.....what do you plant
when the weather slightly
t least starts cooling
down ?
Now that it is sorta/kinda approaching fall
Not much. Everything is already in the ground getting it's root system ready for Winter.
Wildflower seeds, for one! We at least have hopes of a better year for wildflowers than we had this year. Cilantro is a good fall/winter plant to start from seed. Since some of my plants didn't survive the summer, I may have to get some good blooming nectar plants for the fall butterflies soon. I'll have to think about which ones!
Bluebonnets!!!
Garlic and sweet peas!
For me it will be green beans, summer squash, and lots of zinnias.
When should we plant
iceland or california poppies?
I sprinkle the seed out in October sometime.
They're selling tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, mustard greens and brussel sprouts in the HEB garden department, so I'm assuming they're okay to plant out now?
Lise
Your HEB has a garden department??? How cool!
Lise,
Yes if they are fo sale in your
area it is time! How kewl that Heb has a garrden cemter !
It must be a "superstore"...
The principle for fall gardens
is that as temps heat up in
the transition from spring to
summer, annuials and biennials
tend to bolt and go to seed in hot temps and longer days.
So for those types of plants, planting now and their maturation as days shorten
and become cooler means
they will not bolt and go to
seed pramaturely.
One thing I would like to try
and never have yet is to plant pumpkins right now and see
if they would be ready for
Halloween and Thanksiving.
Fresh pumpkin empanadas, yummmmmmooooo
You have to start pumpkins in mid-late July for them to be ready by Halloween. I started mine July 15th and they've just started blooming. The boys are ready to go, but the girls are still being a bit shy.
Boys usually are ready to go!
Another thing to plant in fall is larkspurs.
Ih and daffs and other buulbs !!
Garlic and broc for me, too. And lettuce and spinach.
We can do English peas in fall in Texas? Way cool!
I have some zinnia seeds left over. Guess I've got a place for those too. Oh joy!
Last year I tried Egyptian walking onions. I don't know how I ended up with them in the fall but they were fun. I'm going to see if I can get some starts again for this year.
Marilyn_TX, yes, it is a superstore. I danced with joy when they put it in last year, only 1 mile from my house. And there's a Walmart across the street from it and a Home Depot and Lowe's within 5 miles (all built since we moved here 4 years ago). So much development! All convenient and cheap, so that's the upside. The downside is that they all have mostly the same stuff and it's the bare minimum -- mostly catering to those who want turf landscaping, pesticides and bird baths, if you know what I mean. I can buy 20 different brands of topsoil, I think, but just try to find the ingredients for a make-your-own soil-less mix, I sigh because I can't find 9 out of 10 ingredients. So I make due with what I can. Ah well, didn't mean to whine -- I do like having that garden center.
BajaBlue, thanks for your explanation regarding summer heat, etc.
Speaking of bolting, I've got a basil that did just that. Pretty flowers, but now what? Can I do anything more with it or is it fodder for the compost bin now?
Lise
I have some seeds: lettuce, spinach, broc., carrots. How will those do if I plant them within the next week? I am low on space but have a few spots to put them in. Also, do snow peas (pea pods to me) do ok in the fall here?
Cheryl
Newtons~Here's a planting guide for you.
http://blog.briangallimore.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/vege-planting-dates-tx.pdf
I have a couple of questions:
I bought Romaine starts at Lowes, transplanted them to 4" pots to spend a while in the shade, but they're all bolting, it looks like, growing long stems with the leaves spaced out instead of staying in a rosette. Can romaine be transplanted up to the newest leaves to try to encourage the bolt to stop, or are they just done?
How do you plant larkspur now? Seed into the bed? Into seed pots for transplant later this fall or to keep indoors until spring?
Does anyone grow stocks? Now is supposed to be the time to plant those too, but again, I don't know if I need to be seeding them into the bed or into cells for transplant in a month or so.
Thanks! :)
Elizabeth
I'd toss the seeds out now on the larkspur and the stock in the bed where you want them. Most stock is biennial (biannual?) which means it won't flower the first year, but will the second. I love the smell of stock!
Can't help you on the lettuce.
Okay, thanks! I love stocks, too - might be my favorite fragrance in the world. :)
Elizabeth - not sure about the
lettuce- it might be too late but
there is what I would do (we
love Romaine since we have
Mexican roots and it is the lettice
pf choice in Mexicc)
Cut back the plants and put them in the shade.
It is just still too hot for the little plants.
Larkspurs should be direct sown in
the beds not kept inside.
Another thing it is time to plant
is hollyhocks direct sown,
Plant at the back of the bed
because they will get tall maybe
5 feet or more
They are biennial so if you plant
them in psring they will be olnly
stems and leaves the first year
and not bloom until the second,
But if you plant them now, they w
ill be fooled into believing they
have been growing all year
already and will flower this coming
spring and summer,,
This weekend I was reading up
on lisianthus aka eustoma aka
texas rose aka texas bluebells,
should also be planted starting
now that the heat of summer
has broken.
