Empowering Gardens, Inc.
  • Home
  • About us
    • Core Values
    • Staff
  • DONATE
  • MERCHANDISE
    • House Plants
    • Empowering Gardens' Made
    • Soils and Growing Supplies
    • Pots
    • Fertilizers & Pests Control
  • Events
  • Gardening Tips
  • CONTACT US & NEWSLETTER
    • Subscribe to our Newsletter

Cold Weather Vegetable Crops

8/30/2018

 
What is a cold crop?
            These are plants that prefer cool season growing; they thrive if planted before the final frost date or in the fall when the days are cool and sunny.
 
Ways to Protect Your Seedlings:
            In order to grow cold crops successfully, the grower must protect the seedlings from frost, which will kill a seedling. Table cloths, bed sheets, and even newspaper “pirate hats” (make a triangular shape) can be used to protect plants from frost. Do not use plastic sheeting; it may act as a conductor of cold air and trap moisture which either will kill the seedlings or encourage fungi.  


Caring for Cold Crops:
            Introduce ample organic matter, which will help to aerate winter soils, and nutrients that will strengthen small plants. Most vegetables grow best in full sun. Water deeply, particularly in the beginning, as shallow-rooted plants need more frequent watering.
 
Mulch:
            In addition to insulating the plants with a blanket of protection over the root system, it will help discourage the growth of weeds. Mulch also helps reduce evaporation of moisture from the soil during dry periods. During heavy rainstorms, it helps to prevent the soil from eroding away.
 
 
Rotation of Vegetable Varieties:
            This is a very critical part of any garden scheme. Do not plant the same vegetable crops in the same location as they were planted the previous season. It is important to note that if the same crop is planted in the same location, not only will the soil be weakened through continual loss of the same nutrients but the plants will also attract the same insects and diseases to that part of the garden.
 
Examples of cold weather crops:
Peas, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, broccoli, turnips, watercress, beets, carrots, radishes, lettuces, onions, spinach and cilantro. 
​
    Picture

    Ana Solares

    Ana graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Ornamental Horticulture from the College of DuPage. She continued her studies in Horticulture through the outreach program at the University of Illinois.  In 2014 Ana completed the Horticultural Therapy Certificate Program through the Chicago Botanical Garden.

    Archives

    November 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    August 2018
    October 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Growing Skills and Creating Solutions


ADDRESS​
​7730 W. Madison St.,
Forest Park, IL 60130 
HOURS
Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm 
Due to present circumstances and because we want to keep our employees safe and healthy indoors, we are closed to the public. Please click on MERCHANDISE to order and we will deliver for FREE to Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park. Deliveries to other towns, please call us at 708.689.8332
​
PHONE
708-257-3295
773-671-2980
708-689-8332

EMAIL
richard@empoweringgardensinc.org 
ana@empoweringgardensinc.org      
egi@empoweringgardensinc.org       

Empowering Gardens, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Illinois corporation. 
(c) 2016 Empowering Gardens, Inc, All rights reserved
  • Home
  • About us
    • Core Values
    • Staff
  • DONATE
  • MERCHANDISE
    • House Plants
    • Empowering Gardens' Made
    • Soils and Growing Supplies
    • Pots
    • Fertilizers & Pests Control
  • Events
  • Gardening Tips
  • CONTACT US & NEWSLETTER
    • Subscribe to our Newsletter