Growing a Winter Garden

[veggiechicken]

I've been reading Joy Larkcom's book "Creative Vegetable Gardening" in which she sets out her experience of growing mixed veg and flowers "potagers". (I can't use that word myself as it sounds too formal and planned which just isn't me!!)

She decided to grow a Winter garden, where all the crops and flowers that were at their best during winter would be grown. A productive, attractive focal point when the other beds were looking tired, rundown and going into hibernation.

Wandering around my garden today, its starting to look a bit sad. So many plants are dying back for winter or are on their last legs and I found myself drawn, repeatedly, to the big clump of Japanese anemones which are still flowering well.

What if I chose the part of the garden that has the most light and sun during the short winter days and turned it into a Winter garden. Maybe a sitting place for morning coffee on those lovely sunshiny winter days.

Do you have a favourite winter spot on your garden or allotment? Please share.

[rary]

Sadly its never really warm enough during the winter to sit out for any length of time, its generally a seat for a quick cuppa, though from the seat I can sit and look at the flower garden, but again this year I have removed most of the plants so not much to look at, I just have to wait for my bulbs to come up

[Snadger]

Anyone can grow stuff in the summer. Only the good gardeners (some call them lunatics) enjoy pitting there wits against adversity and growing stuff and enjoying there plot through the winter.

[Chestnut]

^^^Depends what kind of a winter day it is....
If mild and sunny, then I will happily potter doing bits and pieces anywhere on the plot.
If a little cooler or windier, then I want to be doing something to keep me warm like digging out carpets.
When I stop for a cuppa, then a comfy bag of compost in the greenhouse makes a lovely sheltered spot to watch the world go by!

[Penellype]

This:



Photo taken 2nd January 2018. The best bit is I can look at it from my living room without getting cold!

[Miss Mousetrousers]

Sounds a really good idea! Dogwoods have different coloured stems (green, red, orange and yellow) which are pruned down in spring so the newer stems that grow in summer have the best colour, the small evergreen sarcococci have white flowers over winter, cotoneasters retain their red berries and some have variegated leaves for further interest, and flowering viburnums are nice and also can be fragrant and possibly violas would go underneath as a contrast. Box plants could be shaped as a possible centre point. As for veg, leeks have green or purple-ish leaves, the green curly leaves of kale will sparkle in the winter sun after it's been raining and there's red and green winter cabbages as well as the architectural sprouts, some of which don't grow too tall but are still good to eat. Hope this helps.

[Mark_Riga]

^^^Depends what kind of a winter day it is....
When I stop for a cuppa, then a comfy bag of compost in the greenhouse makes a lovely sheltered spot to watch the world go by!

I'd be careful if the bag is open as I quite often find overwintering wasps in them.