With the recent rains, cooler weather, and the arrival of the first official day of fall next Wednesday (Sept. 23), I am so happy to declare that my favorite gardening time of the year has arrived.
Cooler weather means gardening can be fun once again. With the ground moist, now is the time to plant those fall crops.
The wise horticultural folks over at Texas A&M list the following vegetables that are now in season to plant. (The list is long.)
The Brassica family includes quite a few of our fall favorites – cabbage (purple and green), cauliflower (white, cheddar, or purple), broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, collards, mustard greens, turnips, and the ever more popular kales (red winterbor, green winterbor, dinosaur, and toscana).
Other popular fall plantings are spinach, radish, beets, lettuce, carrots, and sweet peas (snow, snap and English).
From the onion family, we can plant shallots, multiplying onions, and garlic. Our short-day Texas onions – 1015y super sweet – come a month later.
You can also plant mixed salad greens such as arugula, endive, radicchio, and mizuna from seed.
Raised bed gardening works well for fall planting. Our favorite size is 4’ x 4’ with 6 to 8 inch sides. Fill with a good garden blend (25% peat, 25% vermiculite or perlite, and 50% compost) and a slow release organic garden fertilizer with beneficial bacteria and mycorrhizae. This will give your plants a great start. Supplemental feedings with organic liquid feeds can help grow fantastic vegetables.
If you don’t have the space for a raised bed, all of the fall vegetables can be raised in containers. Try mixing different varieties of lettuce in one pot. One of my favorites is red sails. This variety turns brilliant red in the sun. It’s tasty too.
Another great edible ornamental is giant red mustard. Brilliant red in the sun with a strong wasabi flavor.
Experiment and have fun. Get outside, listen to the birds, and soak up some fresh air and sunshine. Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a gardening question, send it to me via email: iathyme@yahoo.com. Or mail your letter or postcard to: Ask Chris Winslow. It’s About Thyme
