so cool! I discovered by surprise that my kale last year was still in excellent condition in January, and that is in zone 4/5!! I imagine if I added a low tunnel I could go all winter.
You are very fortunate to be able to harvest into winter. Looks good. In zone 5 I'm not so lucky on most things, that are above ground. We sometime are below zero for days. There are those winters not as bad as others. But I waste nothing. Canning most veggies and freezing others. I love my veggies..lol. best wishes.
My father in law used to cover his mustard and kale with an actual blanket and he harvested them all winter. They are amazing veggies. I am actually growing some in my Florida room in tubs. They’re growing good right now!
Great information, Melissa. I did a second planting of beets, parsnips, and turnips. They aren't real big, but with the mulching you suggest, we should be able to enjoy them into the winter. BTW, last winter, my leeks through the cold temperatures as did my kale. Thanks for posting this.
Do you cover them with anything or let them be exposed? I'm in zone 8a (cusp of 7b) so I am hoping I can get a winter harvest and a headstart on my spring crop since it gets hot so fast here.
@@intentionallymade I didn't cover cover my parsnips, leeks, and kale last year (I'm is zone 8a or 8b), but I intend to buy a couple of straw bales tomorrow for mulching this year. As mentioned below, I will cut the tops back also.
How wonderful to see these winter vegetables and using nature to preserve for you. I now have a big enough plot to plant winter vegetables as well and kale sure has been terrific last year. This year much less unfortunately, because of , it seems, nasty club root which has effected almost all my cabbage/kale-family-plants. I don't know if you're familiar with tuscan kale/cavolo nero?! If not, do try it, it is even sweeter than the kale! A true favorite over here. greetings from The Netherlands, Debbie
I was always shy of winter crops. This year, I tried a handful of things and the seven top turnips flourished through the winter without care. (I didn’t even water them) I want to take advantage of our mild winters this year (zone 8) and push past my comfort zone. Maybe I’ll try a low tunnel instead of ruthlessly abandoning my garden to the freezing weather.
Thx. I too am in WA. Battle Ground is at the foothills of the Cascades. Soil is clay and rocky so I use raised beds. Last winter I covered my empty beds w/straw. I had a HORRIFIC slug problem regardless of all my methods to execute them. This year I am using cardboard and mulch, I am hoping this changes things. Q: Do you experience slugs with straw mulch?
@@quickexercises I use a lot of cheep beer poured into shallow dishes. The dish edges have to touch the soil so the slugs can climb in. I do need to sink them in the soil. I do this in the evening and go out in the morning when I water and clean them out. The first few weeks the larger slugs die off by drinking the beer, after the smaller slugs are more visible in the “beer traps”. My slugs tortured my seedlings the worse but they continued all the season.
Transplanting all root crops close together in an unheated green house, & cover in leave mold, you will have them semi dormant, fresher than from a rooot celler all winter & even some greens when warm enough. In colder zones, protect from freezing by adding more insulating multch &/or warmer green house.
So helpful thank you! We have left some carrots in the ground but we’re having difficulties getting them out when needed because the ground is frozen. Our lows have been in the 20s. Any tips for us on pulling them out?
Melissa K. Norris - Modern Homesteading no, but after watching your video I definitely will be! Do you think it will help the ground thaw or is it too late for my carrots?
I haven't tried it after the ground is frozen hard (so not sure if the following will work) but you could try covering with some black plastic if you're having sunny days to help thaw, then that evening applying the thick layer of straw.
I read that if you over winter root crops, you should cut the tops back to within 2" of the root. Otherwise the leaves will draw nutrients from the root. Any thoughts on that?
Depends on how deep your ground freezes and how much mulch honestly. If you're ground is freezing several inches beneath the soil line then it will probably freeze the beets (they're more shallow). I'd test cover some soil with thick mulch and check every few weeks this winter to see if and how far the ground freezes beneath it (or if you still have crop in just mulch a few to test so you don't loose them all if it is too cold)
We are in a new location so I'm still in the process of getting my garden area going, and hope to be able to do some planting next year. I want to try growing potatoes in feed bags. Do you think I could leave the potatoes we don't eat in the bags during the winter, perhaps move them to a place that will insure they do not get too wet? I don't have the possibility of a root cellar type area in the foreseeable future, or maybe ever! I am excited to try this (in the ground) with carrots, too, as we eat a lot of them.
