How To Grow Plants Through Winter

For a long time, Gardening has been seen as a seasonal hobby. However, it is there to be enjoyed all year round if you apply some tricks and hints to extend or supplement your growth periods. The simplest way is to find plants or vegetables that are best suited to drier cooler temperatures or that are good at growing indoors. Once you’ve found these, you can optimize them with some accessories and tricks.

What Kind of Plants Thrive in Winter?

If your home receives a substantial amount of sunlight through winter or is south-facing, some of the plants listed will grow well inside your home. For some types of vegetables, you may not even need to bring them inside and can carry out some slight DIY to extend their yield.

Leafy Greens

Lettuce, kale, spinach, all of these healthy foods are very simple and practical to grow during winter. Through winter indoors the most optimal growth is to keep them as baby greens. However, if you’re willing to use supplemental lighting you may be able to bring them to maturity throughout winter or spring. Their supplemental lighting would range between 10-12 hours a day. Leafy greens can grow without supplemental lighting outdoors or indoors on a south-facing window, however, it would be more optimal to supplement them with extra lighting.      

Herbs

Basil, sage, thyme, etc Mint is the most shade tolerant, however, it does need a few hours of daylight each day. Basil is one of the greens that need the highest temperatures throughout the growth stage. Herbs are one of the easiest indoor plants to grow as you can get very high yields using small spaces. So, using a supplementary light may optimize your herb's yields and possibly increase them.

Cherry Tomatoes

One of the most common plants by indoor gardening hobbyists. Although they seem very common among indoor and outdoor gardeners, they’re not so simple to grow ad flourish. They require ample sunlight and heat to flower. During winter these plants would definitely require artificial lighting to aid their growth as they need around 16 hours a day. They also need a relatively warm day and night time environment to thrive. So, although they are not simple to grow in winter without indoor grow lights if you have them, they can flourish.

Outdoor Gardening Hacks For Winter

Recyclable Cloche

For outdoor plants, even sturdy plants that can be grown outdoors is to shield them. Shielding your plants from frost and wind will benefit them especially in the icy months through December to March.  Why are Cloches a good choice? Because you can use anything to make them. Easily recyclable plastic containers or bottles can be used. Making them quick and easy fixes for your plants.  A large 5L water bottle, cut the bottom off, and use it as a protective dome over your seedlings.

Cold Frame

Cold frames are practical and come in a variety of ranges. They can be made using very basic essentials such as wood or hay or can be small brick structures with windows on top. The best way to make one is to have a solid structure with a large clear window over the top of them. If you’re looking for a low-cost bale of hay are fine and if you’re looking for something more durable obviously bricks are the way to go. Whether you’re using hay or bricks, as long as it is well sealed and has a clear window over seeds or plants, your crop is going to thrive!

What is a Great supplementary Light to Buy?

SANSI’s 24W indoor grow bulbs are some of the best indoor grow lights you can purchase on Amazon. If you’re thinking of growing plants or vegetables through winter this may be the supplemental light they need. SANSI’s 24W full spectrum bulb replicates natural sunlight and promotes healthy growth for indoor plants. If you’re looking to extend your crop's yield throughout the whole year these bulbs are definitely going to help. They have a high red to blue ratio and will promote a healthier even grow.

Whether you’re looking to grow vegetables or plants indoors or just through winter these bulbs are the perfect fit. With a full spectrum beam, you can either grow and develop your plants from the initial phase or supplement them as they grow.

Whether it is development or supplemental indoor lighting you’re looking for, SANSI’s 24W indoor grow light can help. If you would like to learn more,  then head over to SANSI 24W grow light.