Grow a Winter Garden: Everyone Can Grow a Garden (2019) #25

Garden writer Susan Mulvihill shares tips on how she grows a garden through the fall and winter months, without supplemental heat, in her zone 5b garden. From Susan's in the Garden, SusansintheGarden.com.

[@ebenburger111]

Fantastic! PLease spead the word, because we're living during very difficult times now and people NEED to start planting their own foods......!!!!!!

[@clarissamiles]

Thanks Susan! My son and I live in Chicago and we planted our first summer garden this year from seed. Now, we've planted a Fall/Winter garden. We built a low tunnel out of bamboo stakes (from the summer garden), twine and 6 mil greenhouse plastic. We planted: heading lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, peas, mustard, turnip and collard greens, carrots, kale, beets, radishes, rutabaga, and rhubarb. We've had some 30 degree nights and the plants are doing well (so far). Can't wait to see if we succeed!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

That's awesome, Clarissa! I would imagine your winters get pretty cold in Chicago so, depending on how long ago you started the seeds, some of the crops might not be able to tolerate the cold. Keep me posted. My email address is [e-mail]. And good luck!

[@TheSamba37]

Glad to see a fellow Spokanite. Refreshing to get information that pertains to my exact area that's being tested.

[@BenniLkitchengarden]

I live in Norway and in a cold climate. I grow during the winter and I also do winter sowing in frost and snow. This video is fab, Susan. Thank you for sharing. ❄️Happy winter gardening❄️

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thank you, Benni!

[@HelenEk7]

What are you growing in winter?

[@1972letland]

Thanks for lovely video. i am living in Latvia 6b zone . you are 5b so it was very valuable information .iT WAS SO RELAXING TO LISTEN YOUR VOICE SO CUTE ...

[@eibeelee2890]

I live in maine and I’m excited to try and grow some winter veggies!

[@sage0925]

I did a double hoop house this year in a 2' raised bed. Outer shell was 10' sticks of 3/4" PVC, bent with a PVC heating blanket. Inner shell, 7' lengths of 1/2" PEX pipe. End hoops covered in greenhouse plastic, with a sheet of plastic over the whole row, excess a foot on both ends. Plastic held to pipe with small metal clamps. Sheets anchored with 2x4s stapled to them. As of mid-November in zone 5, all my cold weather plants have survived nights into the low teens. No heater.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Wow, that sounds great! We don't use a heater in our little hoop house either as we're trying to keep things simple and economical. Thanks for sharing this with me.

[@Swahiliangift70x7]

Thank you so very much for all of the vital information contained in your video. Awesome content.

[@aidanngreenwolfe200]

I had purchased the cool weather cloches from gardeners supply company yesterday and got on you tube to see if anyone was using them. I was happy to find your channel! I've gotten a lot of really great information on your channel as I prepare for my winter garden. Thank you!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Wonderful! I'm glad you found my channel. I shoot a video each week, on all sorts of gardening topics.

[@patjinx60]

Susan, thank you for the time and effort you put into your videos. You are a wealth of knowledge and explain gardening techniques so well. You’re so easy to learn from. You make it look easy and now I’m going to do a fall/winter garden. Thank you!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

That is awesome! Thank you for your kind words.

[@rg-mi5hh]

We planted lettuce in summer and put a clear plastic container over it. By Feb, we have lettuce. This year we are trying to grow lettuce inside. We put it outside on days over 32 degrees. It is slow growing.

[@jailuanluan53]

I felt blessed finding this valuable video. Thank you so much, Susan.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

I'm so slad it was helpful!

[@lindayoung3228]

So grateful to find out about sphagnum moss preventing dampening off.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

I absolutely want to grow a garden in the winter! I look forward to making a hoop house!

[@texgal4928]

Im in Texas zone 8b and despite the difference in growing seasons i really enjoy and learn from your videos! Thanks for sharing!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thank you!

