The picture shows the status of the tomato plants that I planted on January 5. They will be ready to transplant to 4″ pots next week. Then in a couple of weeks before I leave for a trip to New Zealand they will be transplanted to 1 gallon containers. I may go ahead and plant some directly with a frost cloth wrapping. Wrapping works well for tomatoes and peppers for Houston vegetable gardening.
The Packman broccoli planted around October 1 is now being harvested. Fennel planted at the same time is also ready. Mustard greens continue to produce faster than we can eat them. They have lasted longer this year by picking the leaves when they are still relatively small. I have much better luck with Florida Broadleaf Mustard than with the curly varieties. In addition to the traditional southern way of cooking (and over cooking) them, I use them is soups with lentils and also by lightly stir frying with onion and then steaming for a few minutes. They are more bitter with the shorter cooking.
The late planting of Derby and Maxibel green beans has been much more successful this year. The week after Thanksgiving, about 50 days after planting, I began picking a lot of high quality beans and have had successive picking every few days of about the same amount. I think the main difference from last year when the crop was rather weak is that I made sure it was in a sunny spot. Compared to spring planting which mature in late April and May the amount of sun is much less per day in the fall. Also the low angle of the sun makes more location subject to shadows. Beans and other seed crops require a lot of sun. Root crops can get by on less and leafy crops need the least. However, more sun is better for everything. In the fall Houston vegetable garden do a sun survey before planting.
Maxibel were a bit disappointing the last time I planted them, but this time they are produced right up there with Derby. Maxibel is long (7″), slender bean that has good “plate appeal”. I cannot tell the difference in taste between them and Derby.
Turnips have been disappointing. First the usual green worms had a feast and then some sucking mites took over. I will not get much of a crop, but I can always replant later. The mustard greens are producing well and have not been bothered by the pests even though they are planted right next to the turnips. Bok Choi is about ready for harvest.
I planted sugar snap peas yesterday. It is a bit earlier than normal. The old guide was about Christmas and then it was moved up to December 15. I think it a good idea to get them started before the main possibility of really cold weather hits. My brother already has some producing. He may be a bit lucky because October was relatively cool. They don’t like hot weather.
When I returned in early October I planted Derby green beans and turnips. Both came up well and are growing. Early October is really too late for beans, but I got a mess or two last year with the late planting. This year I planted them in a location that will get more sun in November. We will see.
I also planted seed of mustard greens, broccoli, bok choi, fennel and lettuce in a planter box under a grow light. (See Main Menu for information on this very good method) Those seed came up well also, but I had to delay transplanting them until the temperature got below 90, a longer wait each year it seems. The cold front this week gave me the opportunity to set them outside. The bright sunlight has been a bit hard on them, but I have watered them each day and I think they will catch on ok.
Next up will be carrots and beets. The weather should be fine for planting them now. I just need to get some carrot seed. I will plant Kinbi and Touchon if I can find the seed. Urban Harvest is stopping their seed selling program because of the time intensity of the effort; however, they probably still have some left. Also will plant some mache’ and some lettuce by direct sowing.
Time also to order my Contessa onions from Dixondale. The last time I checked they showed out of stock, but probably the plants just are not ready yet.
Bug problems on mustard greens. These, which appear to be eggs imbedded in the leaves, have hit my mustard greens. So far nothing has hatched.
Broccoli (Packman) is ready for picking. The heads already picked are putting out nice side shoots.
Most historical information on fall gardening concerns beating the cold weather. In recent years the issue has been more about dealing with the heat of September and October. For the backyard gardeners, I think it is best to gamble on the cold weather than to take on the rather certain hot weather. In the inner city area we have not had a hard freeze in a number of years. When we have had cold weather the timing has been unpredictable. Last year the coldest days (no freeze) was in December. In other recent years it has been in mid to late March.
Green beans and corn are the only real tender vegetables that I raise in the fall. The corn has to be planted in August, but the beans can be postponed. Older guides say September 1 is the latest for planting. I plan to plant the Derby beans over Labor Day. Actually my daughter and grandkids will do the planting because I am still in Montana (high in mid 80s, humidity of 23%). They should be producing in mid to late October.
For most everything else I will wait until October or later. The everything else includes carrots, lettuce, turnips, greens of various sorts, fennel, broccoli and beets. In addition, I will plant parsley, chervil, cilantro and arugula. Hopefully, the parsley and cilantro will re-seed from last year. I will get chervil from Buchanan’s if it does not re-seed. Turnips and greens can be planted outside in September if the soil is kept constantly moist. These seeds germinate so fast, it is not much trouble. I like to plant broccoli and lettuce under my plant light indoors (or start in flats in the MT coolness) and transplant when the weather moderates a bit.
Spinach planting should wait until late October; sugar snap peas in late December.