Cool Season Gardening: What to Grow This Winter (and How to Actually Keep It Alive)

Think winter means shutting the garden down and waiting for spring? Think again.

In this episode, CJ breaks down everything you need to know about cool season gardening — what actually changes in your garden over winter, which crops thrive in the cold, and how to set yourself up for success without overcomplicating it.

Whether you've got a backyard veggie patch or a full homestead, there's no reason your garden has to go dormant. From garlic and potatoes you can basically ignore, to brassicas worth the extra effort — CJ covers the lot, including the beginner mistakes she's made herself (and would very much like you to avoid).

In this episode:

• Why winter gardening is slower — and why that's completely fine

• The best leafy greens, root vegetables, and brassicas for cool weather

• Herbs that actually prefer the cold

• Soil prep and mulching: why it matters more in winter than any other season

• Frost protection without spending a fortune

• The most common beginner mistakes (and how to dodge them)

• Why garlic is the ultimate set-and-forget crop

No fluff, no Pinterest-perfect gardens. Just practical advice for real people who want to grow food through winter.

🌿 Part of the Ditch the Store podcast — practical homesteading for real people on real budgets.