[@marcelmarcel7854]

What a great video! I really appreciate all the detailed info. I live in Colorado and am a first-year gardener. A friend built a 6-ft high walk-in garden for me. I'm wondering if I cover it in plastic for the winter, if I can grow cool-crop veggies. It was so nice having fresh, organic veggies, I don't want to stop and wait until next May to plant more. LOL 😂 😂

[@SusansInTheGarden]

It certainly sounds like you could pull it off. I really recommend using 6 mil greenhouse plastic as it will last for years. Good luck!

[@marcelmarcel7854]

@@SusansInTheGarden Thank you for the reply!

[@ladyjusticewarriorqueenz2005]

Wonderful! Great video

[@mariaisabelbertaina2143]

THANK SUSAN,I WACH YOUR VIDEOS, AND IT HELP AT MY GARDEN, FOR THE NEW TIME OF GROW ,I ' M IN WINTER IN ARGENTINA

[@bevsurbangarden]

Great content, very informative. Happy gardening!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thank you, Bev!

[@wht240sxka]

Wow! Tons of information here. Thanks so much for sharing. I just built a hoop house and I know it’s late in the year but I was very busy this summer and was hoping I would have a chance to try my hand at growing since I live at 7400ft and get -10 to -20 at coldest. I have the inspiration and information now!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

You can do it!

[@denastanley2255]

Great job explaining everything. Ty and I think I'll give it a try!

[@gail7998]

I'm moving to a Zone 5b area. I'm so happy to reconnect with you & and your informative videos!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Wonderful!

[@1nails1]

I’m new to the whole “ gardening world” ! I live in Minnesota where it can possibly become -50 degrees. With all the food shortages and toxins in fruits and vegetables, I’m wanting to grow my own food for my family. I’m hoping this will work here. Thank you much

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi there. If your wintertime temperatures get that low, I don't think this method would work for you. I'm sorry to have to tell you that. Our lows get down to -15 or so, and I do put floating row cover over the beds inside the hoop house, but that just wouldn't be enough coverage in your area. So sorry!

[@1nails1]

@@SusansInTheGarden thank you so much !

[@weirdoneontheblock]

I know some people find a safe way to put in heaters into their greenhouse to help with colder temperatures. That may be something you want to look into. I know this comment is old, but if you haven't heard of that yet I hope it helps.

[@dustyflats3832]

@@SusansInTheGardenso you are able to grow lettuce inside hoop house at -15*? Would this also work in containers inside a small greenhouse the same size as yours without heat? I’m guessing the plants get more heat in ground vs. in a flat or container in a greenhouse? Do you think a hinged plastic cover would work the same over a raised bed? Maybe not enough room to cover with frost cloth at night? Just trying to figure pros and cons of all 3 because I can grow lettuce inside, but it’s a bit too warm and last winter had fungus gnats bad. I know this is an older post, but with the bad lettuce we’ve had at stores and recalls I’d like to grow my own. Hopefully you will see this post. Thank you!😊. WI, Z5a.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

@@dustyflats3832 The addition of floating row cover on hoops over each bed essentially creates a warmer environment by one full hardiness zone, according to Eliot Coleman, author of The Winter Harvest Handbook.

[@PainIsInevitable6]

I'm so impressed! Thank you!!!!

[@fanceypantsable]

what a great resource. thank you

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Glad it was helpful, Theresa!

[@spiritualrainfrances]

This was so wonderful and informative thank you so much Susan! ☺

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dustyflats3832]

In what winter months are you successful in growing in hoop house? How low does the temp get at night and still be successful? Trying to figure out a way to grow lettuce/greens outside as it’s too warm inside although it will work. I just had a lot of fungus gnats last year😏 prefer it’s outside. There are 3 options-small greenhouse, a hoop house or a hoop over a raised bed. Difference between growing right in the ground or in containers is considered. Room to add frost cloth also. What would be the most successful for warmth? Z5a, WI and don’t know if it’s possible in one of the options above or just a cold frame. This is 2023 and they did change growing zones recently, but ours stayed the same.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi there. The amount of time I can grow greens in our hoop house depends on the winter. October and November for sure, probably December, too. Sometimes I've made it into January. I'm not sure how cold it gets in the hoop house, but I would say in the 30s. If you're willing to provide a bit of warmth (i.e., a space heater on a thermostat that comes on when temps dip below 40 degrees F.), that might be an option. I've heard it helps to place containers of water in a greenhouse or hoop house (to help warm it up) but I haven't tried it. I try to grow varieties that have a bit of cold-tolerance. I know what you mean about fungus gnats - they're so annoying!

