What Vegetables Are You Planting for Fall/Winter 2009?

[Michelle W. Flannery]

A while back, I went through all the seed catalogs to find out exactly what all the cool weather crops are. I wanted to find out which ones I could grow in my southern garden. I found a huge number of plants, many available and easy to grow in my fall garden. Here's a list of the possibilities. Which ones will you grow?

Asparagus
Artichokes
Beets
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Carrots
Radishes
Parsnips
Peas (many varieties)
Brussels Sprouts
Garlic
Eda Mame/Soy
Kohlrabi
Lettuce (many varieties)
Spinach
Radicchio
Corn Salad
Watercress
Celery
Cabbage (varieties)
Collards
Leeks
Mustard Greens
Horseradish
Celeriac
Turnips
Shallots
Asian Greens (many varieties)

[Michelle W. Flannery]

Until this year I've only grown collards and cabbage in my (Georgia) fall garden. This year I'm stepping out in a big way to grow as much as possible. Besides cabbage and collards, I'm going to grow radicchio (a favorite of mine), a number of different lettuces, kohlrabi, beets, turnips, carrots, radishes, peas and snow peas, and eda mame. I'm hoping for enough cabbage to make my own sauerkraut and chow chow this year, and lots of cabbage soup!

[Tamra]

I am preparing a bed now for asparagus to be planted in the spring. Once planted it will produce spears every spring. This past spring I planted Horseradish, hopefully it will be big enough next summer to harvest some roots. However the leaves can be used as now. Garlic goes in in mid October to be harvested next June. Last winter I tried celery and celeriac, with little success.

Most of the things on Michelle's list are already growing in my garden. I started them in July and August. I determine my planting date by looking at the days to harvest and counting back from November 1. I want my plants full grown by Nov one, because from then until Feb 1 the sun is so low in the sky that not a lot of growth occurs. So here is what I am growing from Michelle's list: Beets, Broccoli leaf and raab, Carrots, Radishes, Kohlrabi, Lettuce , Spinach, Watercress, Cabbage, Collards, Leeks, Mustard Greens, Turnips, Asian Greens (I like boc choy and Tatsoi)

And here are a few other things I grow that were not on the list: Swiss chard, argula, kale, scallions, and walking onions. I have found that in my Tennessee, zone 6b garden that Collards and Kale are the most cold hardy. And red kale survives the coldest temps of any plant I grow.

[Marla Bays]

I planted horseradish last spring because my husband loves it fresh on beef. The plant is beautiful but I know nothing about harveting or when I should do it. Any pointers woud be helpful.
Thanks!

[Tamra]

in the fall dig up the roots, plant one or two and use the rest

[Tamra]

...Oh and in any space that is left (which is not much), I am planting winter rye, crimson clover and hairy vetch as green manures.

[Joel LeGrand]

Hi Tamra,
Crimson clover in winter?

[Tamra]

Yes, it won't grow much once the temps drop below freezing, but takes right off in late winter/early spring and flowers in late spring.

[Tamra]

Ok, Michelle, you really got me thinking. What about cold hardy herbs? Thyme, Rosemary, Sage and Oregano are perennials that can be harvested most of the winter. And Parsley and Cilantro like cold as well.

[Michelle W. Flannery]

I thought of that Tamra, but wasn't knowledgeable beyond parsley. Thanks for adding these herbs to the list.

[Tamra]

Parsley will survive temps in the 20's. If you throw some leaves or straw over it, once it gets below 20 it will make it till spring. A cold frame is even better. Even it is killed to the ground, it will usually come back early spring, then I harvest until it flowers (it's a biannual).

[Kay Robbins]

I have been started seeds in soil blocks for lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers and collards. In Florida I have much better luck with tomatoes in the fall than i do in summer. I will direct sow bush beans, carrots and radishes in a couple of weeks when it gets out of the 90s. Fall is my best gardening time.

[Gillian]

I have the same sort of climate, but just as I am going into summer y'all are heading into fall! I am really concentrating on trying to grow some crops year round. most people here plant a winter garden and then let the vegetable garden lie fallow for the rest of the year when it is so hot and humid. I have planted jicama, and also got some angled luffa seeds. That is what you make loofas out of and you can eat them young like zuchini, so am keen to try them. I think chiles should grow well in the hot season, the birds eye grow wild, but I find them very hot - so I have banana peppers and jalapenos - they are under a shade cloth for the worst of the heat. My eggplant should also produce year round. I was very excited to hear that asparagus grows here in the wet season and I ordered 4 2yr old corms which arrived yesterday. they should produce a small crop this year. I will be planting them this afternoon and also some blue asparagus seeds - they will take about three years until they are producing a crop. Oh and I also have sweet potato, lychees, papaya, and lots of herbs and spices. I am finding that if I continually cut back any yellowing leaves that the bugs keep away from my tomatoes, so hopefully can drag the tomato season out a little longer..