Updated 9/13/24
Some of the last opportunities for fall planting will soon be upon us, can you believe it?! Hopefully you've been following our "What to Plant Now" posts on Facebook and Instagram so you're seeds are in the ground. For the most part we are into the season for preparing crops to overwinter. In the Treasure Valley the first predicted frost date is October 14th according to The Farmers Almanac, which has held a pretty good track record for predictions for decades. These days however, people are turning to other sources for weather reports and predictions. Last year we sailed through our first projected frost date which was partly cloudy, but plenty warm. Folks in the Treasure Valley strongly recommend following Kody the Weather Guy, who offers pretty reliable information for Idaho, Oregon, and even Colorado.
To check frost dates in your exact location anywhere in the Intermountain West, check out the National Weather Service (NOAA) where you can pinpoint your exact location and get a read on what's happening in your unique place on Earth, micro-climate and all.
Quick overview: If you want greens in February, now through the fall is the time to direct seed your favorite varieties and bury them in mulch, we traditionally recommend a thick layer of fall leaves.* Seed Garlic has obviously been our favorite recommendation for this time of year!
What About Greens in the Winter?
Set yourself up for an early break in the starchy months of winter and thank yourself as you revel in tender nutrient-rich greens sometime around February-April, depending on your location and other variable environmental factors.
Provided they have a pretty good start, many plants can grow through the winter if they are protected. Check out our free Summer and Fall Vegetable Planting guide for specifics. NOW is the time to plant arugula, frisee, lettuces, mustards, spinach, and parsley. If it's well protected, overwintered spinach is SOOO delectable!! Can't decide and/or want to try something new and amazing? Check out our salad and greens mixes! You won't be disappointed.
If time passes you by and you miss direct seeding these crops, or had some others in mind for haven't fall eating, check out your local nursery to see what they've got! We've got a list of retail locations who carry our seeds to help you get started on your hunt.
Using a cold frame helps to ensure that you will have greens to eat over the winter. Adding additional lighting may increase the potential of edible greens before February. Without added lights, plants will take longer to grow and get leggy.
Root Veggies and Cold-Hardy Crops
The veggies you already have in the ground are the most likely to overwinter well. Mid September is the last little window for Radishes though, so if you've got some seeds, don't delay and plant those now!
Cover carrots or beets with a big thick layer of leaves, so you can go out and dig them later. You can do the same with parsnips though they don’t need it… they’re so winter hardy. If the top of either carrots or beets get frozen they can turn to mush. If they are protected with mulch that won’t happen. Parsnips are hard to dig out of the ground if they’re frozen in place. Just another thing to love about mulch! You can simply push it to the side when you're ready, and you’re able to dig into the soil and get them out.
Regions that get more snow have an easier time overwintering because snow serves as insulation itself. With a thick layer of snowfall, the ground will maintain a consistent 32 degrees, no matter how cold it gets above the snow. If snow melts between storms the ground may freeze, so don't forget about that mulch layer! A lot of our cold crops don’t care if it’s freezing, or 10 degrees above ground. Below ground, they are vulnerable to colder temps, especially in areas that don’t have a lot of snow cover but reach those low temperatures.
In short, if you really want to try a crop from seed that you're able to eat before February, implement season extenders and lights. If you want to increase your chances of success, buy some starts for above-ground crops, and be sure to get your root veggies seeded by late summer or early fall. Protect your root veggies, and check out our cold-hardy varieties! Mulch!!!
*Due to an invasion of voracious roly polys the past couple of seasons, the garden shown here is enjoying thick straw mulch--they reportedly thrive on decaying leaves. Additionally, due to the late warmth we're experiencing in the Treasure Valley, there aren't all that many leaves to collect just yet! But when they do fall, they'll be incorporated around other areas of the garden to bring the nourishment and cover to the soil that they offer. Protecting alliums is a good use for leaf mulch, as roly polys tend to avoid those.