This plant is a native wildflower
that has been hybridized and improved
but stills has its tx wildflower "roots"
(LOL sorry for that pun) but it applies
Stocks and snapdragons are also cool
weather plants but I have never fgrownthem and have no experience with them
This message was edited Sep 13, 2009 6:02 PM
I recently planted carrots, onions (bulbing and bunching), snow peas, parsley, beets, turnips, and all kinds of Asian greens from seeds. It might be a little early still for some of them if you go by the tamu guide for direct seeding, but I have extras to sow later if need be. I've also got brassicas started under growlights for transplanting later. Lettuce seeds are standing by waiting for more room to free up in the fenced garden where the bunnies don't go.
Yesterday I tossed out marigolds and dianthus seeds, we'll see how those go.
This is the time of year I like to plant shrubs. I've got esperanza, fire bush, and thryallis sitting in pots that I'll put in the ground once the rain stops. I planted rose of sharon a couple weeks ago.
A couple of weeks ago planted seeds of kale and arugula and some micro salad mix. They are already coming up and the arugula is already part of our meals. Two days ago I planted radishes and they were sprouting this morning, probably because of the rain we are having. Also garlic ~ last year planted cloves in Sept and was ready for harvest this May.
Last year, I also planted some herbs in a real large pot; Dill, Parsley & Cilantro. The Dill and Parsley sprouted and sat in the pot outside all winter and early this spring it took off wonderfully. The cilantro sprouted but died...I've tried planting seeds several times since w/o success!! I recently planted more seeds and they are sprouting right now.
Pumpkin ~ planted at the end of July and it took off and now have about a dozen pumpkins growing. It was strange because my plant was only growing females in the beginning and now some males are showing up.
**wanted to thank Stephanietx for advising me that cilantro is a cool weather herb. I am also going to try some winter-sowing in plastic jugs which Stephanietx has been very successful at.
This message was edited Sep 14, 2009 9:15 AM
Glad your cilantro is sprouting! Be careful once it's growing and starts putting out seeds. You'll have it everywhere if you don't clip the seeds off. LOL
After so many tries, now that they are finally growing, I might not mind if they just do it on their own ~ when they want to grow! hmmm...LOL
What are Stocks that so many of you are talking about? I'm not familiar with them but enjoy good smelling plants.
Around last Nov. I also tried direct sowing some Confederate Rose seeds, a Texas native but nothing came up. I'm going to try again this winter. Anyone have tips?
Thanks for the advice, BajaBlue - I may just try growing the romaine from seed - it's my favorite lettuce, too - ceasar salads - yum!
I hadn't thought about putting in bluebells, but I will see if I can find some - I'm putting a Texas natives bed out in the middle of the front lawn right in front of my hubs' office windows. (He's a native Texan, too.)
Stocks are probably not at all suited to southern gardeners and I've probably lost my mind to even try them here, but if they will bloom well, it will be worth it. I might have to nursemaid them every step of the way, and that's okay. The flowers bloom in medium tall stalks, similar to larkspur or delphiniums, but the only ones I've ever grown were much shorter plants - 14-20" tall. It's been quite a few years, so my memory could be off, too. I'm trying to think of how to describe the fragrance - they smell more like carnations than carnations, if that makes sense. A gorgeous sweet clove-y smell.
You need to understand that
cilanro is a plant with a lonnnnggg
tao root This causes it to be
pretty xeric but makes it not do
well in a container. When I see
nurseries selling cilantro in pots
or six packs I just have to shake
my head because that cilanro will
not last long at all.
The best way is in the groun, pluck
what you need from the yard all
winter and spring when it will bolt
amd go t seeed,,,,,, Mow it down
when you mow (LOl after the primroses ?
pink laddies/ oenetheras also have
gone to seed, and just wait for it to
reseed and re-emerge next fall.
That is why during the summer months
the stores sell ratty looking cilantro
which had to be shipped in fom somewhee
far away and the bunches are small,
expensive nad wilted looking !!
Afriend whose Mom lives in san Angelo
said that her mom plants some cilantro
in shade to make the season last
longe when it begins to be hot,
Elizabeth, I will bring lisianthus seed
to the RU for you and Glenna and
anyone else who expresses and inteest.
I have blue picotee it cost me fifteen
bucks for a lg pack but I hope hey will be worth it!
Also have my eye on deep blue purple ones,
some chanpagne and some called pink champagne.
I am on the butuing prowl right nos
for my birthday to myself ;-))
Aldo willhave hollyhocks for whomever wants some.....
and I have cilantro
Are you coming to the Arlington RU? If so, I'll take some hollyhock seeds.
