Winter months are fast approaching where we will be experiencing shorter days and long freezing nights. The trick to enjoy good harvest in the winter times is choosing the right crop and also installing the correct protective covers.
Here are tips to help you protect your winter crops so you can get the best harvest during the hibernating periods of the year.
- Make the most of the available sunlight
The easiest and most efficient way to make use of the minimum winter sun that we have is ensure that you have adequate spacing in between your cops to allow the sun through and help your crops to grow.
- Don’t water your crop too much
Your winter crop will not require as much water as your spring/summer crop would. This is due to the amount of available sunlight to soak up the water. I usually water during the warmer part of the day and not every day. SAVES WATER
- Protect your vulnerable crops
Mound up soil around the base of stems to help support crops from swaying during the windy days. Crops that are heavy from the top down will require being tied to sturdy structure like bamboo cane.
- Protect crops from cold
Garden crop such as broccoli turnips and spinach can survive a few frosts without being covered, that’s not the case with lettuce, beets, and radishes, they need you to cover them with frost cloth, or mobile plastic tunnels. For those warm sunny winter day, I would suggest you open the covers up for the sun to directly hit the crops.
- Be Patient
Patience is a virtue, so someone once said. This is very much true especially in winter farming, your crops won’t be growing at the accelerated rates that we used to in the spring summer months. This will often leave you worried thinking whether you are doing it right or not. Taking a break here and there will help you take your mind of your garden. When HARVEST TIME comes it will be a joyous period.
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