Winter Growing

Growing Lettuce in the Winter When we think of winter crops, we think of tough, leafy greens and durable roots that grow close to the ground and survive the low light and cold temperatures of winter, in part due to their robustness and strength. These crops are often delicious, sweetened with the frosts and hardy to the difficult growing conditions of the cool seasons. One crop that...

As the season comes to a close, it can be hard to find the motivation to properly shut down the farm.  Steps taken in the fall to organize and protect tools, equipment, and supplies will be rewarded with more efficiency when getting started in the spring.  While all farms and gardens are unique, there are many commonly used systems and...

Here in Vermont, where gardens are frozen under snow for long cold winters, gardeners can still grow their own greens inside. While microgreens may sound and look fancy, you don’t need fancy equipment to grow them. In fact, between your garden and your kitchen, you likely already have all the supplies you need to grow microgreens. Like sprouts and shoots...

All growers are familiar with the guessing game that happens each fall when cool weather comes around: when is the first hard freeze going to hit this year? As the global climate continues to shift in unpredictable ways, the things we as growers thought we knew about our regions’ ecological rhythms are being thrown to the wind (so to speak...

An interview with Anne and Brian Bates of Bear Creek Organic Farm on year-round microgreens production in Petoskey, Michigan. How did you determine that microgreens production was right for your farm? Three years ago, we were brainstorming new products that would complement our existing year-round greens production. After we saw growers at other markets selling them successfully, we tried two...

If you reside somewhere north of the equator but south of the north pole, you may have noticed the shortening and darkening of our days lately. In fact, the days have been getting shorter ever since June. Shorter days with less sunlight coincide with cooling temperatures and increased precipitation, all of which hinder plant growth and maturity to a certain...

An Introduction to Floating Row Cover Organic growers have always had to create innovative, safe and effective ways of dealing with the many negative pressures that can affect plants. Unlike conventional farm models, organic growers choose not to utilize broad-reaching and destructive applications like synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to help their plants avoid pests and disease. But no farm...

Growers in the northern hemisphere have for centuries understood the month of February to mark a significant shift in day length as it relates to plant growth. Agrarians from Maine to California still have cause to celebrate this time of year, recognizing that day length finally reaches ten hours after two months of short, dark days. The ancient Celtic pagans...

This time of year commercial growers try to push sales of the last of storage crops like onions, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and winter squash. These sparse offerings of the late season often result in a customer base over-saturated with storage vegetables. So, how do you set yourself apart and get the most “bang for your buck” at winter markets and wholesale...

Feeling uninspired by your old canning recipes and techniques? This month we’re giving away a canning upgrade! One lucky winner will receive:   Beyond Canning by Autumn Giles, filled with creative recipes and techniques for preserving, pickling and fermenting food. Featured recipes include Baby Bok Choy Kimchi, Pickled-Beet Carpaccio with Honey & Thyme, Tomato-Vanilla Jam and more! Six vintage style...