Winter Pickings

Louisiana’s mild winters give gardeners a chance to keep growing when much of the country slows down. Cool-season vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, kale, spinach, and carrots thrive in the cooler months, while root crops such as beets and turnips add variety to the harvest. Herbs like parsley and cilantro also do well, bringing fresh flavor to winter meals. Winter gardens don’t have to look dull. Camellias and sasanquas bloom beautifully, evergreens like boxwood and azaleas stay green, and bulbs such as daffodils and paperwhites planted in fall brighten the landscape as spring approaches. Though winters are generally mild, sudden frosts can happen. Covering tender plants, mulching with pine needles, and watering soil before a freeze are simple ways to protect crops. Winter is also the best time to prune fruit trees, add compost to enrich soil, and plan for the spring season. In December, gardeners can plant bulbs and harvest leafy greens. January is ideal for pruning and sowing root crops, while February brings spring preparation and planting of broccoli and lettuce. Winter in Louisiana is not a pause but a season of possibility, offering fresh harvests, colorful blooms, and a head start on spring.

Kyleigh Bass

LSU AgCenter ANR Agent

Lincoln & Bienville Parish

Pickin' Fresh

New Events!

Gather & Grow

Webster Parish Extension Office

1202 Homer Rd. Minden, LA 71055

Speaker: Kerry Heafner

Topic: Heirlooms in the Garden

When: Jan. 19, 2026 from 6-7pm

North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners Educational Seminar

Speaker: Nancy Clendenen

Topic: Success with Summer and Fall Blooming Bulbs

When: Jan. 24, 2026 @ 10:00AM

Where: Lincoln Parish Library (Jack Beard Room)

Northwest District Livestock Show

State Fairgrounds at Shreveport, LA

Jan. 30-31

Buds and Blooms Conference

February 28

Time 9:00am-12:00pm

Registration: 8:30

Cost: $15

Speakers:

John Micheal Kelley: Wildflowers

Dalerie Moller: Lasagna Gardening

Mitizi Thomas: Pesticides

Location: Methodist Church Minden LA

Fresh Recipe

Egg Roll in a Bowl with Pork

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ cup yellow onions, diced
• 1 pound lean ground pork OR ground meat of choice
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 16-ounce bag coleslaw mix, shredded green cabbage and carrots
• ¼ cup lower sodium soy sauce
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups white rice OR noodles, cooked (optional)
• Green onion, sliced (optional)
• Sesame seeds (optional)
• Sriracha sauce (optional)

Instruction:

1. In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add ground pork. Use a spoon to crumble into pieces. Cook thoroughly until it is no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes.

2. Using a strainer or colander, drain the fat from the meat. Set aside.

3. In the same pot, add 1 tablespoon of oil. Sauté onions over medium heat until softened, about 3-5 minutes.

4. Return the cooked pork to the pot. Add garlic powder and ground ginger. Stir until well combined. Cook for about 1 minute.

5. Add coleslaw mix, soy sauce and black pepper. Stir to combine. Cook for about 5 minutes or until cabbage is wilted and tender. Stir occasionally.

6. Serve over cooked rice or noodles.

7. Top with green onions, sesame seeds and sriracha sauce if desired.

Serves: 8 (about 1 cup/ serving)

Cook time: 25-30 minutes