A simple guide of what to get planted in the summer for your fall/winter garden if you live in the Pacific Northwest. You can also use this guide if you live anywhere else, just keep in mind this is tailored to a winter that doesn’t get colder than 20F.

Season Extenders

Season extenders are your best friend for the fall and winter garden.

What exactly is a season extender?

Simply put, it’s a method of protecting your crops from the colder, wetter weather.

A couple common Season Extenders:

• Cloches
• Low tunnels
• High tunnels
• Greenhouses

 

If you have the space, low tunnels, are often the cheapest and easiest ways to keep your crops through the winter.

Here’s a quick video explaining everything you need to know about setting up a low tunnel.

Explanation of Hoop Houses/Low Tunnels

Crops to Plant in your Winter Vegetable Garden

Definitions for the guide below:

Direct Seed – Plant the seed directly into the soil.

Transplant – Plant the seed first in a seeding tray, water and grow it for 2-4 weeks, then transplant it into your garden.

Format 

Crop Name (Planting Date, Planting Method)

Recommended Varieties: The varieties that do best through the winter

The Crops

Beets (July 15, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: winterkeeper, albina verduna,

Broccoli (June – July 15, Direct Seed or Transplant)

Recommended Varieties: Purple Sprouting, White sprouting late, Rudolph

Brussels Sprouts (Mid July , Transplant)

Jade Cross E, Lunet, Oliver, Red Rubine

Cabbage (June, Direct Seed or Transplant)

Danish Ballhead, Excel, Gloria, Melissa, Zerlina

Carrot (Mid-July, Direct Seed)

Bolero, Merida, Royal Chantenay

Cauliflower (mid-July, Direct Seed)

Snow Crown, Snow Ball

Celeriac (June, Transplant)

Recommended Varieties: Celeriac, Diamant

Celery (June + July,  Transplant)

 Recommended Varieties:  Utah Improved. Needs some protection

Chives (July, Transplant)

Recommended Variety: Nelly

Collard (July, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Champion

Endive (July 15, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: President, Perfect. Best under cloche

Fava Bean (September, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Aquadulce, sweet lorane.

Fennel (July, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Florence, Orion, Solaris

Garlic (Mid July to August, plant bulbs)

Recommended Varieties: Persian Star, Romanian Red

Horseradish (July, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: New Bohemia, Maliner Kren

Jerusalem Artichoke (July, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Stampede

Kohlrabi (July + August, Transplant or Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Grand Duke, Kongo, Winner

Leeks (July, Direct seed)

Recommended Varieties: Durabel, Alaska, Goliath, Siberia, Mekwina

Lettuce, leaf (August, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Winter Density, Oak Leaf, Top Gun, Merveille des Quatre Saisons (continuity), Cloche

Mustard (August + September, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Mizuna

Onions (July, Direct seed or transplant)

Bulbs: Walla Walla, Keepwell, Hi-ball, Buffalo, Red Cross.

Bulbets & Tops: Egyptian Top, Multiplier.

Parsley (July 15, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Italian plain leaf.

Parsnip (June, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Cobham Marrow, Gladiator

Radishes (August + September, Direct seed)

Recommended Varieties: White long, China Rose

Rutabaga (July, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Marian, American Purple Top, Improved Laurentian

Scallions (July, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Hardy White bunching

Spinach (August, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Bloomsdale Savoy, Tyee, Skookum, Olympia, Hybrid 424, Melody, Wolter Baker, St. Helens

Turnip (August, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Purple Top White Globe.

Swiss Chard  (June + July, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Perpetual, Dorat, Ruby Red

Spinach (August, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Red Kitten, Racoon, Carmel

Kale (August, Direct Seed)

Recommended Varieties: Winter Red, Winterbor, Siberian

 

Any Questions?

If you have any questions about planting your fall/winter garden in the Pacific Northwest, leave them in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to answer them for you!