[@dustyflats3832]

⁠@@SusansInTheGardenthank you for reply. I’m glad I was searching this subject as your reply didn’t come into my notifications 😊. I found another channel in Z5 OYR Frugal and Sustainable Organic Gardening. Believe he is in Midwest and shows how he is able to grow greens with cold frames and frost cloth inside a hoop house. Have tried the milk jugs colored black-it can help. I’ve tried turkey pans with food warming burners and candles 😅 but I’m hoping to re-work the lean to GH to add a heat sink with tubing and a fan to circulate to heat mass in floor. I’ve seen some use incandescent Christmas lights, but think heat cables in the ground would be better and safer. Have to do something because the lettuce at store was bad last time as one was rotten 😮 and the recalls on food seems endless. Plus the winters are long. 😂I ordered more seeds and I’m hoping to find that Supremo tomato local because I haven’t found free shipping from companies that have it. I will see if I can still build something today and start some cold tolerant greens. Our experimental above ground root cellar made from reclaimed refrigeration panels and mound of bark is holding 40-46*F and we had single digits. My temp monitor keeps fading at times and wish it was a stronger signal and recordable-(Santa😅). We had a couple inches of snow that stuck and now a bit of a warm up (46*F) today, but I just checked the GH temp and it’s not much better because I noticed a distant oak tree is casting long shadows-ugh! Always something. We have a younger oak on S of house also and it also shades. I think I need to make some decisions on these oaks as they don’t shed leaves and I have a couple maples on SW of house that shouldn’t take too long to cast shade. Ahh, decisions-decisions as we really don’t like the blistering sun in summer either, but we aren’t getting any younger and want/need to do while we still can. Maybe I could get a nice 25’ tree for near house and eventually prune the oaks out. It’s all about time when you talk trees isn’t it? Time for them to grow vs. time we have left. Don’t like thinking about it, but it’s reality. Thanks again Susan, absolutely love your channel. If I had it all over again I would have been a botanist or something in the line of what you have done as gardening has always been part of my life.

[@sabrinamachadosgarden3191]

Thanks Susan

[@a.p.5429]

I hope I can do well with this. Thanks for sharing

[@afridiintelligencepigeons8306]

Love your pumpkin

[@ruthspillman546]

Great video thank you so much

[@TIERRAYLOMBRICES]

Thank you for the ideas.

[@goatgate3815]

Excellent content thank you very much.

[@anitahamlin2411]

How wonderful!

[@sophiematern8357]

Excellent information thank you 🇨🇦

[@carlacraft2987]

HI Susan. I do enjoy your videos. I would love to see a video of the transferring of the hoop house to the new raised bed if you haven't done one already. 💕

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGG9n4Frd9p3ipI

[@bonniesiefert6872]

Great advice!

[@jonhart8875]

Have you seen one yard revolution, he has mini hoop houses in his big hoop house for the winter and has good success. Jon.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

I haven’t, but will check it out! Thank you.

[@jenniferjones2722]

Excellent.

[@veronicasolomon6898]

Thank you Susan for your response.. I appreciate it. you are always so clear. I have garden for years but always summer crops in ground. This was the first year of making a raised bed. When you make your raised bed in, do you put cardboard at the bottom and stones before soil??? my small raised beds did ok but I think they could have done better. The fall lettuce and kale are the ones I am trying to overwinter. Again thank you and i am glad that i found you.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Veronica. Thank you for your nice comments! I don't put anything in the bottom of our raised beds before filling them with soil. They are 10" deep so I don't have to worry about grasses growing up into the soil and emerging at the surface. If you feel like the plants in your beds didn't do as well as they could, you might want to add some organic compost or other soil amendments in the spring. Take care.

