Fall/Winter Container veggie suggestions?

My tomatoes are about done for the year and I would hate to see the 5 gallon pots just sit over the fall and winter. I already populated a few pots with misc. greens but have quite a few pots about to be empty. Suggestions for what to grow next? The containers are about 5 gallon size and a good 20" deep.


Thanks!

Vaughn

Snap peas? Spinach? Lettuce?

LOTS of veggies can be grown in the fall/winter season. It's my favorite and largest container (eBuckets) gardening time of the year.

Keep in mind, we're in different growing Zones. I'm in 9a, and my avg daytim/nighttime temps now are 95+/83 degrees. With that in mind, Google your local County Extension office for your recommended sowing dates. I started seeds indoors on August 6th for the following cole crop veggies: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard and mustard greens. I potted up all except the BS last week, to 16 ounce Ozarka water bottles. Everything os doing very well, and no damping off, as everything gets bottom watered.

My intended plantout date was September 15th, but it's still too hot out during the day, so, since these plants will withstand moderate freezes anyway, and, because we have relatively mild winters, anyway, I'll be patient and keep them inside under the fluorescent lights until the temps get closer to consistent 85 or lower. I think that might be closer to the 1st weekend in October.

I'll be planting all the above veggies in my 5-gallon EBuckets. I'm trying to get a raised bed put in, but it may not be in place in time. I calculate I'll have about 50 buckets going.

In addition, I'll be growing root crops, too: turnips, beets, carrots, as well as lettuce, spinach, onions, and potatoes. These will go in deep molasses tubs and shallow underbed storage boxes (lettuce n spinach). The mustards , collards, and onions will grow in my patented Earthboxes.

I do have a bog on another gardening website. I'm finally documenting my fall/winter gardening journey from start to (hopefully!) finish. I'll post the link for you in the next post. Feel free to peruse my process and LMK if you need any assistance. I'll give you all the advice I have, based on my own experience, and we'll rely on the Ubers to fill in the rest for both of us!

In the meanwhile, please Google "cole crops" for a list of all the other veggies you can grow in fall/wtr.

Linda

Vaughn,
Here's the link to my Fall/Winter 2011 Veggie Garden Blog.

http://allthingsplants.com/blogs/view/Gymgirl/

Thanks Linda! My oustside temps are running average 85/65. I potted up some mixed greens and some romaine. Ordered seeds for beets, radishes, and carrots so I should be able to get those out next weekend depending on where TS Lee and Hurricane Katia end up. I have been growing lettuces and greens mixes indoors under lights for the last few months so now i can finally grow outdoors and free up some space so I have room to start the spring garden indoors in a few months.


Vaughn

The only thing mentioned that it's too late to plant in your g zone is potatoes and you'll have more insects now than in spring.:)
Vickie

Exactly how big is a 5 gallon pot?

BTW im gonna love that high temp of 80 Monday.


This message was edited Sep 5, 2011 1:39 AM

Like these square ones?

EB,
How tall are those containers? Most of the veggies I rip at the end of the season have a root ball at least 9" long. You need the depth for the root system, as well as the depth for the reservoir in a self-watering eBucket.

thier at least 12 inches high.

I just checked your Blog Gymgirl, very nice, Thanks...