Winter: Time to Plan Your Garden

Winter often feels like a quiet pause in the gardening calendar. The soil is cold, plants are dormant, and the garden looks bare. Yet, this season offers a perfect opportunity to prepare for a thriving garden for the rest of the year. Thoughtful planning during winter can save time, reduce stress, and boost your garden’s productivity when the warmer months arrive. Whether you want a kitchen garden bursting with fresh vegetables, a flower garden that blooms continuously, or sturdy garden structures ready for use, winter is the time to lay the groundwork.

Planning garden layout during winter

Planning your garden layout during the winter helps ensure a successful growing season.

Plan Your Kitchen Garden for a Bountiful Harvest

Winter is the ideal time to decide what vegetables and herbs you want to grow. This planning phase allows you to research varieties, order seeds, and prepare your garden beds. Some vegetables thrive in cooler weather, while others need warm soil. For example, leafy greens like kale and spinach can be planted early, while tomatoes and peppers require warmer conditions.

Start by sketching a layout that maximizes space and sunlight. Consider companion planting to improve growth and deter pests. For instance, planting basil near tomatoes can enhance flavor and reduce insects.

Order your seeds in winter as popular varieties sell out quickly in spring. Ordering seeds in winter ensures you get the best selection and can start seedlings indoors on time.

Another winter job is preparing the soil by adding compost or well-rotted manure to enrich the soil. Cover beds with mulch, leaves or a protective layer to prevent erosion and nutrient loss during winter.

Use succession planting to keep flowers blooming all summer

Succession planting means staggering your flower plantings so that blooms appear continuously throughout the season. Winter is the time to plan this carefully.

Select a variety of flowers with different bloom times. Early bloomers like crocuses and daffodils, mid-season flowers such as coneflowers and daylilies, and late bloomers like asters and chrysanthemums.

Pen down when to sow seeds indoors and when to transplant seedlings outdoors. For example, start seeds of early bloomers in late winter, and plan to sow seeds of late bloomers in spring.

Prepare seed trays and indoor growing spaces and set up a dedicated area with grow lights or a sunny window to start your seeds. This gives plants a head start and ensures they bloom at the right time.

Plan for continuous soil care by adding organic matter to keep the soil healthy. This supports strong root systems and vibrant blooms.

Build and Repair Garden Structures During Winter

Winter’s slower pace is perfect for tackling garden projects that require time and effort. Structures like raised beds, trellises, cold frames, and greenhouses can be built or repaired now to save time in spring.

We always build our raised beds in the winter. Raised beds improve drainage and soil quality. Use treated wood or concrete to build durable beds. Plan the size and location based on your garden layout.

Repair or build trellises and supports as many climbing plants like beans, peas, and flowering vines need sturdy supports. Fix broken trellises or build new ones from bamboo or willow.

Build cold frames, cloches or any other structure to protect seedlings from frost and extend the growing season. Winter is a good time to gather materials and assemble them.

Maintain your gardening tools by cleaning rust and sharpening blades. Well-maintained tools make planting and pruning easier and more efficient.

Organize Your Garden Supplies and Create a Planting Calendar

When it is really too cold or too stormy to go outside, then it is also a great time to organize seeds, pots, fertilizers, and other supplies. Keeping everything in order saves time and reduces frustration when planting season begins. Sort and label seeds for viability dates and discard old seeds. Store seeds in a cool, dry place in labelled containers.

Create a planting calendar to keep track of it all. Use a notebook or digital planner like Planta to track sowing dates, transplanting times, and harvest periods. This helps you stay on schedule and avoid missing critical planting windows.

Here's what we get up to in winter. Spending just an hour outside in the garden, even during winter, can really boost your mood. Hope to see you this summer!