Composting for the Winter: Preparing Your Garden Tower 2 for Cold Weather

As the days grow shorter and the air takes on a familiar cool crispness, many gardeners may anticipate the growing season coming to an end. But for those using a Garden Tower, the colder months don’t have to mean the end of their composting and growing efforts. With the growing season winding down, fall is the perfect time to focus on winter prep, ensuring your garden stays productive even when temperatures drop. By continuing your vermicomposting through the winter, you'll maintain fertile soil and give your plants a head start when spring arrives. In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know to keep your Garden Tower active and your worms happy through the winter.

Moving Your Garden Tower Indoors for Winter

If you have the space and resources, moving your Garden Tower indoors is one of the best ways to keep your garden growing all year long. Indoor gardening offers the opportunity to grow fresh produce even in the dead of winter, making it ideal for urban dwellers and those looking for year-round organic food.

Ultra Efficient LED Grow Light Kit (240 watt)

How to Move Your Garden Tower Indoors

Before moving your Garden Tower inside, it’s important to clean it thoroughly. This prevents you from bringing in any unwanted pests or insects that might be hiding in the soil or compost. You should also prepare your indoor space with the necessary supplies:

• LED Grow Lights: Winter days are short, and your indoor garden won’t get the same amount of natural sunlight. Grow light bulbs for indoor plants will ensure your plants receive enough light to thrive.
• Pruners: Regular pruning will help you keep your plants healthy by preventing overcrowding and promoting airflow. This is especially important indoors, where disease and mold can spread more easily in humid environments.
• Floor Protection: Place a tarp or a large waterproof tray under your tower to catch any excess water and prevent damage to your floors. A water heater basin or plant saucer works well for this purpose.

Once indoors, keep an eye on the moisture level of your soil. Indoor heating can dry out the air, which may cause your plants and soil to dry out faster than they would outdoors. With necessary measures like the grow light bulbs for indoor plants, your indoor vertical garden will thrive inside during the winter months.

Managing Vermicomposting Indoors

Continuing to vermicompost indoors is a great way to keep feeding your plants naturally. Worms thrive in temperatures between 55°F and 77°F, which is typical for indoor environments during winter. However, there are a few considerations when managing vermicomposting indoors:

• Odor Control: When composting indoors, it’s important to manage the balance between “greens” (food scraps) and “browns” (dry materials like shredded cardboard or leaves). Too many food scraps can create a strong odor, so always make sure you’re adding enough browns to keep things in balance. A well-maintained indoor compost should smell like rich soil.
• Limit Green Waste: In winter, especially indoors, you should be cautious not to overwhelm your compost with too much food waste. Add small amounts frequently and always ensure that the compost remains moist but not soggy.
• Consider Using Potting Soil: If indoor composting isn’t for you, you can fill the composting core with potting soil mixed with slow-release fertilizer. This provides nutrients to your plants without the need for active composting.

By following these steps, you can successfully keep your Garden Tower® productive inside, supplying your home with fresh herbs and vegetables all winter long.

Keeping Your Garden Tower Outside During Cold Months

If moving your Garden Tower  indoors isn’t an option, don’t fret! You can still keep it outside through the winter, depending on your climate and gardening goals. Here are a few strategies for maintaining your Garden Tower outdoors:

Grow Cold-Weather Vegetables

Certain vegetables are hardy enough to survive and thrive in cooler temperatures. These cold-hardy crops are perfect for fall and winter gardening:

• Leafy Greens: Kale, spinach, and Swiss chard can all tolerate cold temperatures and continue to grow in frosty weather.
• Root Vegetables: Carrots, beets, and radishes are excellent choices for cold-weather gardening as they can be harvested well into the winter months.
• Cabbage and Broccoli: These brassicas are known for their frost resistance and can continue to grow through the late fall and early winter.

To determine what crops are best for your region, check your USDA Hardiness Zone and choose vegetables that suit the expected winter conditions in your area.

Insulating the Garden Tower Outdoors

If you’re leaving your Garden Tower outdoors through the winter, proper insulation is essential to keep your compost active and your worms healthy. The simplest way to insulate your indoor vertical garden is to wrap it with materials that trap heat. This can be done with a variety of items you likely already have on hand:

• Burlap sacks: This natural, breathable material provides insulation while still allowing some air to flow through, which is important for healthy compost.
• Bubble wrap: If you're looking for more protection, bubble wrap is a great option to keep the compost warm, as it traps air in its pockets. Be sure to wrap it loosely, so air circulation isn't completely blocked.
• Frost blankets or old blankets: These can be wrapped around the tower and secured with bungee cords or twine. This layer will shield your compost from extreme cold while also retaining internal warmth generated by the breakdown of organic matter.

