You can grow a winter garden in Northern VA without covers. You can plant cold wether vegetables like Winter Rape, Tai Soi, Chard, Evergreen Onions, Egyptian Walking Onions, Mustard Greens, Leeks, Oregano, Rosemary etc.

The vegetables must be established before the first frost and they will continue to grow into the winter months. Most of these vegetables will make it through the winter as you harvest them and eat them