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Q&A for The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Year-Round Gardening by Sheri Ann Richerson
- Can anyone in any climate have a year-round garden of some kind?
- Yes, it is possible to garden year-round in any climate. The key is how far are you willing to go to accomplish the task. Some gardeners use a heated greenhouse, some use Christmas lights to protect their plants, others mulch the root systems heavily using pine needle mulch—however this will change your soil pH. It is also important to note that each layer of greenhouse plastic raises the zone by 1. For example, if you are in zone 3 and put two layers of plastic on your hoop house or cold frame, inside of the structure you will have created a micro-climate that is now a zone 5.
- What are the most successful plants in a year-round garden?
- Hellebores are great for winter color as are witch hazels. These plants are very reliable. I personally like winter aconite, snowdrops, and crocus as well. When it comes to vegetables, any of the cold crops—kale, Brussels sprouts, and lettuce. Other good winter crops include potatoes, carrots, spinach, peas, radish, and turnips.
- Do I need special equipment or a special greenhouse?
- A cold frame and row cover is recommended. The cold frame doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact four bales of straw and an old window will work.
- Can I grow organic in a year-round garden?
- Yes, organic gardening will work in a year-round garden and is recommended. Once you bring the beneficial insects into play, you will be so glad you chose to go organic. It won’t happen overnight and the hardest part is to be patient and let Mother Nature work her magic.
- What is the number one mistake people make when trying to garden all year long?
- They fail to set the garden up correctly to make sure the plants can survive the winter.
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