What can be left in the ground over winter?

[wmsff]

I know carrots can just be mulched well and left in the ground all winter - I did it this past year and the deer enjoyed them There will be a better fence this year But what else, if anything can be left in?

It can get down to -20 (I've only seen -12) but very windy and tons of snow (Buffalo, NY).

Thanks

[Danaus29]

Parsnips.

Grandma left her brussel sprouts in the garden until we got around to eating them all.
Spinach and kale can be mulched and left and will start to grow in the spring but they will bolt very quickly.

[kirkmcquest]

I think Garlic.

[woodsy]

Potatoes.
I find perfectly good eating potatoes that got missed most every spring when working the soil.

I don't mulch but the hilling and snow cover seems to protect them.

[Danaus29]

Bunching onions can be left in the garden too. In the spring they will flower but the flowers are edible and the bulbs can be eaten but they will be hot.

[motdaugrnds]

Woodsy, are you talking about Irish or Sweet potatoes?

[woodsy]

Irish i guess, Kennebecs, yukon gold, katahdin types
not sweet potato country here.

[motdaugrnds]

Do you not concern yourself about nematodes getting into the potatoes?

[woodsy]

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

Do you not concern yourself about nematodes getting into the potatoes?

Have not had much if any trouble with them here in the north.

It may have to do with the variety of Nematode , some are more troublesome
in temperate climates.

http://www.gov.pe.ca/agriculture/ind...1001563&lang=E

[motdaugrnds]

I am planning on building a 3 ft high raised bed for carrots and beets; maybe another for potatoes. I know "french marigolds" help rid the ground of nematodes; so I will be planting those abundantly in those beds the first few years. Not sure of nematode problems here; just know we get some hot weather and figured they'ld probably show up.

[Callieslamb]

I have carrots, spinach, lettuce and onions that survive the winter here. I'd like to try planting some tomato seeds before winter. I get plenty of volunteers.

[NickieL]

garlic, spinach, chickory lettuce, carrots

it gets -20 here some times.

[Elffriend]

Has anyone overwintered leeks? I've heard you can, but this is only my first year growing them, so I haven't got any experience with them. Should they be heavily mulched?

[ChickadeeL]

I "accidentally" overwintered carrots last year. Found them when I tilled up the garden plot. I had wanted to get them dug up in the fall but freeze up happened before I got to them.

I thought for certain they would be mush this spring and had pretty much written them off. Imagine my surprise when I tilled and up came pieces of sweet, beautiful crunchy carrots. And in near -30 below temps for the winter, too. I was shocked since I hadn't mulched them or anything. I am going to try it again this year (but on purpose!).

[Danaus29]

Carrots, parsnips and onions are biennial. They have to through a cold spell before they produce seed. They might freeze too much on some places but in most of the US they come through winter just fine.