Can You Grow Vegetables In The Winter?
Posted by admin on February 28, 2010
I planted cucumbers about two months ago and they just started getting cucumbers before it got cold out, I was so close to getting my cucumbers, if only i would have planted them 3 weeks early. I’m new to gardening and seeing those cucumbers grow made me wonder if there are any plants you can grow in winter. I live in Pittsburgh, PA, so it gets pretty chilly up here. So any help would be great thanks! (:
Well depending on whether your growing them inside or out but i think broccoli grows all year round. Now I know that you can grow tomatoes in San Francisco ca. during the summer when it’s cold and foggy.the only thing is that you can let them grow for too long because they start to rot from the coldness or something like that. I think it is also dependent on what kind of tomato. But that’s about all I can tell you. Just started myself. Good luck!
There are no vegetables that you can plant (outside) this time of year in Pittsburgh that will produce crops. Next year, plan on starting your plants in late July or early August. Pay attention to the maturity dates. You do not want to pick something that takes too long to mature. Brussels Sprouts are the only vegetable that grows upward that can take a little snow. However once it gets cold enough, all vegetables above ground will die. Carrots are something that will grow into the winter if they are planted in sandy soil where you can dig them out as you want to eat some. Once again, once the ground freezes so hard, they will be done for.
there are lots of ways to extend the growing season… hothouses/hotboxes, containers that can be brought inside, greenhouses all kinds of really great ideas. There are lots of sites dedicated to gardening in general with people who know much more than I do about such things. One book I highly recommend is here:http://www.amazon.com/Four-Season-Harves…
The whole point is growing veggies year round and I believe the author is from up north… maybe Maine?
But yes it is possible with a little ingenuity. there are actually veggies you are supposed to plant in cooler weather.
Good luck and happy growing!
Yes, you can but it all depends on where you live. There are plants that will survive a light freeze while other plants will die in a moderate to heavy freeze. WHAT you can grow and WHEN you can grow it is all dependent on your USDA zone. So you should first find out what your USDA Zone is. You can use this link and just type in your zip to get your zone number. http://www.gardenweb.com/zones/zip.cgi
Once you have that you need to determine when your first and last frost dates are. These are ball park dates that give you an idea when to expect first freeze temperatures in the fall and when to expect the last frost before starting spring crops. http://organicgardening.about.com/od/org…
Then you’ll have to determine which are cool season and which are warm season crops (usually states right on the seed packet). Based on your frost dates you can figure out when to sow seeds so that they mature before your first frost. Cukes are a warmer season crop and obviously were sowed too late before they hit maturity.
As others here have mentioned, you can go around your frost date by growing indoors with grow lights, using a green house, extending the season with a cold frame, or extending the season using specialized blankets that keep the soil and your plants warm.
Good luck with your gardening!
Sure, you can. In pots and window boxes (inside, of course). Tomatos grow year round in pots but must have sun and at least 70 degrees for eight to ten hours a day…you can move them outside on warmer days. Your cucumbers will grow inside too, with a trellis and a good pot. You might want to look into grow lights and hydroponics in a small way…or large.
We grow veggies all winter in New Orleans. Where you are, I think you would need a greenhouse. The biggest problem, aside from freezing weather is the long nights and short days. Do some research. It might be fun to learn if it can be done.
Bell peppers can be potted up and brought in for the winter in zone 5, with a sunny window. Mine produce all winter, and survive to go outside next year.
Under artificial lighting and warmth, you can grow anything. But then again, money cannot be an issue.
Kale and some green things can grow.