I’m in my second year of gardening in zone 7b. Since I’m in the middle of moving, I’m just starting to get cool season plants (even though I was late last year and they still did ok despite the hard freeze). Most advice for my area doesn’t seem to include tips for growing in winter and early spring, but I know it’s possible where I am. It feels like most people around here only garden in the summer. How do you keep planting and managing so that you have something growing all the time? Bonus points for advice specific to zone 7b.
Hardiness zone can be pretty vague since it can cover areas from Texas to North Carolina or even parts of Alaska.
You’ll need winter protection for almost all plants if temperatures drop to 5 or 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can grow mache, spinach, sorrel, kale, and various Asian greens like mizuna and tatsoi. Most of those should be fine without protection, and kale might manage okay too.
With winter protection, the range of options opens up.
Light can also be an issue (especially if you’re in a place with little light). Winter gardening often focuses on keeping plants alive rather than growing them, especially on grey days like those in Michigan where I live.
Little low tunnels are easy to build, and you can cover them with plastic, frost cloth, or both during really cold weather.
Getting seedlings started as soon as possible is crucial for a winter garden.
@Reagan
Thanks for all that info! I’m in north Georgia, in case that helps. I want to grow grains and greens, cabbage, beets, carrots, and herbs. My fava beans did well last year even in the cold, but there’s not a lot of info out there! I’m okay with just getting started like I do with hardy annual flowers since many things I love don’t thrive in summer here. I’ll be picking up my brassica seedlings tomorrow and planting most things this weekend, except for the favas and the onions/garlic.
@Ira
Thanks for sharing your location! Now I don’t have to worry about explaining how hours of daylight limit growth from November to February.
@Reagan
Can you grow Brussels sprouts, or is it just a UK thing?
Ash said:
@Reagan
Can you grow Brussels sprouts, or is it just a UK thing?
I live in the same area as you and I sure hope I can grow them too, as I currently have about ten growing.
@Addison
I tried growing some last year and they made it through! Good luck!
Ash said:
@Reagan
Can you grow Brussels sprouts, or is it just a UK thing?
Brussels sprouts do just fine. They can survive temperatures as low as 10 degrees, but the plant needs established roots by that time.
@Murphy
It’s interesting how we have so many types of brassicas, yet only 2 to 5 types of potatoes are really available.
Ash said:
@Murphy
It’s interesting how we have so many types of brassicas, yet only 2 to 5 types of potatoes are really available.
Exactly! Outside of my local international market, I can’t find a variety. At least there they have purple sweet potatoes and Japanese sweet potatoes.
@Murphy
I’ve seen Japanese sweet potatoes in my local stores a few times, but they were terrible, so I must’ve cooked them wrong. I found purple ones a couple of times, but they were too old.
We definitely need more variety; I’m getting tired of seeing the same things.
When I lived in DC, zone 7a, I was able to grow cold-hardy greens, herbs, and vegetables until mid-December. They usually needed to be planted by early to mid-September. Lettuce, kale, and other greens thrived in the fall. Cold-hardy root vegetables like carrots and beets could stay in the ground. I also saw some people overwintering brassicas like broccoli for an early spring harvest, but I never had much luck with that. Peas could be grown sometimes, but that was hit or miss since fall could be too warm for them. I had good success overwintering cold-hardy herbs like parsley and chives.
I’m in zone 7b, western NC, and I’ve directly sown seeds as late as November. You can grow certain things like kale, peas, and lettuce pretty much throughout the winter in the south.
Vic said:
I’m in zone 7b, western NC, and I’ve directly sown seeds as late as November. You can grow certain things like kale, peas, and lettuce pretty much throughout the winter in the south.
But does it grow quickly? I’ve tried this in zone 6a, but it just doesn’t get enough sun. Maybe you have more over there?
To the OP: I understand it can be hard to say goodbye to the garden, but after decades of gardening, if I haven’t started it by July, I usually just focus on taking care of the plants already there.
I still garden, but I do microgreens in the greenhouse now. It just doesn’t satisfy me unless I see vigorous growth. In the last ten days, I’ve put out quite a few scallions and garlic.
I still have plenty to do—cleaning rust off tools, organizing my sheds, tidying up the greenhouse, repairing raised beds, focusing on leaf mulch, and composting. There’s always something to do in gardening, which can take hours of preparation for the new season.
And don’t forget planning out new varieties for next year!
@Mal
How do you get good crops of brassica and cabbage where you are? They are my favorite veggies, but they don’t last through summer and the seedlings die unless planted pretty late. I’d love to hear any tricks you have!
@Mal
It doesn’t grow as fast as in spring, but it produces amazing greens. The repeated freeze-thaw cycle makes the leaves sweeter. Kale and Asian greens, when planted in October or November and harvested in January or February, are incredible. They bolt in March and produce early flowers, attracting pollinators back to the garden quickly.
Just so you know, farmers grow greens all winter here, so I’m just following what they do!
@Vic
If you plant them in October or November, harvest in January or February, and they bolt in March, bringing pollinators to the garden, then I’m definitely going to try this!
Vic said:
I’m in zone 7b, western NC, and I’ve directly sown seeds as late as November. You can grow certain things like kale, peas, and lettuce pretty much throughout the winter in the south.
Thank you so much for sharing! You’re quite similar to me in terms of climate! I’m surprised you could sow seeds in November! I’m really hoping I can transplant brassicas and direct sow peas, fava beans, beets, and carrots this weekend if I hustle. I’ve noticed that farmers around here can produce crops all winter, but I’m new to it and they don’t share their secrets yet!
I’m in zone 7b and want to know too!
Val said:
I’m in zone 7b and want to know too!
It’s surprising that even Walter Reeves just… stops providing info. I’ve been piecing together information from blogs and friends, but I have a large garden and want to have something growing all year!