Although winter is nearly here, it is possible to keep outdoor gardens growing. This article the Sierra Sun Times is a great guide to growing some winter vegetables during the colder season.
Here are a few to get the gardening started.
Winter Lettuce
Lettuce seeds can still be sown in seedling trays indoors. Transplant any young seedlings to a garden bed, ensuring they are about 9 inches apart from one another.
The outdoor lettuce will need to be harvested often. Be sure not to harvest too much of the plant. The inside leaves will grow and become future harvests.
Arugula
This leafy green is a Mediterranean native that can be seeded all year long.
The compact root system of the plant allows gardeners to sow the seeds 1-2 inches apart.
As the plants grow, the garden can be thinned. To thin the garden, take some of the young arugula plants out. This provides more space for the remaining plants to grow, while also providing the gardener with a delicious, fresh addition for their salads.
The remaining arugula leaves can be harvested once the plants are 4-6 inches apart. The leaves can then be added to a variety of dishes.
Garlic
If the gardener is looking for a longer growing season, garlic is a great plant to try. Planting the individual cloves during mid-autumn will usually lead to a harvest in early summer.
The cloves should be placed root end down, 4-6 inches apart, and in rows that are 6-8 inches from one another. The cloves should then be covered in a layer of fine soil, about 1-2 inches thick.
Fava Beans
Fava beans are typically planted in the fall and need a long, cooler growing season to flower. They are planted similarly to other types of beans.
The seeds should be sown 6 inches apart in trenches 2 inches deep. Separate trenches should be 30 inches apart from one another.
The plants can grow to be very heavy and, therefore, should be staked while young. By the end of spring, the plants should yield some tasty seeds to add to recipes!
Although gardening outdoors during the colder seasons can be trickier, but once those winter vegetables are ready for harvest, the taste will be well worth the wait.
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