When the air gets colder and the days get shorter, it can only mean one thing. The winter months are approaching! Don’t leave your pickaxe resting in a corner because December and January can be perfect for your vegetable gardens.
Light, weather, and temperature are great for growing certain vegetables in your gardens. If you are new to gardening, here is a list of root vegetables and vegetables that you will definitely want to grow to start the new year green.
7 Winter Vegetables to Grow in December and January:
radish
1) Radishes:
Number one on our list is radish, the most popular for mixed salads in winter. This winter-loving plant gives the best flavor and texture when grown in the colder months. Radishes are an easy-to-grow root vegetable that can be planted multiple times during the growing season. It takes about 22 to 70 days to get a good harvest. Consider finishing harvesting before the season warms. Packets of radish seeds are easy to find everywhere.
spinach
2) Spinach
You can sow spinach seeds during the cool days of January. The health benefits of these succulent green leaves are numerous. Spinach is rich in iron, vitamins and antioxidants. The crop can be harvested within 6-8 weeks after planting. For more information about growing spinach in your garden, visit the website.
salad
3) Salads
Lettuce, a quick variety of lettuce, can be harvested a few weeks after sowing. These nutritious greens are easy to grow and like cooler temperatures. The best time to plant lettuces is late December or early January. Find out how to grow winter lettuce at home in your vegetable garden for an abundant supply of crisp green salads throughout the winter season.
Komatsuna or spinach mustard
4) Komatsuna or spinach mustard
Komatsuna, a member of the Brassica family, is sometimes called spinach mustard because of its unique flavor that falls somewhere between mustard and salad. Komatsuna can withstand cold temperatures and matures in about 40 days after planting, making it an ideal plant to grow in January. Komatsuna needs nitrogen, adding nitrogen-rich amendments to your soil will help the plant thrive. Choose a sunny spot and well-drained soil to plant this green salad.
Tatsoi
5) The Tatsoi
A green vegetable that grows quickly, the armadillo can be harvested within 45 days of planting. Although the plant prefers cooler temperatures, armadillo seeds should be sown in a location with well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. It is best to start seeds indoors and transplant the seedlings to their final growing location before three weeks.
Mizuna
6) The Mizuna
Another perfect ingredient for fresh salads, mizuna thrives in cold weather. These greens are easy to grow and fall into the category of crops that can be cut and regrown. Young leaves are ready to harvest within 20 days of planting. However, fully developed leaves take about 40 days to reach the harvest stage.
endive
7) Endive
A lettuce look-alike, the best time to sow endive seeds is in the cooler months such as January. However, the plant requires 2 to 3 hours of full sun to grow well. Growing endive in the warmer months not only results in overly green leaves, but also a bitter taste. The plant requires well-drained soil and is ready to harvest within 40-50 days of planting.