Winter fruit and veg?

Question

I'm kind of new to gardening, I've only just gotten into it this year and I'm having a great time growing my own fruit and veg. I'm just wondering if there is anything I can plant now that will produce fruit/veg during the winter months?

I know it's not exactly the best time, but I've just bought myself a greenhouse, and I kind of want my garden to be interesting year-round. I hope that makes sense. Is there anything I can grow in a greenhouse that will fruit during winter?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Here is a descriptive list of plants that you will enjoy growing in your greenhouse at one time or another during what I hope will be many years of greenhouse gardening for fun. Suggestions for culture are included, also names of many of the species and hybrids known to be most satisfactory for amateur gardeners who want results.

http://www.lovelygreenhouses.com/greenho...

Answer 2

There isn't much fruit that appears in winter, however, some plants keep their fruit quite late into the fall. Such as Japanese Barberry, pyracantha, cotoneaster, Rowan, hawthorn, viburnum, heavenly bamboo, roses, crabapple and some others I can't remember. Some, such as rowan, hawthorn, rosehips, and crabapple fruit can be made into jelly. Be careful which ones of those you chose though, some are invasive species in some areas.

One particular plant I'd reccomend is Lavalle Hawthorn (Crataegus x lavallei) a hybrid. It has large fruit which stays until January (at least it does where I live).

Have a nice day!

Answer 3

Congrats on your greenhouse!  Yes, gardening is addicting.

I don't know what frost zone you are in (I am in 8; Southeastern Arizona) and the only winter vegetable here would be beets, carrots, onions and other root vegetables as annual vegetables all die off in heavy frost.  If you lived in zones 9 or higher you could plant many spring vegetables in the winter, like extreme south Texas or Death Valley, CA.

The nice thing about a greenhouse is that the structure warms the air by at least ten degrees just from the solar heat alone; even more so if the structure is heated.  And in that case you could grow quite a bit depending on how much you want to spend for heat.

Cabbages work great in cooler temps, so does spinach and many salad greens, but only grow what you will eat or be able to give away or sell at Farmer's Markets.  It's best to ask other local gardeners in your town as they all know the local growth habits and climates best.  And you can always contact your local County Extension Office through the university nearby; they have volunteers there who are great at gardening.

Also keep a gardening journal of your daily activities, from high and low temperature, humidity, any precipitation etc and what you planted.  What varieties you planted and how many, etc.  And with time you will get so good at your new hobby.  Also read gardening websites, ask around in garden centers, read books on gardening, etc.  The best gardeners are those who experiment and adapt to what works best for them.