by Jean Fefer | Harris County Master Gardener
The Fall vegetable garden is my favorite garden. No rush to get my tomatoes in to win the earliest and the biggest. No waiting for it to warm up enough to plant cucumbers, peppers and eggplant. August is a busy planting time, but some varieties like broccoli have a wide window for planting.
- What should you be doing now, in July?
- Get that garden ready for fall by rejuvenating the moisture, microbes and nutrients that have been taxed and used up with the spring and summer gardens.
- Check out the catalogs for some new possibilities
- There is still time to start your own transplants – Check out the Urban Harvest Propagation class – August 8
- Decide what to plant where, planning for rotation of plant families
- Get a soil test to see what your garden beds need
- Clean out all debris, add compost and fertilizer and water well about two * weeks before planting.
- Learn more about the vegetables you like and new ones you might want to try – attend one of the four
Green Thumb lectures listed below:
What are the “cool” crops?
- The main family with the most members is the Cole crop family(Brassicas): broccoli, cabbage, kale, collards, kohlrabi, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Also arugula, turnips, mustards and radishes
- Beet (Chenopodiaceae) family that includes beets, chard and spinach
- Carrot family (Apiaceae) – carrots, celery, parsnips, cilantro, fennel and dill
- Beans & peas (legumes) – snap peas, snow peas, pole and bush beans, peanuts
- Lettuce family includes chicories, radicchio and endive
- Mint family perennials best planted in late fall, lemon balm, rosemary, oregano, culinary sage, savory & thyme all covered last month in the Green Thumb lecture series. Many of these attract beneficials/pollinators
Some favorites have emerged over the years.
- Amazing Cauliflower is a gleaming white. You only get one head, but it is worth the room it takes.
- Premium Crop broccoli produces large delicious heads and lots of side shoots.
- Touchon carrots are a must.
- White lady turnips are so sweet you will eat them before you get to the kitchen.
- Verde de Taglio chard is a winner.
Contact Jean at jfefer5@comcast.net
