A guide to the winter garden for Zone 8 region. Frost protection, planting, harvesting, and everything in between. Focusing on gardening fruits and vegetables for a great preparation for a spring garden.
How Do I Prepare My Garden for Winter?
In general, prepare your garden for winter by taking the following steps:
- Clean up the garden: remove any dead plants, fallen leaves, and other debris.
- Mulch: apply a thick layer of mulch (4 – 6inches) to protect plants for the cold and insulate the soil.
- Protect tender plants: non-cold-hardy plants should be moved indoors or sheltered in a warm place if possible. Some fruiting shrubs and trees can be wrapped in cloth to protect from frost.
- Watering: make sure plants are well-watered before a hard freeze. Water will act as an insulator.
- Prune trees and shrubs: cut back any dead or diseased branches from your trees and shrubs.
- Cover garden beds: raised beds and vegetable gardens should be covered with frost cloth or other protective coverings to extend the growing season. Thick polymer plastic for tunnels is another good option.
How Do I Protect My Plants from Cold and Frost?
There are several methods to protect plants from cold and frost. Covering plants, adding mulch, and providing windbreaks are a few ways to add protection. Protecting plants in the winter is important to prevent damage or even death.
Covering Plants
Cover plants with a blanket, tarp, old bedding, or frost cloth to help protect them from frost. Secure the cover at the bottom to prevent cold air from seeping in. For instance, taking an old light colored bed sheet and creating a “tent” for the plants is ideal to allow for airflow and frost protection. String lights may be added for additional warmth in cases where frost lasts for more than 48 hours.
This is the frost cloth we recommend: https://amzn.to/3S15rOM
Add Mulch
A simple and relatively cheap way to protect plants in the winter is using mulch. Apply a layer of mulch around your plants to help insulate the soil and keep roots warm. Mulch should be added in 4-6in layers to provide proper protection. In addition, mulch can consist of wood chips, straw, or grass clippings.
Water Before a Frost
Water your fruits and vegetables right before a freeze. Moist soil will retain more heat than dry soil, which protects the roots of the plants. However, do not overwater or create a “puddle” of water around your plants, as this will cause a frozen environment right on top of the roots.
Move Potted Plants to Warmer Areas
Non-cold-hardy potted plants such as citrus trees, aloe vera, or herbs should be moved indoors or into a warmer sheltered area such as a garage or covered patio. One of the benefits to potted plants is their portability in times of bad weather.
Provide Wind Breaks
In addition to covering plants in the winter, providing barriers such as fences, hedges, or low shrubs will provide a windbreak for plants. Wind can make the temperature feel much colder than it actually is which may damage your plants. Wind breaks are also beneficial to small, underdeveloped trees that do not have roots well established.
What Is the Best Way to Water My Winter Garden?
In general, it is best to water your winter garden in the early hours of the day, and to avoid watering the foliage of your plants. By watering early in the day, the plants will be able to absorb the water it needs, and excess water may evaporate with the sun. It is best to water less frequently in the wintertime due to the cooler and wetter weather. Use the finger test method to determine if your plants need watering. If your finger comes out with soil or feels damp to the touch, you do NOT need to water. If your finger comes out dry, then water.
When you do water your garden in the winter, water deeply and avoid watering the foliage. Watering deeply encourages the roots to grow down and out which will help prevent moisture loss. Plants with wet foliage will have a greater risk of frost damage.
If using a drip irrigation system, be sure to clear the water ways before a hard freeze to prevent damage to the irrigation lines. In addition, cover any waterspouts with frost protecting covers or cloth, and drain water hoses.
How Often Should I Fertilize My Winter Garden?
Fertilizing your winter garden can be beneficial to ensure that your plants receive the nutrients they need to thrive during the colder months. However, the frequency of fertilization will depend on the specific needs of your plants and the type so fertilizer you are suing. In general, it is best to fertilize your winter garden sparingly and only using a slow-release fertilizer to provide a steady supply of nutrients over a longer period of time.
Slow-release fertilizers are ideal for winter gardens because plants are growing at a slower rate, and they do not have as much sunlight. In addition, it is better to under fertilize than over fertilize in the winter months. Over-fertilization of plants can lead to damage or death during the colder months. Plants in the winter are more susceptible to stress. Instead of fertilizing your plants, you can add thick layers of compost to add nutrients back into the soil.
