When you live in California, especially Southern California there is no need to give up growing and playing in your garden. However, choosing the right fruits and vegetables for the winter climates is important. The temperatures tend to fluctuate between 40-80 degrees with mild to direct sunshine. These elements can be a challenge but with proper planning can be accomplished. Here are some new and fun ideas for your new or established winter garden.
Southern California:
- Begin to cut back ornamental grasses to get ready for new growth.
- Plant pre-chilled bulbs within the first few weeks after Christmas.
Northern California:
- Protect young trees and fruits from frost.
- Be prepared for unexpected cold spells and frosts with old clothes for row covers and DIY cloches (use soda bottles and milk jugs).
- Feed winter-flowering shrubs.
Both regions:
Depending on your environment, here are some suggested non-frost cold weather plants: asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chives, collards, endive, favas, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radish, rutabaga, spinach, swiss chard, and turnips.
Plant some floral cool-season annuals such as poppies, pansies, violas, linaria, diascia, and nemesia.
- Try a fresh new look in your container garden with some colorful flowers and ornamental grasses.
- Native plants throughout California are now becoming a visual masterpiece throughout our neighbor's gardens and parks.
- Natives can be a fun new way to explore native California horticulture while incorporating water-reduction plants into your garden.
- Divide and replant clumping perennials. For you organic growers try some fish emulsion to help secure their growth and for some other options for quick root growth such as: Green Light Concentrate Root Stimulator and Starter Solution.
- December is the best month to plant those cool-season grasses, including Marathon and Delta.
- Plant permanent plants that you may have missed planting in fall, such as trees, shrubs, vines and perennials.
- Reduce your watering for your deciduous fruit trees, therefore including them to go dormant for winter. This encourages optional growth in spring.
Some gardeners may resolve to pay more attention to their garden in 2023, some have chosen associated themes to incorporate into their gardens but as Oprah Winfrey says: "Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."
Check out these fun and uplifting ideas for your 2023 garden include:
- Share your knowledge: Stay open to helping and educating others that show interest in learning how to garden or grow better at gardening.
- Give the gift of plants: Plants are the gifts that keep on giving. If cared for correctly plants can last months and even years. Great for birthdays, holidays or mid-day pick me up for that special someone.
- Buy local by checking out your local farmer's markets: USDA's Farmers Market Directory is a great resource for finding your local farmer's market. Nurseries and cooperatives of all types attend farmer's markets throughout the US. Also available at local farmer's markets tends to be other like-minded individuals passionate about gardening and horticulture techniques, a great place for networking and gathering ideas.
- Slow down and take it easy: Your garden can be an excellent source of grounding and meditation for some. Release yourself from the day to day hustle and spend some quality time doing what you enjoy.
- Find inspiration online: Gardeners and horticulturists around the globe are creating inspirational and expressive gardens. Whether your garden is for looks or for food and healing properties, explore, indulge and grow your garden. Some of my favorite websites for new ideas are Organic Gardening Magazine (also a well-circulated magazine), Southern Homes & Gardens, Southern Living, Master Gardener's of Orange County, CA, How to Garden Advice, and of course the Seed Savers Exchange.
- Grow your own: Herbs, Fruits and/or Vegetables. They make great gifts and they can be a great addition to your current food supply. I still remember the sweet and fragrant, ripe tomatoes from my grandma's garden. They were so juicy and delicious that quite simply, a tomato sandwich was all it needed to be. Or just eaten by itself with a sprinkle of sea salt. My goodness, and the fresh raspberries and strawberries! I could never figure out why the supermarket's produce tasted so bland, well now I know.
- Try composting for a new addition to your garden, make your own nutritious soil with the scraps from your kitchen. Who would have thought? More details on composting.
Best wishes to you on a prosperous and delightful garden this year!