Hoping with all my heart
to be thee and you've
got em !
Loking forward to meeting you
Love BB
Wonderful!
Stocks sound wonderful although I'm sure I have enough gardening challenges to keep me busy! LOL
BajaBlue thank you for sharing some of your great knowledge, including cilantro info.
We put seeds down for rye grass and crimson clover on Sunday and something is already sprouting. The rye grass is supposed to be winter ground cover and the clover in the spring. Trying to keep erosion down & hopefully clear up the pond.
Boy, it's still raining here. Arugula doesn't seem to be liking all the rain. Pumpkin
male flowers are finally growing but think it's too late for the females that have already bloomed.... staying positive.
Wish I could make it to the RU - maybe next spring. (absolutely love hollyhocks)
I found this list on the KLRU Central Texas Gardener TV Show's website. I thought it was appropos to put here.
Things To Plant In September:
Flower Plants:
* Ajuga
* Alpine Aster
* Wax Begonia
* Boltonia
* Butterfly Weed
* Calico Plant
* Candytuft
* Chinese Forget-Me-Not (Cynoglossum amabile)
* Cockscomb
* Cornflower
* Dianthus
* Daisy (English, Shasta and Painted)
* Euryops
* Impatiens
* Larkspur
* Liatris
* Lobelia
* Petunia
* Phlox (divaricata and paniculata)
* Obedient Plant (Physostegia)
* Salvia (perennial types)
* Sedum
* Stock
* Stokes' Aster
Flower Seeds:
* Alyssum
* African Daisy (Arctotis)
* Balsam
* Bluebell
* Bluebonnet
* Calendula
* Castor Bean
* Cockscomb
* Columbine
* Cornflower
* Cosmos
* Daisy
* Delphinium
* Four-o'clock
* Hollyhock
* Larkspur
* Liatris
* Marigold (French)
* Poppy
* Snapdragon
* Stock
* Sunflower
Bulbs:
* Allium
* Amarcrinum
* Calla
* Autumn Crocus (Colchicum)
* Cooperia
* Daylily
* Dietes
* Hardy Cyclamen
* Spider Lily (Hymerocallis)
* Liriope
* Louisiana Iris
* Ipheion
* Lily
* Lycoris
* Oxalis
* Monkey Grass
* Rain Lily
* Scilla
* Watsonia
Purchase tulip, crocus, hyacinth and daffodil bulbs to pre-chill.
Vegetables:
* Early-Mid Month: Beans, Peas (English & edible pod), Summer Squash
* Mid-Late Month: Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chinese Cabbage, Collards, Garlic, Kohlrabi.FRUIT: Prepare soil now for winter fruit tree planting
That's a great list!!! Thanks!
I was just thinking I needed to get my bluebonnet seeds in the ground, especially with all the rain we've been having.
I have bluebonnet seedlings up already! Need to check my seeds for what needs to be put out.
Picked up some, kolorabi, cabbage, and brussles sprout plants - all are loving the rain and on their way.
The tomato plants barely survived the heat, and worms, but are looking good in the garden now - the grape toms have many flowers, but the Celebrity is a bit slower.
Radishes are up in only a couple of days. Still waiting to see the cilantro, dill, parsley, mustard and catnip pop through.
The three basil plants I thought died in the heat have come back and are doing great - just pinch off the flower stems and let them go.
Horseradish survived another summer and all the snail attacks, and now looks great.
The 8 yo chili pequin finally died, but there are a couple volunteers holding on, so maybe we will have more next year (still have 2 gallons dried).
If we get a break form the rain, will plant more radish.
Lise thanks so much for that list
you shared !
Here is a thead I found about
planting larkspurs.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1003392/
The lettuces I planted have all sprouted. I'm waiting for the spinach to come up. If it stops raining, I'll plant carrots and radishes.
You're most welcome, Marilyn_TX and BajaBlue.
That site is excellent and I forgot to give credit its due by leaving the link itself (see below). It has "to do" tasks and other goodies.
Actually, I decided to set up my gardening bookmarks so that all the "what to do when" sites would be at my fingertips, organized by month. I'll try to make it a point to provide those links at the beginning of each month for us Texas gardeners. It's possibly information overload, but here are September "to do" lists from all of my favorite sources.
SEPTEMBER GARDEN TASKS:
KLRU Central Texas Gardener: http://www.klru.org/ctg/tips/september.php
Organic Gardening (Southwest): http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-26-27-1217-10-1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8X9X10X11X12-13,00.html
Texas A&M: http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/HomeHort/F4Best/FallVegetableVarietiesRev07-08.pdf
Rainbow Gardens, San Antonio: http://www.rainbowgardens.biz/this_month_in_the_garden/sept_garden.htm (this site is difficult to read because everything is all mashed together, but it's still a great resource).
Lise