West of the Cascades, it’s possible to raise several garden crops through winter. One of the easiest of these is carrots. I plant successive patches, and those planted midsummer are ready to be dug in early winter. Apparently, carrots tend to increase their sugar content to avoid freezing during winter months. They are the best-tasting carrots — better than any store-bought options.
In our area, they can generally be left in the ground without protection, but in colder areas, mulching should keep the frost at bay. Another good over-winter crop in the Northwest is potatoes.
P.S. A good book for Northwest gardeners is Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades by Steve Solomon.
Gene Nutting
Lake Stevens, Washington