[@nh6405]

Thank you for all the detailed information. How much do you water your winter garden and does it matter if we use cold water or room temperature water?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. In the fall, I water the winter garden about 2-3 times a week until the insides of the hoop house start getting a lot of condensation. At that point, the moisture level in the soil remains high. And using cold water is fine.

[@trebombs4life]

thanks good job

[@morganw7658]

hell yeah susan

[@pokerchannel6991]

I am looking to grow some vegie in winter. I am in california. I am in 9b. It doesn't get cold

[@SusansInTheGarden]

That should work great for you!

[@pokerchannel6991]

@@SusansInTheGarden : ) Yeah, right now I have a lot of things going: mint, orangeono, oranges, avocado, moringa : ). In winter, I will do mosh. I also grow dandelion for food. I am moving towards a no dig, permaculture type thing with wood chip. I will do like a forager's garden. I forage in my yard every morning: some moringa, some peanut leaves, some pomogrante leaves, mint, orangono, sage, rosemary, dandelion. It is like i am foraging in nature. LOL. I will build up some guilds (guild is a group of companion plants). I will do no dig. I am also going to put up a swale. : ) So, right now it is summer, and I am making plans to get ahead of winter so I can forage in winter. : ) chers.

[@rexsheeley8177]

Your an excellent teacher...thank you

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thank you, Rex!

[@tibetanorganicfarminginleh2715]

Great

[@coonuoithucungbreedingpets8845]

Video very good 😍🔔😍👍🌹

[@zahrasoroush3136]

I love your channel and I frequently visit it to watch previous videos. Browsing older videos and frequently reading the motto, “Everyone Can Grow A Garden” before reading the title of video, it is unavoidable and very boring. Would you please put the motto after the title for older videos as you did so for newer ones?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hello. I changed how I titled the videos earlier this year. I'm afraid I don't have the time to change the older titles right now but will add it to my to-do list. I appreciate the suggestion.

[@tonyw11]

Hey Susan. Great info as usual. Do you have any videos on the drip irrigation you have set up? Thx.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thanks, Tony. Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3nZiHmkbNtqr5Y.

[@txmac1966]

Intro music is too loud. I wanted to just hit autoplay and watch all your vids. With the music coming through so loud and jarring. I felt the need to turn that off so i could get to the mute button quicker. That said i do love the information you are offering

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi there. Thanks for the feedback. When I edit my videos, I turn down the volume on the intro music so it's lower than the volume of my speaking voice. But I think I made that change a couple of years ago, which was probably after this video was made. I have a new theme song now that is much quieter so I hope that will help!

[@dookim4375]

Good morning ~I like your video~~makes me happy ~I have a question for you..what is the brand name of frost protection cover??please tell me~~and I want know what size do I need for cover greenstalk garden?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Kim. There are a lot of companies that make floating row cover. You can find them online at places like Johnny's Selected Seeds, Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, Fedco Seeds, Gardener's Edge, Gardener's Supply, Gardens Alive and so on. Just do a web search on "floating row cover" and you'll see lots of options. GreenStalk actually makes frost covers. Here's a link to them: store.greenstalkgarden.com/covers-for-greenstalk/. I hope this helps.

[@godoggo407]

What temp does your outdoor air get to and what temp is the interior of your greenhouse. Love the video.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Laura. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I've never actually checked the temperatures inside and out. But since we don't use supplemental heating, I wouldn't say it's a huge difference. I recently covered the beds inside our hoop house with floating row cover, which is supposed to increase the hardiness zone by 1 (i.e., zone 7 instead of zone 6).

[@maxinemcclurd1288]

I'm glad I clicked on this as I have had grief from damping off and had no idea sphagnum moss could help .

[@SusansInTheGarden]

I'm so glad that was helpful. It's such a simple, inexpensive method.

[@MovingBlanketStudio]

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that before either.

