Onions – Sow seeds indoors in late June, early July and plant outside in August. Harvest the following June. When the tops start to fall over, bend over any that are still upright, wait a week, then harvest. Cure in a frost free, dry place in a single layer. If curing them outside, cover them to avoid morning dew. Once their skin dries and becomes crispy, they are ready to eat or store. Ex: Walla Walla, they are the best and most reliable. 

​Peas – You don’t need a garden to grow peas as they grow well in containers. Sow in February when the ground is workable – it should drip water when squeezed. Plant again in July to September. Since peas grow quickly, repeat sowings extend the harvests to December. Ex: Cascadia, Green Arrow.