When above ground they're more likely to freeze so depends on how cold you get. You probably will want to wrap the bags with burlap to help insulate if you're below freezing for extended periods of time
Great video! People love to do farming for different reasons; to some, it is a job, and to others, it’s a relaxing hobby. We actually sell properties that can be used as farms. This info is helpful for those who like to spend time away from the city.
Wow. Thank you! You have inspired me to try growing Brussels Sprouts... I'm always looking for something new or interesting to grow (Canada, Ontario, just North of Toronto) And, while I knew about leaving parsnip in the ground over-winter, you taught me there were many more capable of the same! My potatoes this year were only a small experiment, which actually worked, so I will be scaling everything up next season! It's a compost pile potato patch. Hopefully I will have enough crop to let some "overwinter." I tend to grow mostly in containers, and this year was moderately successful. Also I learned a few things NOT to do... Oh, well. Thanks for your video! And please, if you like, take a peek at my channel? BEST wishes!
so cool! I discovered by surprise that my kale last year was still in excellent condition in January, and that is in zone 4/5!! I imagine if I added a low tunnel I could go all winter.
Love those types of surprises!
You are very fortunate to be able to harvest into winter. Looks good. In zone 5 I'm not so lucky on most things, that are above ground. We sometime are below zero for days. There are those winters not as bad as others. But I waste nothing. Canning most veggies and freezing others. I love my veggies..lol. best wishes.
You as well!
My father in law used to cover his mustard and kale with an actual blanket and he harvested them all winter. They are amazing veggies. I am actually growing some in my Florida room in tubs. They’re growing good right now!
Oh wow!
Great information, Melissa. I did a second planting of beets, parsnips, and turnips. They aren't real big, but with the mulching you suggest, we should be able to enjoy them into the winter. BTW, last winter, my leeks through the cold temperatures as did my kale. Thanks for posting this.
Do you cover them with anything or let them be exposed? I'm in zone 8a (cusp of 7b) so I am hoping I can get a winter harvest and a headstart on my spring crop since it gets hot so fast here.
@@intentionallymade I didn't cover cover my parsnips, leeks, and kale last year (I'm is zone 8a or 8b), but I intend to buy a couple of straw bales tomorrow for mulching this year. As mentioned below, I will cut the tops back also.
You're welcome!
How wonderful to see these winter vegetables and using nature to preserve for you. I now have a big enough plot to plant winter vegetables as well and kale sure has been terrific last year. This year much less unfortunately, because of , it seems, nasty club root which has effected almost all my cabbage/kale-family-plants.
I don't know if you're familiar with tuscan kale/cavolo nero?! If not, do try it, it is even sweeter than the kale! A true favorite over here.
greetings from The Netherlands,
Debbie
I was always shy of winter crops. This year, I tried a handful of things and the seven top turnips flourished through the winter without care. (I didn’t even water them) I want to take advantage of our mild winters this year (zone 8) and push past my comfort zone. Maybe I’ll try a low tunnel instead of ruthlessly abandoning my garden to the freezing weather.
Rutabaga too
Thank you! This was very useful information!
Glad it was helpful!
Great tips, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Zone 6b.. my radishes.. spinach & lettuce are good.. we got a little snow.. but melted..
Thx. I too am in WA. Battle Ground is at the foothills of the Cascades. Soil is clay and rocky so I use raised beds. Last winter I covered my empty beds w/straw. I had a HORRIFIC slug problem regardless of all my methods to execute them. This year I am using cardboard and mulch, I am hoping this changes things. Q: Do you experience slugs with straw mulch?
I do still get some slugs with straw and/or the wood chips but not usually a bunch during the cold months.
How do you get rid of the slugs? Some of them here are bigger than my thumb.
@@quickexercises I use a lot of cheep beer poured into shallow dishes. The dish edges have to touch the soil so the slugs can climb in. I do need to sink them in the soil. I do this in the evening and go out in the morning when I water and clean them out. The first few weeks the larger slugs die off by drinking the beer, after the smaller slugs are more visible in the “beer traps”. My slugs tortured my seedlings the worse but they continued all the season.
@@love2can thanks i will try the beer traps
Transplanting all root crops close together in an unheated green house, & cover in leave mold, you will have them semi dormant, fresher than from a rooot celler all winter & even some greens when warm enough. In colder zones, protect from freezing by adding more insulating multch &/or warmer green house.
