Prepare for the Spring Season Ahead: 8 Winter-Planted Species to Kickstart Your Spring Garden Early
Grow Your Winter Garden 🌱
Tired of the gloomy winter days? Spice up your life by planning your winter garden! Not only will it brighten up your home, but you'll also have fresh greens and veggies to enjoy. Here are some easy-to-grow options, suitable for every space and climate.
Indoor Starters for Spring Delights 🏡
When stuck indoors, why not take advantage and start sowing some seeds for later transplanting? Let's dive in! 🌱
- Herbs Galore 🌿
Wondering what to grow in winter? Look no further than herbs! The winter months are a great time to get a head start on your spring herb garden. Tender herbs like basil or perennials like oregano and chives can be started indoors as early as February or March. Try these options from Park Seed: Culinary Blend basil, Greek oregano, and chive seeds.
- Green Onion Greens 🥬
Bulbing onions are cool-weather crops, but green onions are even easier and quicker to grow during the winter. They are frost tolerant, making them ideal for the chilly months. Plant them directly in workable soil and harvest in about 60 days.
- Lush Leafy Greens 🍃
Many leafy greens like kale and Swiss chard thrive in cooler temperatures. Kale, in particular, can withstand frost and snow without protection. Start these from seed about 90 days before your area's last frost date and transplant them outside when the weather allows. For milder climates, both Swiss chard and kale can be grown throughout the winter.
- Delicious Carrots 🥕
Carrots are perfect winter plants because they get sweeter as the temperature drops. Sow carrot seeds directly in well-drained soil. Thin the seedlings to give the roots plenty of room to grow.
- Speedy Radishes 🌾
Radishes are an excellent cool-season crop. Their growth rate makes them an excellent choice for winter sowing. Choose a unique radish like daikon to grow during the colder months. Sow seeds directly in full sun in well-draining soil as soon as it is workable.
- Broccoli Stars 🥦
Broccoli lovers can still enjoy their favorite veggie during the winter months. Plant hardy purple broccoli varieties in containers and transplant them in the spring. Alternatively, if you live in a warmer region, grow a heat-tolerant variety like Castle Dome for an early harvest in just 50 days from transplant.
- Leeks and Company 🥒
Leeks are excellent winter plants that can be harvested from the garden as needed. Start seedlings indoors in January or February and transplant them into the garden when it is workable in early spring. For a hands-off approach, sow seeds directly into the garden in the fall, and they'll be ready to harvest the following spring.
- Common Milkweed 🦋
Unlock the magic of attracting butterflies to your garden! Milkweed seeds can be planted in fall or winter, either indoors or outdoors. Once established, you'll have a reliable pollinator-friendly haven for migrating Monarch butterflies.
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Incorporate home-and-garden activities into your winter lifestyle by starting seedlings indoors for spring delights. Some suitable options include herbs, green onions, leafy greens, radishes, carrots, broccoli, leeks, and even common milkweed for butterflies. Transplant these seedlings into your winter garden when the weather becomes warmer to brighten up your home and provide fresh produce.
