08/26/2026
Cool Season Crops… Yes you can do them!🥬
With all that empty space in your garden, you’ve got an opportunity to plant cool crops. Yes… we can keep growing even in fall and winter!
Before planting, add a little life back to your soil by working in Sea Soil or well-rotted manures, and consider adding Replenish organic nutrients.
The following veggies have cold hardy varieties that can be sown in summer (generally before mid-August, so time is of the essence to grow from seed) and be harvested from fall through to late spring, depending on the plant:
· Arugula
· Beets
· Sprouting Broccoli
· Winter Cabbage
· Carrots
· Winter Cauliflower
· Cilantro
· Collards
· Corn Salad
· Endive & Radicchio
· Kale
· Kohlrabi
· Leeks
· Lettuce
· ‘Walla Walla’ Onions
· Parsley
· Parsnips
· Scallions
· Spinach
· Swiss Chard
· Turnips
The same general planting rules apply for winter crops as summer crops… full sun and well-drained soil and they’ll be happy. You do need to be careful of your watering though. Later in fall plants will typically require less water as the rain will help us out, but don’t always assume the rain is giving them a good deep drink. Check plants regularly to ensure the roots are getting the moisture that they need and, if you do have to water, be sure to water in the morning, not the evening. Late summer/early fall evenings cool off quickly, and moisture on the foliage plus cool weather equals a higher chance of fungal disease.
With regard to soil preparation, it’s not a bad idea to mix in a little bark into the soil or add a higher porosity soil (if you need to top up beds anyway). When we do receive heavy rains, you want to ensure that excess moisture keeps draining away from the roots.
Shop vegetable starter plants and cool season seeds in store now!
📍Minter Country Garden
10015 Young Road, Chilliwack, B.C.
