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Growing your own vegetables is one of the best ways to use your land. Not only will you have constant access to organically grown fresh vegetables but you will also reduce your weekly shopping bills significantly.

There is no better way to observe the seasons than through gardening. It is only by caring for seasonal crops that you really notice the effects of the weather – which is both joyous and frustrating in the same measure! While the warm weather tends to bring growth, the cold weather is more challenging as some plants thrive under a couple of frosts whereas others will die.

If you are a keen vegetable grower, you will most likely be looking for ways to extend your growing season. Here are a few things you might consider.

Build a Greenhouse

A greenhouse is the most obvious way to keep your plants warmer over the winter. The glass allows the sunlight in to warm the air and plants inside as well as providing shelter from high winds and rain.

Though your standard greenhouse will make a brilliant difference, if you are really looking to tech up your garden and continue the growing season, geodesic domes could be ideal. These domes are very similar to greenhouses but they use solar panels to provide heat and light throughout even coldest and darkest months.

Create a Sheltered Area

One of the main problems during the winter months is the cold and the wind. Though a greenhouse can help, you can hardly move large plants and fruit bushes! A better idea is to create a sheltered area by either by building a wall or by planting tall evergreen trees that will be able to resist the wind chill. Fencing is another option which may be easier to move around if you need.

A sheltered area is also ideal for reducing the amount of moisture that leaves the ground. Though the winter months require far less watering, it is also important to preserve the water in the ground. Similarly, soil erosion may be reduced meaning that you can make the most of the nutrients in the ground – especially if you have added mulch.

Choose Your Veggies Wisely

If you want to have fresh veggies all year round, you need to be smart with your growing choices – this is true whether you have a greenhouse or not. Growing plants that suit your environment is always a smart move as you want your plants to be happy!

There are all kinds of fruits and vegetables that will be happy in a cold frame, greenhouse or geodesic dome from tomatoes to strawberries. Take the temperature of your apparatus regularly to make sure that the conditions are right for your plants and do feel free to experiment too! You can also grow root vegetables like carrots outside during cold weather and some plants like broccoli actually do better when they have a short spell in the cold.

The growing season may feel short right now but with these simple tricks, you can have a wonderful edible garden all year round.