[@neverendingharvest6413]

What is your favorite green house

[@SusansInTheGarden]

We do have a small (6' x 8') greenhouse but it was given to us by some neighbors about 30 years ago. So I don't know which brand it is. You might check with Charley's Greenhouses (charleysgh.com/our-greenhouses) as they have a good reputation. The main thing is deciding which size will work best for your needs.

[@isabellezablocki7447]

Hi Susan, If you don't want to use animal manure and you don't have compost available, what do you recommend as a good source of nitrogen?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hello, Isabelle. There are some great organic fertilizers available at garden centers. Fish meal and liquid fish meal are two examples.

[@marieustick835]

You have a book with all this great information?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

My newest book (which will be out in Feb. 2023) includes information on growing veggies under all sorts of weather conditions. Here is a link to more information about what's in the book on my website: www.susansinthegarden.com/books/vegetable-garden-problem-solver-handbook/. Thanks for asking.

[@roxxwii4680]

New subsciber! Sold

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Welcome aboard!

[@breezybre2670]

The problem is that this type of structure will not hold up to our snow loads .

[@SusansInTheGarden]

It actually holds up to our snow loads but I don't know where you live and how much snow you can get in a single storm. I err on the side of caution with ours and brush off the snow with a broom if we get 6" of snow or more. We built this in 2014 and have never had a snow-load problem... and we get a LOT of snow!

[@dustyflats3832]

@@SusansInTheGardenit’s small enough that most snow would bother within reason, I pull snow off our small lean to GH also in WI. Our family member married into a grower family and every snow had to run and get snow off large greenhouses. And now the snow is wetter lately and if they were still in bz I’d imagine he would be running sooner during storms.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

@@dustyflats3832 Yes, snow loads can be a problem. When we get several inches of wet snow (or more), I'm out there knocking the snow off the roof.

[@kedeglow2743]

Hi Susan, may I ask what state you live in? I'm Zone 5b in Missouri.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi there. I live in Spokane, Wash., which is primarily zone 6. We're a bit colder, more like 5b.

[@kittyvine823]

Where is 'Here?' Or should we guess?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Spokane, Wash., zone 5b/6.

[@luckypenny312]

We dont get alot of sun in the winter. My greenhouse gets cold!! 😢

[@SusansInTheGarden]

That can really be a challenge. You can always grow microgreens indoors during the winter months: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3vYqZ6gbbR4hLs.

[@Social_Infidel]

The 22 dislikes should seek counseling or medical help.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thank you for making me laugh! I get a little tired of some of the dislikes on my videos but who knows? Maybe they were having a bad day!

[@urielpelaezcdmx]

If one doesn't need light during germination, how would be possible to control the growing fungus in the container? 🤔

[@SusansInTheGarden]

I don't quite understand your question. Are you referring to the fungus that causes damping-off syndrome? If so, the sphagnum moss is what will control it.

[@sandyr7210]

Do you think this would work in zone 4

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Sandy. I'm not sure, to be honest, but I think so. You might be able to get away with our unheated setup if you added a barrel or two of water inside. The water will warm up during the day and give off some heat at night. And you'd definitely want to place floating row cover on hoops over the beds, to bump up the zone a bit. There are 2 books that gave me a lot of inspiration and information: Eliot Coleman's "The Winter Garden Handbook" and Niki Jabbour's "Growing Under Cover."

[@luckypenny312]

What is floating row cover?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Floating row cover is a lightweight woven fabric that lets sunlight and moisture pass through it. The covers come in different weights, so they can provide frost protection. Here's more info from my website: www.susansinthegarden.com/guides/organic-pest-control/organic-pest-control-products-methods/floating-row-cover/.

[@patriciajohnsonson8639]

Anyone can grow a garden? Hmm. I can’t grow much. Exact ttuce and green peppers. I get aw tomato’s too. I find gardens to be extremely expensive.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

I still stand by my theme. Gardening is a learning experience. Each year, we get better and better at it. And there are plenty of ways to save money.

[@riverrat7529]

Zone 5B that's not winter

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Oh, we get some doozies! Where do you live? The Yukon Territories? ;o)