Want to plant a fall garden? Looking to get in more harvests in every year? With the right setup, growing season can stretch a lot further than most gardeners realize, even into winter.
Whether you're working in open beds, containers, or a greenhouse, the Thirsty Earth Automatic Olla Watering System makes it easy to add another round of crops with almost no extra effort. Garden content creator Aaron Aiken (@gardenzaddy) walks through exactly how to make it work for your zone in the video below.
Check it out:
1. Why an olla system makes it easy to start a fall garden
The automatic olla system is already one of the easiest ways to keep plants thriving, using 61% less water than drip irrigation. That means starting a fall garden doesn't have to mean more watering chores on top of everything else — you set it up once and the ollas do the work, whether you're planting in the ground, in containers, or under cover in a greenhouse.
Pairing your olla system with row covers is another easy way to extend your season, trapping a little extra warmth and shielding young plants from an early frost.
2. Zone 9 and higher (and greenhouse growers): Leave your ollas in place
If you're gardening in zone 9 or above, or you're growing in a greenhouse where temperatures stay milder, you can keep your olla system running straight through winter. That opens the door to a whole second season of crops:
- Root crops
- Garlic and onions
- Brassicas like cauliflower and broccoli
- Leafy greens of every kind
You may want to refresh your beds or containers before planting a new round, but otherwise your ollas can stay right where they are — no need to pull them for the season. Greenhouse growers especially can lean on this setup to keep multiple rounds of greens and roots going well past when an open-air garden would normally slow down.
3. Zone 8 and lower: Pull your ollas before the freeze
Gardening in zone 8 or colder without the protection of a greenhouse? Remove your ollas before the ground freezes. Cold temperatures can damage the CottaCups, so it's not worth the risk of leaving them in over winter.
The good news: Your ollas will be waiting for you the moment temperatures warm back up in spring, ready to go with the same easy, water-wise system you've already got dialed in.
The Bottom Line
You can get more harvests in. Whether you're in a mild-winter zone, growing under the protection of a greenhouse, or in a colder zone and prepping your beds for next season, the Automatic Olla Watering System keeps things simple. Leave it running where winters (or greenhouse walls) allow, store it safely where they don't, and you'll be ready to grow in the easiest and most water-wise system out there — whenever your season starts.
Ready to get more harvests in? Shop the Thirsty Earth Automatic Olla Watering System →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow through the winter with an olla system?
Yes, if you're in zone 9 or higher. You can leave your ollas in place and continue growing root crops, garlic, onions, brassicas like cauliflower and broccoli, and leafy greens all winter long.
Do I need to remove my ollas for winter?
Only if you're in zone 8 or colder. Freezing temperatures can damage the CottaCups, so it's best to pull them out before the ground freezes and store them until spring.
Do I need to prep my beds before winter planting?
You may want to refresh your beds or containers before planting a new round of crops, but otherwise you can leave your ollas in place and keep growing.
What can I grow through fall and winter with an olla system?
Root crops, garlic, onions, brassicas (cauliflower, broccoli), and leafy greens are all great candidates for cold-season growing with your olla system.
How much water does the olla system save compared to drip irrigation?
The Thirsty Earth Automatic Olla Watering System uses 61% less water than drip irrigation, making it one of the most water-wise ways to garden in any season.