How to keep outdoor vegetable plants safe for the winter
Some online sources suggest bringing plants indoors, which is impractical for large vegetables deeply rooted in the yard. Gardeners hate having to cut everything back, move them, or dig up the entire plant and roots. This confusion leaves them unsure of how to keep their plants outside and safe so they can grow again next season.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Harvesting the remaining crops and composting the dead plantsDid this help you?
- 2Searching for local agricultural extension guides onlineDid this help you?
- 3Pulling the plants up and replanting fresh crops the following yearDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“should I just dig up the entire plant, roots and all, after this final harvest?”source ↗
“Then cut/move/take up everything for the winter. Which I dont like lol”source ↗
“I know, I just hate when I have to cutt them back for the winter 😒.”source ↗
“Since it’s getting colder out, what can I do to ensure these plants all grow next season?”source ↗
“I have seen some sources online say to bring them in, but they’re planted into the ground in the yard and they are very big. Is there a way to keep them outside and safe?”source ↗