One of the reasons we chose to relocate to Georgia from NJ was the fabulously long growing season (and the lovely weather in general). Look how lovely this camellia is right now.
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But I was never really able to take advantage of the mild winters as far as growing vegetables was concerned. I had tried many times and failed each time. My cabbages always got eaten by cabbage worms. My broccoli got eaten by the same worms and slugs. All I really was able to grow was Swiss Chard.
So when I decided last summer to enlarge my vegetable garden, I also decided that I would try once again to grow some winter veg. But this time I would do it differently!
Look at what I’ve been able to grow this winter!
Winter Vegetable Gardening
Stunning isn’t it? So delish too.
I used the two new raised beds (that I got on clearance at Lowe’s) and planted my cold weather veggies in September. But the main reason for my success I think is using a quilted row cover. I think it protected my young starts from the cabbage moth and now is providing protection from the cold overnite temps.
Look how amazing this bed looks vs. the one I did not use a row cover on. Granted I’m growing different veggies in each bed….but still!
That’s spinach, brussel sprouts and a lettuce mix growing in that bed. I’m going to order another quilted row cover for this sad bed and hope that it helps.
Look how amazing this cabbage looks so far!
The kale. What can I say about it other than it’s delicious and so nutritious. Good raw and cooked. I hear kale chips are good so I’m going to make some of those soon.
So now that I’ve had some success with a winter vegetable garden you know next year I’ll grow even more!
That’s what I love about gardening – you always learn something new!
How wonderful Manuela! I didn’t even attempt to grow broccoli, cauliflower or cabbage this year because of the trouble I had with those cabbage worms the year before. I need to look into getting some of those covers. For the bugs and the frost! Did you use the cover while the weather was still warm in the Fall? Or just once the cold weather hit?
Mary Ellen
The Working Home Keeper
Mary Ellen,
I basically used the covers as soon as I planted my veggie starts. It was still warm in September so I had one end open most of the time. The light and rain filters through them so you can just keep them covered. I really think it must have confused those cabbage moths. Maybe they can’t figure out how to fly in and out of things! I also planted these veggies using the Square Foot Gardening method. Although, I don’t think that’s why this bed was successful because I have used that method before and not gotten good results.
Manuela
Great looking veggies! Nothing like homegrown.
I am so impressed! You (And the 20 degree temperature) are really tempting me south!!
Wow! I’m thinking of all the wonderful things I could make with your beautiful vegetables! You should write a gardening journal and I would be the first to read it!
The only thing still growing in my garden is weeds! It has been an unusually warm winter so far and the weeds appear to still survive.
I love seeing the difference between the raised bed you covered and the one you didn’t.
It is SO good to “see” you again. 🙂
Oh, the joy of the fall garden! No bugs and no watering. Also, so lovely to have all that green when everything else is drab and brown. I am loving mine, too!
Stevie @ ruffledfeathersandspilledmilk.com
Wow! That is very impressive — I may have to consider purchasing one of those quilted covers. I’ve always tended to avoid row covers except for momentary frost protection, because I like going out and seeing the plants — I don’t want to look at covers, but an actual significant winter harvest would be nice! I just picked my bit of broccoli and and some greens this week and your harvest looks to be way greater. Where did you get your cover from?
I am so impressed with your winter crop. It must be pure pleasure to eat vegetables fresh from your garden in the dead of winter.
Manuela~
you’re garden is doing wonderful. We had such a time with the garden earlier in the year being eaten by the dreaded grasshoppers and then extreme heat… I decided “why not?!” so I planted a late “fall” garden too.
We’ve got broccoli which is doing better now than it did in the summer months. I think it is cold hardy. we haven’t covered our broccoli. We just noticed today that the brussel sprouts are coming on the stalk! YAY.
That kolrabi looks interesting. I didn’t know what that would look like…but it’s interesting. I’d have to find recipes…like I’ve done with so much of what I’ve grown last year.
We also still have onion, carrot, radish, and cabbage…
So glad to see you posting again and glad you got the kinks worked out on your site.
Happy New Year, Pat
Your veggies look great!
We lost our broccoli during that freak snow storm in October! If I had known that it was going to warm back up and stay mild, I would have replanted! Now though it is cold and freezing over night. I like the look of the covers, we may need to try that this year.
Glad to see you again!
Wow! What a difference that row cover made. How wonderful to get such beautiful produce right in your own backyard. The kholrabi looks spectacular. Enjoy! Tammy
Thank you Tammy. The kholrabi is looking very good. I have to look up some recipes for it because I’ve never cooked it before!
