Winter; the season to sit by the fire, drink delicious red wine and work towards those New Year’s resolutions you promised yourself you would actually keep this time around. But what about your warm weather hobbies? Just because there’s a little frost on the ground doesn’t mean you can’t keep your spring traditions alive, like gardening!

Many typical garden plants, vegetables and fruits may not survive this winter, but there are some gardening options for the winter months to ensure you don’t lose your green thumb.

Here are some vegetables to plant in your winter garden that can survive the cold:

• Winter-hardy cabbage
• Winter-hardy broccoli
• Beets
• Carrots
• Onions
• Chives
• Oregano
• Kale
• Garlic

Note: With leafy vegetables, make sure to invest in a row cover as added protection from freezing temperatures.

If you don’t have the urge to leave the comfort of your home, make sure to store and protect your gardening equipment so they are ready to use once the weather permits. Drain your hoses and watering cans of all liquids to avoid freezing and cracking. If you have any terra-cotta pots outside, it is important to protect them as well from the elements so they don’t crack.

Don’t want all of your hard work to go to waste? Bring in plants from your garden to create your very own indoor garden. Who doesn’t like a little scenery to liven up your living space?

Here are a few tips for indoor plant care:

The perfect lighting
With indoor plants, it is not enough to have good lighting in the room, the plant still needs natural sun light to grow and survive. Place plants near windows and open them every once in a while for the plant to get some fresh air.

Be wise with the water
There is nothing worse than drowning your plant…make sure you know the correct amount of water needed to keep the plant alive. You can find this information online or from your local gardening store. Give your plant room temperature water and punch drainage holes in the bottom of the pot or planter to let excess water drain out.

Care and feeding
Sometimes TLC is just not enough to keep indoor plants thriving, so try adding fertilizer to give it a little extra something. Be sure to research the type of fertilizer and how much to give so don’t overdo it. If you are not too keen on using fertilizers in your home, use natural fertilizers, like used tea leaves to keep your inside plant happy.

Additional Resources:

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/houseplants/no-fuss/easiest-houseplants-you-can-grow/#page=1

http://www.sunset.com/garden/landscaping-design/winter-spruce-up-00400000034707/page20.html

http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/january-gardening-tips-00417000081050/