These seeds are the start of next summers blooms.
Winter is also a great time to plant dormant trees and shrubs, including roses and fruit trees.
And dont forget cool-season edibles.
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Thevegetable gardenkicks off in early winter when a variety of crops are established.
Many plant seeds require a period of cold temperatures, called stratification, to break dormancy.
This makes winter an ideal time to sow wildflower seeds, cold hardy annuals, and manyperennials.
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When planting seeds in winter, pay attention to soil temperature and moisture.
Avoid working frozen or wet soil, as this damages soil structure and promotes compaction.
Many gardeners prepare planting beds in fall, before the ground freezes.
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With winter planting, dormant trees and shrubs can focus their resources on root establishment.
Note that even dormant plants need water, which they cannot access when the soil is frozen.
As such, it is important to time winter planting in accordance with moisture availability.
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Dormant plant material has lost its foliage and directed most of its resources to the roots for the winter.
Evergreen plants, on the other hand, require a steady supply of water to the foliage throughout winter.
Dormant container-grown trees and shrubs can also be planted in winter.
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It is important to water newly installed bare root and container-grown trees and shrubs after planting.
Give them an insulating layer of mulch to conserve soil moisture and moderate soil temperatures.
Because they are shipped without soil, bare root plants tend to be less expensive than container-grown roses.
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Purchase bare root roses from a reputable nursery to ensure quality.
Retailers typically ship at the appropriate time for planting in your location.
Plant bare root roses as soon as possible to prevent the exposed roots from drying out.
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Plants tolerate clay soil and are among the most heat-tolerant blackberries available.
Like other fruit trees and shrubs, many blackberries are sold bare root for easy late winter planting.
Ginkgos are rugged trees, tolerating drought, heat, air pollution, and deer.
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A spring flush of flowers is followed by sporadic blooms all summer long.
Butterflies adore the pink blooms and deer leave this beauty alone.
Spiraea can be a real problem solved in clay soils and helps control erosion.
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Wildflowers native to your area make good candidates for winter sowing.
you might also seed non-native annuals and perennials that originate from areas with cold winter temperatures.
Wait until after the threat of frost has passed to seed tender species like cleome and zinnia.
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Columbine tolerates a range of growing conditions.
Plant seeds on soil surface, gently pressing them into the soil without covering them.
Columbine is perennial and self-sows in the garden.
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Bachelors Buttons
This cold-hardy annual is easy to grow and makes a lovely, long-lasting cut flower.
Blooms are typically an intense blue color, though pink and white varieties are available.
Plants experience a long bloom season, flowering from spring to early summer.
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Deadhead plants to limit spread, if desired.
Seeds require exposure to temperatures at or below 40 F or lower for four to six weeks.
To achieve this, sow seeds any time after the first frost of early winter.
Cover seeds loosely with 14 inch of soil.
The flower spikes stand up to four feet tall and open from mid to late summer.
Plants perform best with light shade and plenty of moisture.
Spread seeds on the soil surface and tamp them in, but do not cover them with soil.
Plants tolerate wet soil, but wither in the face of drought.
Cool-Season Vegetables To Plant In Winter
Sowing cool-season vegetables helps scratch the winter gardening itch.
Several crops can be started as early as February, depending on your location.
Many spring crops, such onions and cabbage, are grown from starts or transplants.
Others can easily be grown from seed sown directly into the garden.
Garden Pea
Pea plants tolerate a light freeze, but cant stand the heat of summer.
As such, growing a quick spring crop offers the best success.
Sow seeds as soon as the soil thaws and can be worked.
Look for fast-maturing varieties or establish plants in a location that receives afternoon shade to lengthen the growing season.
Like peas, lettuce can be planted in shady sites to extend the harvest season into warmer months.
Leaf varieties produce a crop faster than head varieties.
Lettuce plants have shallow roots and require regular moisture for proper growth and good flavor.
Chard
Chard plants produce large, glossy leaves with colorful stems.
New foliage continues to grow after the initial leaves are harvested.
Chard is a relative of beets, which can also be sown in the winter.
Carrot
Carrot plants take several months to produce a plump, fleshy root.
Starting plants early in the season allows plants to produce a crop before the hottest part of summer arrives.
Plant seeds in rows, covering them with a quarter inch soil.
Seeds can take up to three weeks to germinate.
Once seedlings emerge, thin plants so they are two to three inches apart.
Soil conditions are important to producing a good crop.
Carrots need a loose loam or sandy soil and plenty of moisture.
Among trees and shrubs, broadleaf and needled evergreens should not be planted in winter.
The foliage of evergreen plants continues to lose water throughout winter.
Wait until early spring or fall to plant evergreen trees and shrubs.
