Plant a winter vegetable garden

Raised beds can be a convenient way to garden if you have the space. Keep the bed no wider than two feet, so you can easily harvest vegetables. (Courtesy photo)

There is still time to plant a winter vegetable garden. Growing vegetables can be rewarding for everyone including young children. This is a great way to get quality nutrition and a learning experience for all. You can add vegetables to flower beds in your yard or make it simple by using flower pots. Here is a list of what you will need.

1. You will need a place for this garden that receives at least 6 hours of daylight to be successful. Six hours will work for leafy vegetables, like spinach, kale, and Swiss Chard, as well as the herbs you will want to have on hand, like basil or parsley.

2. If you have a place with 8 hours of sunlight you have time to plant beets and carrots in a winter garden and soon, you will be able to plant tomatoes and cucumbers.

3. You need a convenient source of water for your area. Check moisture levels daily around plants by digging down a couple of inches with a trowel. If the soil is dry, water your plants. It is important to water your plants around the same time each day. Plants like consistency and without consistency some plants will have a difficult time producing a crop, especially tomatoes.

4. Use pots that provide enough room for air flow. How big is big enough? I like to give tomato plants a 5-gallon bucket size area for each plant. Plants like Swiss Chard are happy with 10 square inches per plant.

5. Use commercially available garden soil. Additionally, add a couple of inches of compost to the top and work it into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil. This will get the plants off to a good start. After plants mature, you can top-dress the soil with an inch of compost or use an organic vegetable fertilizer that can be applied weekly.

6. You can purchase seeds locally at garden centers. I like to purchase organically grown seeds when possible. Also, check with your local nurserymen for seedlings of vegetables and herbs. In McAllen, Waugh’s Nursery is a good place to get plants and gardening advice as the entire staff have experience growing vegetables.

The Farmers Market at McAllen’s Firemen’s Park is also a good location for assistance and some plants. Master Gardeners are on hand each week to share information, provide Vegetable Growing schedules for our area, and information on workshops they teach on gardening. This market is closed for the holidays, but will reopen from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 4.

By starting small with your gardening venture, you will have plenty of ways you can expand the garden as your knowledge grows. Happy New Year and happy gardening in 2025!

Barbara Storz is a local horticulturist who writes about plants that grow well in the Rio Grande Valley. You can follow her on Facebook.

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