Extending Our Gardening
Seasons
Ted Lambert
College of
Agriculture and
Natural Resources
Isn’t six months enough?
• With planning and not that much more effort
• Harvest up to 10 or more months in MD
• Increase variety and flavor
Philosophy to garden by
• My garden must deliver the most food with the
least amount of work!!!
• In warm weather, focus on warm weather crops.
• Never force cold weather veggies in the hot
weather.
• Extend the growing season by at least 5 weeks at
each end by using fabrics and contraptions to
produce significantly greater harvest.
• Use salad boxes to grow excellent salad greens
and some herbs in winter.
Overcome Vegetable Bigotry
• Many based on childhood
trauma
• Cold hardy veggies are
bitter and tough(ouch)
• Systematically harvested
at the wrong time so we
assume they’re supposed
to be bitter
• Tendency to overcook
root veggies
• Many veggies mature in
summer but shouldn’t be
harvested!
• They become
considerably sweeter
after a few frosts
• Others like lettuce
become bitter when
stressed and will never
become sweet again
Seed Starting Mantra
• Garden centers sell plants to warm-weather
gardeners
• Selection is very limited; rarely any fall selection
• Use soil-less medium, not soil from yard
• Low-cost shop lights/common fluorescent bulbs
• Transfer to cold frame
• Harden off
• Window sills rarely work well
• Buy fall seeds in spring/ they may not be
available
Floating Row Covers
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First line of defense against frost
Increase germination rates when you cover
A second layer under other contraptions
Protection for tender plants/seedlings from
heat/sun
• Great defense against insects
• ‘Hold-ups’ (support)=pvc pipe,
blocks, ladders, reinforcing wire,,
and nine gauge wire are just a
few; be creative!
Many Uses of Cold Frames
• Harden off indoor started plants
• Start seedlings
• Five or so week jump for summer crops
• Force bulbs in winter
• Grow a great salad
• Early herbs
• Be VERY careful if you put glass in garden
Cold frames must be vented to let hot air out on
sunny days!
Five rules for effective use
of cold frames
• Wetter isn't better: allow soil to become nearly
dry to encourage deep roots
• Don’t be mean…lean: no footsteps inside; lean
in or install stepping boards
• Survive a freeze, you’ll be pleased: throw a
blanket or old carpet on top to retain heat
• High/low will show: place a high/low
thermometer for easy monitoring
• Eat in season, there's a reason: our goal is to help
nature, not dominate it.
Tunnel uses
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Protect late summer planted hardy veggies
Overwinter late fall planted veggies for spring
Protect plants till threat of frost past
Raise soil temps in spring
Warming Soils in Tunnels and
Frames
• Painted jugs and water bottles/dark food
coloring
• Black drums
• Soil warming cables
• Fresh manure
• Hot compost
• Rocks?
Cloche basics
• Cover individual tender
plants
• Give heat-loving plants
head start
• Warms soil area underneath
• Longer harvest times
• Tiny propagation plots for cold hardy plants
• Soda bottle, milk jugs, commercial,
lamp shades, plastic and paper bags
and plastic wrapped tomato cages
• Must plan for venting!
Shading
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Starting seeds during summer
Slows bolting
Cools soil
Shade cloth, plywood, fencing
Mulch, Mulch and More Mulch
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Large flat stones = 1 degree warmer
Black plastic = 1 degree warmer
IRT plastics = 9 degree warmer
Clear plastic = at least 12 degrees warmer (hot
enough to kill seeds and roots!
Straw = 7 degrees cooler
My garden has mulch everywhere
At least 2 to 3 inches worth
Pull very few weeds
Need to water much less!!!
Lettuces
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Numerous cultivars -- look for seasonal packets
Loose-leaf easiest to grow and longest lasting in heat. Try
‘Tango’ as its vigorous root system shines in the cold
Butterheads aren't heat-tolerant, do well in cold - try
Buttercrunch
Mesclun mix designed to be used as baby greens; have had
little luck allowing to mature!
Only negatives- short storage times and bolts in heat
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Don’t forget spinach (needs to grow in cool weather)
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Brassica Family
• Prominent hardy members: Cabbage, Kale, Brussels
sprouts, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Chinese Cabbage
• I cant say enough about kales -- try them!
• Lesser known but great-tasting: Arugula, Collards,
Cress, Mustard, Rape, and Turnip greens all are easy to
grow
• Most taste better after frosts
• Don’t forget Beets, Turnips, and other root veggies;
they are all great.
Perennial Veggies
• Chives, asparagus, and sorrel are up early
spring with little effort and many years of
harvest.
• Horseradish – homegrown is incomparable to
bought! ( Careful - it can spread)
• Jerusalem artichokes – native staple that’s
sweet and nutty and the sunflower like flower
has a chocolate scent. (Can also spread)
Salad Box
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Great for growing salads and some herbs
Uses same equipment as seed starting bed
Simple design, see hand-out
Use soil-less mix
Make sure its up off bottom to allow some drainage
Pick young and re -plant often
Work/pick left to right
Either buy mix or create your own
Enjoy!
My Garden May/August
Possibilities of Pesto
• A great way to capitalize on winter greens
• One green as a base and another as a taste kick
• Combination like kale and mustard greens, spinach and
sorrel, spinach and beet greens and chives to any.
• The Master Mix: 5 parts greens to 1 part nuts and 3
garlic cloves in processor, then add 2 parts cheese, mix
well and add 2 to 3 parts oil slowly while running.
• Use all types of nuts
• Use pine nuts if you have nut allergies!!
Oops!! Garden Mistakes
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Letting weeds go to seed
Over-fertilizing
Saving seeds from hybrid plants
Planting too closely together
Buying plants already in bloom, fruiting or
root bound
• All work and no relaxation makes gardening a
chore!
Thank You!
Please take a few minutes to complete a
short survey for today’s class.
Good luck with your garden.
Equal Opportunity Employer/ Equal Access Programs
Resources
• Grow It! Eat It!
http://www.extension.umd.edu/growit
– We have all types of practical food gardening tips and
information. Check out our popular blog!
• Home and Garden Information Center
http://www.extension.umd.edu/hgic
– Here you will find factsheets, photos, and videos. You
can also subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter.
– We answer gardening questions 24/7…just click
“Ask Maryland’s Garden Experts”
• Maryland Master Gardener Program
http://www.extension.umd.edu/mg
– Consider becoming a trained MG volunteer!
This program was brought to you by the
Maryland Master Gardener Program
Howard County
University of Maryland Extension