The Deep Mulch Midwinter Garden

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We rarely disturb a plot when the temperature is far below freezing . . . and then only for a few minutes, in order to avoid causing cold damage to the unpicked produce. (Usually—even in midwinter—we find the earth surprisingly soft and moist, full of worms crawling up happily to the surface!) After harvesting, we carefully close the bed by replacing the hay mulch, refitting the polyethylene on top, and weighting it down securely along the sides and at the ends. If the weather is particularly severe—or if we encounter frozen ground when digging into the soil—we might throw some additional insulating hay on top of the plastic.

THE REWARDS

Winter gardening does involve more work than growing warm-weather vegetables (and those outdoor chores may not be quite so enjoyable when they have to be performed in freezing winds) . . . but we think the results are well worth the effort. Furthermore, as still-hardier vegetable varieties become available, we're convinced that the winter garden will become a common feature on homesteads in all climate zones.

Just remember to approach the whole undertaking in a spirit of experimentation. It's merely a matter of trying lots of different vegetables—and planting more than one variety of each—to determine which ones will thrive in cold weather. And don't be discouraged by failures! Not all of our winter crops yield abundant, delicious harvests, either . . . but we weather disappointment by reminding ourselves that having any kind of a producing garden in this part of the country in midwinter is a gr eat success in itself!

EDITOR'S NOTE: For tips from another year-round gardener, turn to the article on page 86 of this issue.

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