Designing a Winter Garden (in Michigan!)

Detailed tutorial on how I personally think through the layout and timing of our winter garden--what to plant, when to start different crops, and how to group and lay out everything, so that you can harvest efficiently when it's freezing outside!

[@nicohelpdesk435]

I'm joining the fan wagon. Your videos are so well thought out and organised, you explain everything so clearly, it's a treat every time. This was incredibly useful for sure.

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Thank you! I’m glad that the story held together; I packed a LOT into that one. :)

[@MartinNelson]

That was incredibly helpful, even with you describing it as dense. I am gardening in the UK so have a warmer climate, we get down to maybe -5C, or 19F, but I missed my window for planting cover crops and the like this year. Planning for next year had me scratching my head...a LOT, and it's really cool to see such a well thought out process. Was very much appreciated. I only just came across your channel and have to say love the concrete block beds too, those holes being used to plant pollenators is a genius idea!

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Thanks! I’m glad it was helpful, and I’m in the same boat as far as timing. We didn’t get the garden built until June, and I wasn’t in the right “head space” to plan a winter garden, with everything going on. Next year! 🤷‍♀️

[@lauraarsenyan3577]

I'm screenshotting so many of your charts and tables! Super helpful.

[@WellGroundedGardens]

I’m glad!

[@sakurameadows]

Awesome video! Partner and I just moved to Michigan over the summer and we're eager to tackle gardening in our first ever yard. Super excited to check out more of your videos! ☺

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Welcome to the best state. 😁 I’ve lived everywhere from Washington to Georgia, and love gardening, here.

[@SteveSerrano65]

Your charts and graphs are fantastic. I planted more carrots just in case I get a hungry vole that finds them. It looks as if the weather pattern is going to change drastically around Thanksgiving. Just an FYI. Thanks again for the video.

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Thanks! I believe that the only constants for Michigan weather are (1) it will be absolutely miserable for trick or treating on Halloween and (2) the sun disappears from Thanksgiving until spring

[@nancynesytofreske]

Great timing guide. I live in SW MI and we had that really cold weather a week or so ago, well below zero, perhaps -11. I lost my cabbage in the hoop house, kale survived just fine. Chard in hoop house turned to mush, but the unprotected ones outside (under over a foot of snow), still have green leaves, as do the collards. Arugula and cilantro under double row covers are beautiful as are the beets. So what was under snow did well, what was in hoop house not so much. That shows how important insulation is!

[@WellGroundedGardens]

For sure! We’re east of you, but had temps almost that low; I did an experiment with leaves as insulation under row cover (and then under snow) that I filmed, and am about to post an update on how it worked-things survived shockingly well. The biggest surprise was that the leaves stayed dry at about 3” of depth and lower-and that was with LOTS of rain melting off the snow. I’m now a firm advocate for the approach!

[@stephaniehall3505]

You're amazing! Great video!

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. :)

[@MichaelMiller-bi7by]

Thanks for another great video

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Thanks! How was your season? Everything wrapped up in the garden, or did you do a better job than me of planning for the winter season?

[@MichaelMiller-bi7by]

@WellGroundedGardens Well, I survived the annual woodchuck and squirrel invasion. But the rains really affected the plants. My hot peppers never bloomed! Truly believe gardening is an addiction, not a hobby. (2024 garden planned and seed bought)

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Growing anything new? I'm adding in some purple cauliflower and winter lettuces, next year.

[@Tnshadetree]

??? What kinds of winter Garden seeds in Groceries stores that I can get beside the seeds packages ??? We learning different ways here !

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Hi! I find *way* better selections online than in local stores; most of them focus on spring gardens. Territorial has a nice offering for fall and winter: territorialseed.com/collections/fall-winter-seed. The trick is that most of these have to be planted way before winter because the lower light levels don't support much growth; I start most of my fall crops in late July and most of my winter crops in mid-to-late August.

[@jennifergraham2418]

Great job! What is the stretchy product you use for covering hoops?

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Floating row cover (medium weight); I got mine years ago but something like this: a.co/d/1Y8taUI (not an affiliate link)

[@joeellerbach2095]

This is really great content. I just found your channel today and subscribed. How far north in Michigan are you? I am in central Iowa, zone 5b. I usually find that once we hit October, even the plants that are cold hardy almost stop growing completely. I've never really tried to grow a fall/winter garden but need to try next year. I have been using cold frames and row covers to get an early start in spring though.

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Thanks! We’re not too far north (Detroit metro). I believe zone 6A. And yeah everything here stops dead when the days get too short…our “Persephone” period starts mid-November around here. Someday I’ll get the winter stuff started early enough to have it mature in time…but this was not the year. 🤷‍♀️

[@joeellerbach2095]

@@WellGroundedGardens I'm in the same boat, it got too late to do it this year even though I had intended to start a few fall/winter plants. I did have some lettuce starts, but some kind of furry critter wiped them out as soon as I transplanted them. I guess you are probably at about the same latitude as we are. I have started planning out our 2024 beds, so I really appreciate your detailed plans about what veggies you plant together. I also really appreciate your content about improving soils--that is a project that I've been working on for a few years and finally starting to see some results. I would love a video in the early spring about adding nutrients to newer soils.