The MOST Important Gardening Task (In Winter)

Gardening shouldn't stop just because it's cold outside. Gardener Scott discusses important activities to do in winter to help ensure gardening success in summer. (Video #414)

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[FrozEnbyWolf]

Winter is also the best time of year to get your deciduous trees trimmed. The leaves have long since fallen off, so the shape and structure of the branches will be more visible, and they will weigh considerably less. When the arborist chips up the branches, keep the woodchips to use as mulch, which will protect your soil and any perennials you may have.

[marjoriejohnson]

After the hubub of Christmas is over it Used to be so calming yet mood elevating to sit at the table with my seed boxes and catalogs. Before the fabrics were chosen for the spring/ summer wardrobes, before the spring break to Florida choosing the plants was restorative to my very soul., And on the drive back from the south I began gearing up to put all of my winter seed dreams to work. Happy memories of days gone by. Thank you Scott for the trip down memories lane.

[magenta]

The weather is dreary, but I focus on how the days will start getting longer in another week. The months are passing quickly and soon it will be March/April/May to start planting and cultivating again. Thank you, Gardner Scott, for this nicely focused video. It is wonderful to plan our next garden adventure in the Winter.

[WYO_Dirtbag]

Watching this in WY. 4 days of straight bad winds with 2 more days forecasted. Dreaming of what I can plant this spring. Not only for the vegetable garden but fruit trees, shade trees, shrubs, and evergreens. As soon as it's 40 degrees, sunny, and no longer windy I can get back outside and continue the cleanup of the dead elms and plan the garden extension.

[C-TOS]

I am growing butter lettuce from scraps I got from Costco, they love the cool air.

[robinham]

We have worked almost as hard putting our garden to bed for the winter as summer and spring!!!
Mulched leaves,
Layers of them, working in the compost bins,
Getting chickens ready for the cold,
Looking at my wonderful
Greenhoise and simply can’t wait!’
My happy place!💚💚💚💚💚

[Markephillips]

Sitting here in snowy Minnesota excitedly going through my seed packets and deciding what to grow next year! It will be my second year gardening and my first seriously trying to grow peppers so I’m nervously excited!

[Jeff_PNW]

Perfect timing! My garden looks about the same as yours, and I've been going through my boxes of seeds to plan what I'll grow next season. It's funny you've got empty packets. So do I. I do this on purpose as a reminder that I grew those seeds before & liked them, so I need to restock.

[lorindav]

I have edited my seeds this fall too and donated the ones that don't suit my tastes or space. My garden is small so I had to cull deeply and be completely honest with myself about what we will actually eat. Another family was Thrilled with those seeds. I hope that they do well for them this coming year. My peppers also did very well in 2022. I saved seeds from the largest specimens from the Lemon Spice and Pumpkin Spice Jalapenos. Fingers crossed that I can increase the size of the peppers this coming year. My hot peppers were significantly hotter this year that in previous years.

[farmermarshall]

Fortunately, I'm in the south so I still have a garden full of brassicas (collards, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, and green onions. Should be really cold this weekend but my garden will be okay.

Time to prune my fruit trees and plan for my Spring/Summer garden.

[maureenodonnell]

Hello Gardener Scott, cloudy, cold day here in Bayfield, Co. I kept a journal through this season and ordered seeds from Seed Savers. My San Marzano and Burpee keeper tomatoes were tasteless, so I ordered Black Krio and Amish paste for next summers garden. You inspired me to keep a journal and it certainly paid off.
My seeds arrived 5 days after I put in my order, woohoo!
Great video, great advice. Happy gardening!

[carladelagnomes]

And, in addition. 20 minutes a day outside - even in the cold- is good for the body and mind...

[finchct]

I use an excel spreadsheet to track everything. When did I start inside, when did they sprout, when did I start to harden, when did I plant. Anything particular bad about the weather during the growing season, first fruit and how it was. Love excel!

[heidiclark]

This is a very timely video! I have started my planning for next season. It all starts with winter sowing some seeds. Then getting the small greenhouse in my garage ready. I learned a lot from you this year as always. I learned a lot from my garden as well.

[sunnyseacat]

Gardening is a journey. It is a year long activity Winter is a humble and relaxing time for reviewing the previous summer's successes or challenges, getting a new gardening journal, organizing seed packets and seed trays for indoor planting soon, figuring out what materials to use and build a new gate that will accomodate a wheelbarrow on a tight angle (making the opening larger than normal) and finish painting my gardening sign.
Also, flowers would be a terrific addition but where to plant them and flowers that will attract insects that will joyously eat every squash bug possible!

[brianseybert]

Even though I go out in the garden daily, this is the time of year to plan for the next growing season. I'm still in the process of cleaning flower seeds for next year. I really miss the feel of the sun in my face, now I sit and watch the birds.
Even though moving snow is not as easy for me as it used to be, I am grateful. Our snow levels have been so low over the past few years, the soils dry out. Last year in central WI we only received 19" of snow. This year we are already at 11" and our snowy time has not even begun.
Climate change also changes our plans in the garden for next year. I need to conserve more water, I can pay for it, but in so many ways, collecting it is so much better.
As I look at my barren garden, I think of next year and the abundance that it will produce.

[jercasgav]

Scott thanks for your practical gardening info from a gardener in southern Colorado.

[michaelboom]

I really liked the plastic seed storing box! Yes I often mentally go over gardening during these cold days!

[krussell]

Looking through seed catalogs just makes my heart happy. It's even better when I'm looking with my mom and sister 😊

[Jimmy-wdnk]

Thanks for teaching us (me) how to evaluate the plant growing progress. Also how you separated your seeds from what you had on hand, and what you actually planted. Keep warm and enjoy looking at the seed catalogs.