Winter Vegetable Gardens

Thanks, Deb

I'd really like to try some of that gourmet garlic you have! So, I guess I'll wait until the end of the year. PLMK when you're mailing out and I'll give you my address. It's also here at the Address Exchange. Also, keep us posted on how yours are come along this year! Thanks again,
Flip

Green Spouting Calabrese is a mid to long season broccoli. As long as you keep the heads cut before they bloom out, they will keep sprouting. Here they last until the summer heat knocks them out. The sprouts will get smaller as the plant ages, but they will keep going longer than you probably want to fool with them. If you want larger heads on an open pollinated broccoli try Green Goliath. It also is not early maturing, but does produce a reasonable main head, plus muliple side shoots. I much prefer it to the older "sprouting " cultivars. Of course if you want production of uniform heads of broccoli, Hybrids are preferred. I prefer Super Dome, but Packman and other earlys are good.

Hi, all. Im here in Houston and I just harvested my last terminal head of my 9 broccoli plants. They are putting out side heads now. Freezes didn't hurt them this year or last year. I finally pulled them up in April 2010. This year they are gorgeous and have no pests that I have detected. Not single hole in any leaf. Im also growing snow peas. These did well for me last year so I planted again this fall. My radishes got humongous without any air inside. The snails ruined my Bok Choy...laid eggs all over it so it looked more like lace. My beets and lettuces are growing merrily along and I harvest as needed for salads. I started my carrots late so they are only about 6 inches tall. I grow the beets for their greens since I dont like beets very much. Last year I grew arugula for my neighbors because I dont like it. I have some bell peppers from my summer crop that are still hangin' on. I have to cover them anytime it gets too cold. They are not blooming now but the peppers on them are still increasing in size. I really like gardening in fall and winter here for lots of reasons...fewer bugs, pleasant temps for doing the work as well as not as much supplemental watering needed. Next time Im going to stagger my plantings more with the broccoli, radishes and carrots so they dont all get ripe at once. I want to try garlic too. If you are in 9a, can you tell me when we should start our potatoes? Cam



This message was edited Jan 25, 2011 12:22 AM

Cam,
Jump on over to the thread called "Zones 8-9 Spr/Sum 2011 Veggie Gardening is UNDERWAY- Pt l". There are a bunch of us Houstonians and others in Zone 9a comparing notes on our garden progression.

I have 4 varieties of seed potatoes that I'm sprouting now for plantout soon as the sprouts get a little larger. Perhaps in about the next two weekends, on the 12th. Some here have planted spuds out at early as January 15th.

Order your sweeties now (if you plant on doing any), and start rooting them for slips. Sweeties go out in April!

P.S. Here's what I'm up to. I have 6 varieties of heirloom tomatoes under lights that I've started potting up to 16 oz. cups. Next stop for them will be the plantout in the yard starting on February 19th. Let me know if you're interested in any seedlings.

Also, please post pictures. We in the garden LOVE, LOVE, LOVE pictures!

Good to make your acquaintance!

^^_^^^^_^^ (Linda and her new friend Cam!)

P.S. I love the fall/winter garden the best, too!

What side of town are you growing in? I'm near Hobby Airport.

Looks like you've been busy, Gymgirl! Love all your little seedlings in their individual cups :)

edited for spelling!

This message was edited Jan 25, 2011 11:30 AM

Thanks, HoneybeeNC!
I'm about 1/3 of the way with potting up!

So far, I have beets and parsley sown in 3 oz cups.

Sure hope you "guys" have a warmer season then Flip and I had. Brutal cold for Florida however, Flip is thirty miles south of me so his cold was not as bad. I don't think he had frost but I never asked him.