Manuela
Your garden looks awesome! I tried to give container gardening a try last summer, some stuff grew some did not, don’t know if I will try again this spring and summer, I put out so much of my extra money for all the containers , soil and plants that I usually use for flowers and then when things barely grew I wished I wouldn’t have wasted the money.. A few tomatoes and peppers grew and they tasted awesome on homemade pizza, but they didn’t continue to grow I only picked a few one or two times maybe.. You really have a green thumb!
Don’t be discouraged Pattie. Some years are better than others. I always say that I’m glad I don’t HAVE to feed my family on what I grow. I’m lucky that it’s a choice I can make. Also, I’ve decided not to grow potatoes anymore. They did great the first year and then for the last 4 years or so it’s been a dismal crop. I can buy organic potatoes for less than it was costing my to grow them (and we don’t eat a lot of potatoes anyway). I just always thought it was so fun to be able to stick your hand deep in the earth and pull out something edible!
Also containers are great but they dry out fast and they need lots of regular fertilizer no matter how good a potting soil mix you use.
Manuela
oops somehow my comment posted with my old blog url… now I fixed it.
Wow, that is amazing! I am almost ready to give up on my garden because we can’t control the Bermuda grass. It just takes over by mid summer. Do the raised bed kits that you got at Lowes have a bottom? I think that is what I need because the Bermuda grass creeps under and then infests the garden bed. But with a bottom and sides I might be able to keep it out? Ever have a problem with Bermuda?
No that kit does not have a bottom. You could certainly attach a bottom but I’d check to make sure you have enough planting depth for the things you want to plant.
Yes Bermuda is a NIGHTMARE. I hate it! The only thing you can do is to remove it. I have it allover my backyard. and what I have to do is take a spade dig up a square, shake the dirt off and get rid of the roots. You have to remover every bit of root otherwise it grows again! Nasty stuff!
Manuela
I found a method that gets rid of bermuda grass easily, especially if you are going to put in raised beds.
Cut it down as close to the ground as you can get it, and put a layer of newspaper (8-10 sheets thick) over it. Then plant or mulch over it. Don’t remove it – it will eventually decompose.
This method has worked very well for me here in Nevada.
I have found that method to be excellent for other types of grass, but if it’s got runners not so much.
Manuela
What an incredible bounty. You are blessed to live in an area where you can have a winter garden! I am putting in raised beds this spring!
Kohlrabi is so delicious and yours looks wonderful!
What a wonderful garden. I love all the veggies you have planted. What a joy it must be to go out and collect yummy fresh veggies for dinner in winter!
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Hey! I just ran across your site…I’m from Georgia too! I love finding bloggers from my home state – and I love your site! I can’t wait to read more 🙂
I’m your newest follower 🙂
Good for you. I have some similar results. Some veggies were hit out of the park and some, well, your sad veggie bed made me smile. 🙂
Nice! Felt sorry for the plants without the row cover. Poor things!
Georgia must be heavenly in the winter. Here in the Pacific Northwest we’d have to grow hydroponically in the monsoon season if it wasn’t so cold that even the compost sulks.
I still have broccoli growing in my garden, but when I went to pick some this week, it was covered with aphids!! I didn’t expect that in Winter, but it’s been unseasonably warm this year. I’m going to try just spraying them off with water. Any suggestions?
Blessings,
Marcia
What a difference the quilted cover makes! Right now, our raised beds are completely empty. Maybe next fall, I should try this. Every year, I say that I’m going to do a winter garden, and every year I procrastinate.
Your garden is glorious! My parents live in Ga. near Jessup.
Oh you are killing me Manuela, enjoy that mild weather for me.Your garden looks wonderful. I did mange to harvest some Jerusalem artichokes the other day and they were fab. I am going to grow a bunch more xox Clarice
Manuela your garden looks so amazing! I bought a little greenhouse at Lowe’s last spring and I have it filled with spinach and salad greens. I wanted to grow broccoli and kale etc. I just didn’t quite get there this winter. However, now I’m really inspired by your great success!
Your winter garden is just beautiful and I was so excited to get to take a peek at it. I cannot believe the size of that kohlrabi….Unbelievable! Thanks so much also for linking up to the Ole Saturday Homesteading Trading Post @ Lil’ Suburban Homestead! I look forward to sharing the journey with you!