How to Prepare the Soil for a Winter Garden

Frost-hardy vegetables such as lettuce and spinach grow well into winter.

Many successful vegetable gardens start in spring and grow through summer, but die off in fall and sit dormant through winter. Gardeners in warm areas of the country, though, can maintain their gardens through fall and into winter with the right preparation, timing and plant selection. Winter gardens depend on deep, rich soil for quick starts and healthy growing, so any winter planting must start with re-tilling and new soil amendments.

Things You'll Need

• Garden fork
• Organic compost
• Balanced fertilizer
• Starter fertilizer

Instructions

1. Prepare for your winter garden around the first frost of the season. Winter veggies such as turnips, rutabagas and spinach do best with cool-weather starts of 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and can't start in the heat of late summer.

2. Pull out old, wasted foliage from the summertime plants and get rid of weeds or rocks in the garden. Make sure that your garden gets full sunshine during winter and good drainage after rain. This is more important in winter gardens, which must thrive through winter storms. If your established garden doesn't get the right conditions during winter, choose a new site that gives you around 20 square feet of space, bright winter sun, quick drainage and good air circulation.

3. Till the top 6 to 12 inches of soil in the garden to loosen and aerate for better soil quality. Turn 3 to 5 inches of rich organic compost into the soil to re-amend and nourish it for new plants. Mix the soil well to produce a rich, dark and crumbly base. If your soil is still poor or pale, add 2 more inches of organic compost.

4. Broadcast 13-13-13 fertilizer across the site at a rate of 1/2 lb. per 50 square feet and turn it into the top 4 inches of soil to give the site balanced nutrition. Add starter fertilizer such as 10-52-17 or 10-50-10 to the top 2 inches of soil to ensure quick rooting and establishment for winter plants.

References

• North Carolina State University; Growing a Fall Vegetable Garden; Erv Evans; January 1999
• Oregon State University Extension Service: Growing Your Own: Soil Improvement
• University of Illinois Extension: Illinois Vegetable Garden Guide: Step 5 -- Prepare and Care for the Soil Properly