What state are you in?
@@sherylgluchowski7411 yes, would like to know what zone you are in.
So helpful thank you! We have left some carrots in the ground but we’re having difficulties getting them out when needed because the ground is frozen. Our lows have been in the 20s. Any tips for us on pulling them out?
Do you have any mulch layers down on them?
Melissa K. Norris - Modern Homesteading no, but after watching your video I definitely will be! Do you think it will help the ground thaw or is it too late for my carrots?
I haven't tried it after the ground is frozen hard (so not sure if the following will work) but you could try covering with some black plastic if you're having sunny days to help thaw, then that evening applying the thick layer of straw.
Melissa K. Norris - Modern Homesteading we will try that! Thank you!
thank you is very inspiring for gardening
Welcome!
Do you save your cut grass and allow it to dry out and use it for mulch later?
Do you have a good re-use for the plastic wrappings around your hay?
Dad always left carrots in the ground and they got sweeter.
Yes!
Apparently the starch converts to sugars or glucose to keep the plant from dying in the cold , at least this is what I was told
Awesome 👌
What’s with the metal wires on top of the beets intended for?
I had other crops planted there last spring that needed fabric cloth when it was freezing in the spring because they were starts.
@@MelissaKNorris smart!👍🏽 so it’s a central wire to drape the cloth. Wow! My dump A*# set stakes around the garden..... always learning.
I read that if you over winter root crops, you should cut the tops back to within 2" of the root. Otherwise the leaves will draw nutrients from the root. Any thoughts on that?
The tops usually die back once we get consistently into the 20's but it's a good practice
When do you start your Brussels sprouts to get it that big?
May 😊
When do you plant them for winter?
Late summer or early fall depending on your first average frost date
How cold are we talking about for "winter". What zone are you in?
She is in 7.
She said zone 7
@@jk-mx7so cool. Missed that obviously. I'm zone 3.. don't know how well this would work.
Depends on how deep your ground freezes and how much mulch honestly. If you're ground is freezing several inches beneath the soil line then it will probably freeze the beets (they're more shallow). I'd test cover some soil with thick mulch and check every few weeks this winter to see if and how far the ground freezes beneath it (or if you still have crop in just mulch a few to test so you don't loose them all if it is too cold)
We are in a new location so I'm still in the process of getting my garden area going, and hope to be able to do some planting next year. I want to try growing potatoes in feed bags. Do you think I could leave the potatoes we don't eat in the bags during the winter, perhaps move them to a place that will insure they do not get too wet? I don't have the possibility of a root cellar type area in the foreseeable future, or maybe ever! I am excited to try this (in the ground) with carrots, too, as we eat a lot of them.
When above ground they're more likely to freeze so depends on how cold you get. You probably will want to wrap the bags with burlap to help insulate if you're below freezing for extended periods of time
Jen from the sushine farm just had her baby its there 1st baby
Lucky you I am in zone 3 nothing can be left in the ground
Yes each zone has positive and negatives...
Great video! People love to do farming for different reasons; to some, it is a job, and to others, it’s a relaxing hobby. We actually sell properties that can be used as farms. This info is helpful for those who like to spend time away from the city.
Glad you enjoyed the video!
how do you get straw without seeds?
You don't.
Wheat straw. The wheat is removed and the straw is just the stems. Dont' use hay. That's full of seeds.
Luck of the draw. Straw around here is very conducive to growing grass!
I look at the bales before bringing home, most our straw here is as @Al Cogito shared and is mainly stems, no seed heads
@@MelissaKNorris thanks
Wow. Thank you! You have inspired me to try growing Brussels Sprouts... I'm always looking for something new or interesting to grow (Canada, Ontario, just North of Toronto) And, while I knew about leaving parsnip in the ground over-winter, you taught me there were many more capable of the same! My potatoes this year were only a small experiment, which actually worked, so I will be scaling everything up next season! It's a compost pile potato patch. Hopefully I will have enough crop to let some "overwinter." I tend to grow mostly in containers, and this year was moderately successful. Also I learned a few things NOT to do... Oh, well. Thanks for your video!
And please, if you like, take a peek at my channel?
BEST wishes!
I learn something new every year!
Cook the beets, slice them and freeze them.
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