How to Plant Winter Vegetables in Canada
Winter vegetables in Canada are cold-hardy plants that germinate and establish in the warmth of late summer and are harvested from late fall through winter, according to "The Winter Harvest Handbook," by Elliot Coleman. Beets, carrots, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, garlic and chard are all considered winter crops. According to Brian Minter of Gardening BC, August is the ideal time to plant winter vegetables. It is important for Canadian gardeners to check their region's plant hardiness zone. Canada is made up of eight plant hardiness zones that differ in their annual minimum temperatures. Winter vegetables should be planted at a different time in each zone. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Tiller
- Shovel
- Stakes
- String
- Paper
- Computer
- Laminating machine
- Glue
- Fertilizer
- Mulch
Instructions
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1
Remove any dead or old debris from your warm-season vegetable crops. Till the soil to break up any clumps that are larger than a half dollar and work the first 8 inches of top soil. Remove any weeds by digging with a shovel and burning or throwing away competing vegetation.
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2
Make a list of the winter vegetables that you would like to grow. Find out your region's first frost date. Count back from the first frost date to how many days it takes for your winter vegetable to mature in order to find out when to plant your crop in the late summer.
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3
Place stakes on opposite corners of your vegetable garden. Set the stakes apart based on the row width recommendation indicated on your seed packet. Tie a string from one stake to the next in order to plant your seeds in an uniform line and avoid planting them too close together, which can raise the risk of root rot in winter's wet conditions, according to Oregon State University Extension.
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4
Dig holes in the garden based on the planting depth indicated on the packet. Vegetables have their own specific depths and spacing. For example, beets must be planted 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch apart while lettuce should be planted 1/4 inch deep and 12 inches apart.
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5
Make small garden markers for each crop by writing or typing on a piece of paper. Indicate the type of crop, some growing requirements and its expected harvest date. Laminate the sign and staple to a stake. Place a stake with a card at the beginning of each row.
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Tips & Warnings
Improve spent soil by working 1/2 a cup of fertilizer with a NPK amount of 5-10-10 every 100 square feet of soil before planting.
With the protection of snow, traditional winter crops can survive down to 10 degrees F (-12 C). Use plastic row covers or hoop houses if you don't have reliable snow cover, advises Coleman.
Spread mulch around the vegetable garden to reduce competition from grass and weeds and provide insulation for plants.
