Beginner Gardening: Fall Tomatoes and question on Eggplants., 0 by Gymgirl

Gymgirl wrote:
Skidgee,
I live in Houston, and am planning my fall/winter garden, as we speak.

Yes, like Farmerdill and 1lisac said, you can have a fall tomato crop -- but the window is VERY, VERY, VERY narrow.

I grew a wonderful crop of beefsteak indeterminates this past season. In order to do my fall garden, I have taken cuttings from the (relatively) healthiest of my remaining plants, and rooted them in some potting mix. I started rooting them about 2 weeks ago in a bucket of water with some Epsom Salts and enough Miracle Grow water soluable fertilizer to not even color the water at all (bad experience with over-fertilizing earlier this year....). Once they sprouted roots, I potted them into tall, 2-liter coke bottles in some MG potting mix with a sprinkle of Dolomitic lime, and a sprinkle of Epsom Salts (I just love it, ok?) mixed in.
I watered them in well, and sat them outside in an area that gets bright shade all day (but, no burning sunlight).

My intention was to pot them out into the eBuckets (I'm still in containers, for now...) the 15th of August. Most of my long-season plants average 90-120 DTM, so my calculation at the low of 90 days says I need to get them growing by August 15th or so to hedge my bets for having some tomatoes on the Thanksgiving table (or before the 1st frost), whichever comes first!

Hope this helps. LMK if you need help with your fall/winter planning.

I've set up my light stand, and will begin sowing seeds this weekend for cabbages, cauliflower, and broccoli. My target plant out date for these (again, in the eBuckets) is between October 1-15, and beyond.

Here's a pic of some of last winter's cabbages. I call this shot, "My Three Sisters!"

Linda ^^

P.S. Welcome to the Houston group! There's a number of us here who kinda hang together, so call on us if you need to. But, if Farmerdill or 1lisac answer before we do, LISTEN TO THEM!

P.S.S. Yes, your eggplants could most likely revive themselves as soon as the weather starts to cool off. Just keep them happy for now. Have you fed them at all? They are voracious feeders, as well as being water hogs! Scratch in a little MG Plant food for vegetables around the base, and water it in.

And, give us a follow-up, ok? And a few pics, too. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, pics!


This message was edited Jul 26, 2011 9:18 AM