Winter is Coming!

Now that all the plastic is pulled, the crops are slowing down, and the strawberries are planted, it can mean only one thing. Winter is coming! Yes, I’ve been waiting to use that title for a while…

Okay, maybe not that cold.

Along with winter comes winter crops. Last year we didn’t plant very many winter crops. We had some cabbage and onions that were overwintered but that was about it. Overwintering is when you plant a crop in the fall and it remains dormant until warm weather comes back in the spring. Just like the strawberries! The benefit to overwintering crops is that they are usually ready much earlier than if you just plant them early in the spring. It can give you a nice jump on the season.

This year, however, we are taking a different approach. I call it the “a little of a lot” plan. We are trying small plantings of about 17 different varieties of winter crops. I never realized how many leafy greens there are! The biggest plantings we will have, if all goes well, will be spinach, pak choi, carrots, and beets. In addition, we will be trying some broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, peas, escarole, chard, and leeks just to name a few. Some of them even come in multiple colors! My favorite are the flower sprouts. Apparently, they are a mixture between brussel sprouts and kale. Good luck feeding THAT to your kids! I’m curious to see how they turn out. They sure do look nice on a Google search.

All of these crops will begin producing this year. None of them are going to overwinter. Hopefully we will be harvesting some leafy greens all the way until spring.