What Are the Best Soil Conditions for Winter Gardening?
Gardening in the winter can be challenging with cold temperatures and frozen topsoil. To create the best soil conditions for your winter garden, add plenty of organic matter, such as compost or aged manure. If you are not planning to grow during the winter months, adding nutrient dense compost will aid in the soil health for a spring garden as well.
How Do I Control Pests and Diseases in My Winter Garden?
A benefit to the colder temperatures in the winter is the lack of pests or the reduction of pests. However, some bugs will still persist. Check plants and leaves for pests regularly and remove them with soapy water or pick them off by hand. Prevent disease in your garden space by removing damaged or diseased leaves and rotating crops in the new season. By rotating crops, the soil borne diseases will not build up from the same varieties of plants.
How Do I Prune Trees and Shrubs in The Winter?
To prune trees and shrubs in the winter complete the following:
- Use sharp, clean pruning shears or loppers to make clean cuts. A saw may be needed for larger branches.
- Remove dead or diseased branches to improve overall health of the plant.
- Thin out crowded areas. Branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other should be pruned. By thinning out the branches, this will help with better air circulation.
- If trimming the tree or shrub to achieve a desired shape, trim the top and sides as desired. However, avoid cutting too much back as this will harm the plant.
- Seal cuts and open branches. If the branches you’ve pruned are more than an inch in diameter, you should seal the cut with a tree wound sealant. We like this tree sealant by Tanglefoot (https://amzn.to/3I5avwW).
What Are the Best Winter Garden Maintenance Practices?
Over the winter months, some of the best garden maintenance practices include:
- Planning next year’s garden
- Cleaning, pruning, and weeding your garden.
- Adding compost to your soil
- Repairing any damaged fences or garden boxes
For more information, check out our article on Winter Maintenance which can be found here https://boonstead.com/winter-maintenance-for-your-garden-zone-8/.
What Can I Grow in The Winter in Zone 8?
December Early Winter
| Sow Seeds Indoors | Direct Sow Seed Outside | Plant from Transplant |
| Broccoli Brussel sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Kale Collards | Cilantro Leeks Lettuce | Horseradish |
January Mid-Winter
| Sow Seeds Indoors | Direct Sow Seed Outside | Plant from Transplant |
| Bok choy Broccoli Cabbage Chiles Collards Endive Kale Leeks Peppers Tomatoes | Bok choy Chinese Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Swiss Chard Cilantro Lettuce Snow Peas English Peas Sugar Snap Peas Spinach | Asparagus Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Collards Endive Horseradish Kohlrabi Onion |
February Late Winter
| Sow Seeds Indoors | Direct Sow Seed Outside | Plant from Transplant |
| Arugula Bok choy Collards Eggplant | Arugula Beets Bok choy Chinese broccoli Chinese cabbage Carrot Swiss Chard Cilantro Collards Dill Endive Fennel Lettuce Mustard Parsley Chinese snow peas English peas Sugar snap peas Radish Spinach Tender green Turnips | Asparagus Broccoli Brussel sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Collards Garlic chives Horseradish Kale Kohlrabi Onion Oregano Irish potatoes |
What Fruits and Vegetables Can I Harvest in The Winter?
| December (Early Winter) | January (Mid-Winter) | February (late winter) |
| Arugula Beets Bok choy Broccoli Brussel sprouts Bush snap beans Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chinese cabbage Cilantro Collard greens Dill Endive Fava beans Fennel Fenugreek Green beans Kale Lettuce Mustard Onions Peas Radishes Spinach Swiss chard | Arugula Broccoli Brussel sprouts Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Collard greens Kale Lettuce mustard Peas Radishes Spinach Swiss chard | IF ANYTHING IS LEFT Some lettuces Broccoli Cauliflower Cabbage Brussels sprouts |
Other Articles on Winter Gardening
Winter Planting Checklist for Zone 8 (Free Printable)
https://boonstead.com/winter-planting-checklist-for-zone-8-printable/
Winter Maintenance for your Garden Zone 8
https://boonstead.com/winter-maintenance-for-your-garden-zone-8/
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