Make sure to cover the entire height of the tower, paying extra attention to the composting core, where most of the decomposition activity happens. Insulating the core helps retain the heat produced during composting, which keeps your worms active.

Relocate Your Garden Tower to a Sheltered Spot

If you live in an area where winters are particularly harsh, consider moving your Garden Tower to a more protected location:

• Place it near a south-facing wall: This will maximize the sunlight your tower receives during the day, helping to keep it warmer.
• Move it to a garage or enclosed porch: If you have the space, relocating your tower indoors or into a partially enclosed area can significantly reduce its exposure to freezing temperatures and icy winds.

Even small changes in location can make a big difference. If full indoor relocation isn’t possible, consider moving the tower next to a fence, shed, or another structure that blocks cold winds.

Best Kitchen Scraps and Fall Leaves for Winter Vermicomposting

Winter vermicomposting requires a bit more strategy than warmer months, especially when it comes to what you're feeding your worms. As temperatures drop, the decomposition process naturally slows down, meaning your worms will process food scraps at a slower pace. To keep your vermicomposting system functioning efficiently, you’ll need to focus on providing the right mix of “greens” (nitrogen-rich materials) and “browns” (carbon-rich materials) while ensuring the worms remain warm and comfortable.

Great Winter “Greens” for Vermicomposting

“Greens” provide the moisture and nitrogen that worms need to thrive. During the colder months, be mindful of the type and amount of greens you’re adding to the system. Here are some ideal choices for winter vermicomposting:

• Vegetable Peels: Carrot, potato, and squash peels are excellent choices. Chop them into small pieces to help your worms break them down more easily, especially when their activity slows in the winter.
• Fruit Scraps: Banana peels, apple cores, and melon rinds are great, but you should avoid overloading the system with acidic fruits like citrus. Worms don’t handle acidic conditions well, and in colder months, it’s better to avoid anything that could slow their digestion further.
• Wilted Greens: If you have leftover leafy greens, such as spinach or lettuce, they make a great nitrogen source for your worms. Just like other scraps, chop them up to encourage faster consumption.

During winter, it’s crucial to limit the amount of green waste added to the bin, as decomposition slows. Adding food in small, manageable quantities ensures that the worms can keep up with the material without it rotting or freezing.

Top “Browns” for Insulation and Nutrient Balance

“Browns” are carbon-rich materials that not only balance the nitrogen from greens but also serve an insulating purpose in winter vermicomposting. These materials help keep the bedding warm and aerated, ensuring a healthy environment for your worms.

• Dry Leaves: Fallen autumn leaves are abundant in the fall and provide great insulation for your worms. They break down slowly, which helps maintain a stable bedding environment in colder months. Be sure to layer them on top of food scraps to help trap heat inside the composting core.
• Shredded Paper or Cardboard: Shredded newspaper, cardboard, or junk mail can all be used as browns. These materials help aerate the bin and absorb excess moisture, which is particularly important in winter when you want to avoid soggy bedding. Tear them into small pieces and mix them throughout the vermicompost for the best results.
• Straw or Hay: Adding straw or hay helps keep the vermicomposting core from compacting, allowing air to circulate more effectively. This helps prevent the system from becoming too wet or frozen.
• Corn Stalks and Plant Trimmings: If you recently harvested from your garden, use dried corn stalks or other plant trimmings as an additional source of browns. These provide structure to the bedding and help regulate moisture levels.

Pro Tips for Winter Vermicomposting Success

1. Avoid Excess Moisture: During the winter, compost tends to retain moisture longer due to the slower evaporation process. To prevent sogginess, add small portions of green waste at a time and make sure to layer in plenty of browns to absorb excess moisture. Soggy bedding can freeze more easily, which will harm your worms.
2. Chop Scraps into Small Pieces: In winter, it’s essential to chop food scraps into smaller pieces before adding them to the bin. This will make it easier for the worms to process them quickly, preventing scraps from sitting too long and becoming a frozen, anaerobic mess.
3. Monitor and Adjust: Keep a close eye on your vermicomposting system during the colder months. Regularly check for signs that the bedding is too wet or too dry and adjust accordingly by adding browns to soak up moisture or lightly misting if the bedding becomes too dry.

By maintaining the right balance of greens and browns and carefully managing moisture levels, your winter vermicomposting system will stay healthy and active, producing nutrient-rich vermicompost for your spring garden. With the Garden Tower, you can easily continue vermicomposting through the winter—just be mindful of what you’re adding to the system, and ensure that your worms are well-insulated and comfortable during the colder months.