COLUMBUS, Ohio – The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many people to want to grow their own food. According to the Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association, the number of people who had their own garden was five times the number who worked the soil in 2019. Online searches for “growing vegetables from scraps” increased 4,650 percent this past March compared to the same time last year.

 “Why stop now?” says Tim McDermott, an educator with Ohio State University Extension. “The good thing about Ohio is that the Buckeye state is a four-season growing environment.

McDermott, who runs the Growing Franklin (Franklin County, Ohio) food-production blog, says it’s possible to grow a fresh, healthy harvest of vegetables all 12 months of the year in Ohio. In addition to offering growing tips on the blog, McDermott also recorded a virtual class on how to grow during winter as well as produced an informative article with a step-by-step video of how to do so.

“Growing over winter is a great way to utilize all four seasons for food production in Ohio,” McDermott said. “We’re experiencing a tremendous drive and resurgence of folks that want to provide for their own personal and family food security. Growing outside is a wonderful activity that provides for health and wellness yet maintains social distance.

“Making the right choice for cold-tolerant plantings as well as the use of season extension will allow any backyard grower or urban farmer to harvest all 12 months of the year.”

Winter growing is possible thanks to low tunnels, row covers and frost blankets.

Low tunnels are temporary structures that are roughly 4 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. Hoops constructed of wire or pipe can be used to support row cover of spun fabric or polyethylene plastic to create a mini greenhouse over the crops.

Tom Broyles of Oregonia, Ohio has been raising and harvesting vegetables through the winter months thanks to low tunnels.

“The keys to successful winter production without supplemental heat are the right types of crops to grow and the layering of protective covers over the plants,” Broyles said. “The rows of cold-tolerant plants are lined with half circles of wire to hold up the row covers. As the temperatures fall below freezing I just add an additional layer of plastic. That’s the beauty of these tunnels. Many of the leafy greens can be produced all winter long.”

Broyles grows spinach, leaf lettuce, arugula, kale and chard during winter. His crops are first established in the garden in the fall.

“Other good candidates include bassica greens such as tatsoi, pac choi (bok choy) and mizuna,” he said.

According to Broyles, a winter vegetable garden brings many benefits. Once established, a winter garden is relatively low maintenance. It typically requires very little work from November to March, with the exception of harvest. There is minimal need for watering or venting.

“Growing in the winter allows me to capitalize on crop seasonality by using cool- and cold-season vegetables and herbs as the basis for plantings,” he said. “Winter vegetables offer better flavor. Some winter veggies like carrots, kale, beets and parsnips have a higher sugar content in the winter, and therefore taste sweeter. Winter gardening doesn’t attract our normal slew of garden pests. Wildlife like rabbit and deer can’t reach covered crops and the cold keeps away some insects and diseases.”

Broyles first used 4-mil plastic sheeting from local stores for the low tunnels, but warns it doesn’t last long as it becomes brittle and can tear in only a few years. He then switched to greenhouse 6-mil poly films.

“It’s important that the plastic doesn’t touch the crop leaves, which are damaged if contacting the cover in freezing weather,” he said. “I use permanent raised beds for the winter crops because of their better drainage and warming properties. Depending on the crop, I plant from mid-August into early November. Of course, planting dates here in Ohio may not suit other locations.

Be prepared to weed, he warns, adding that chickweed, henbit and winter cress grow very well even under wraps of tunnels. Slugs can be present, as can aphids. Broyles uses insecticidal soap in a small spray bottle to keep them in check.

Danny Swan, of Grow Ohio Valley in Wheeling, W.Va., says “the end of summer no longer means the end of quality produce.”

“It’s really amazing what you can grow year-round,” he adds. “Pretty much all of the greens and roots appreciate cooler temperatures, and, with attention to detail and proper techniques, many of our common vegetables can thrive and have harvested, straight through the coldest months of winter.”

Swan’s list of cold-weather veggies includes squash, cabbage, broccoli, bok choy, spinach, beets, turnips, radishes, carrots and onions.

 “All of those things will grow in the winter,” he said. “Many of the herbs will grow through the winter.”