TIS’ THE SEASON THAT IF YOU BLINK your zucchini are the size of baseball bats, the corn should be knee-high by the 4th of July, the tomatoes are starting to develop on the vines, the garlic and onions are being harvested, the final seeding of Carrots and beets are being sown for winter storage. Why not also throw in all the seeding and planting of your overwintered crops during these heatwaves? I live for this time of year! Probably why I am a farmer by profession. I love overwintering crops for 3 reasons. First, I can plant and tend to them during the warm growing season and let them do their thing all winter while I am inside, cozy by the fire. Second, it is a great way to keep living root systems in your soil all year, which helps to feed your soil microbes keeping your soil alive through the harsh winter months. Third, it is great to have fresh vegetables in the dead of winter, even though dark leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables are not my favorite. WORDS OF WARNING: There is high pest pressure during the summer for these cold-loving crops. You will want to invest in insect netting, tulle works well too, to protect these crops when they are getting established through the warm weather. Numerous crops can be grown over the winter and harvested through the winter or early spring. Make sure to read your seed packets because that will help you determine if your crops are a winter or a spring harvest crop.
Follow Nikki @urbangnomestead on the socials for local garden growing advice, #farmlife and some hilarious videos. And check out her free monthly garden talks from 1-3 p.m. the final Sunday of each month at Ridgeline Brewing, Bremerton. But not this month. Farmer Nikki is on ‘vacation’ in July.
