What/when are you planting for fall/winter?

[richella]

I haven't done fall/winter planting before, but want to this year. I think I'll try some garlic, but don't know when to plant it. Do I want it to have time in the ground before the frost? Or do I want it to remain dormant? I'm in zone 6.

Also interested in what others are doing. I did turnips last spring, with mixed results. They did produce small amounts of green leaves pretty much all winter, however, though they weren't very tasty. Is it too late for winter squashes? Or peas? Maybe I'll just save all the space for as much garlic as I can . . .

[pinky]

Hey there,
I'm in zone 7, so a little ahead of you. Our first frost date is October 17th. It's definitely too late for winter squash (which are called that not because they grow in the winter, but because they store through the winter) and personally I've never had much luck with fall peas. I would be surprised if at this point you had enough time for them.

Things I have recently put in the ground are
seeds: carrots (though it's late for these), spinach, beets, cabbage, summer squash and a few cukes (though it's also late for these), kale. I still have some lettuce I need to plant. (Overall I'm a little behind, but it's been so hot here still)
plants: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, brussels sprouts, pak choi, kale

Later in the fall I'll plant some onions from seed, and I'll plant garlic and onions from starts in October/Nov.

Hope this helps!

[richella]

Thanks, pinky. So you plant the garlic after the frost. That helps.
Last year I did peas and the girls loved them, put them in earlier this year, but still "too" late, and they were dry and tasteless before they were done, which of course the kids wouldn't touch. I'd heard about doing a fall planting, but just got back from vacation, and it was hot before we left, then hot again today, so I'm just confused about that. People have told me, though, that they can be planted in spring well before the last frost, so would that mean that they could grow in fall past the frost? Suppose I should ask the hardware store guy, he's been gardening here for 50 years or so, and I think he feels sorry for me, so he often gives me seeds.

Seems like I did kale once and it didn't take . . . might be worth another try, I do love it so. Thanks again.

[verde]

I've planted beets, carrots, parsnips, lettuce and kale. Still planning to plant broccoli, chard, brussels sprouts and rutabagas.

I've never had good luck with peas in the fall.

I'm in zone 7.

[sunnysandiegan]

I am in zone 10 and our warm season is still going strong, although warm here is 70s this summer (and sometimes in the 60s...brrrr....).

I was just in an herb care class this morning and picked up some "fall" herbs and other plants for our area.

Seeds:
Carrots (2 types)
Peas
Catnip
Sweat Peas (multicolor early bloomers)...It is a tad early for these in our area still.
Beets & Cat grass (already have the seeds)

Onion starts aren't quite in the nursery yet (expected next week) and I also want to pick up some interesting varieties of garlic when they come in...

Plants:
Chamomile
Thyme
Shallots
Onions (bunches)
Basil
Lemon Verbana
and some flowers

We're still growing: tomatoes, parsley, garlic, and bay (all year-round for the most part); and peppers, watermelon, and beans (have about a month or so left).

[HeatherAtHome]

I'm in zone 4 so I think the ship has sailed on having a fall garden! I did plant peas mid summer and they're starting to blossom so we'll see. All my energy is going into getting tomatoes ripened and cleaning up the garden for next year.

[onthemove]

I am also in zone 6 and I planted my garlic yesterday as well as fall bulbs, I think you want to plant them ahead of the frost by a couple weeks, I have planted earlier than normal this year, but I would say around the end of the month into October for garlic.

I also planted some lettuce and radishes but haven't had much success with anything else although my peas are making a comeback from the cool weather we've been having.

[richella]

mmm, parsnips . . . and thanks onthemove, I'll have to get in an order for garlic soon.

[kriket]

I'm in 6 also, and I am going to plant garlic at the end of the month. I'm going to put spinach in this week, which is about a week late.

[heathergirl67]

I'm in San Diego, which some sites say is zone 3 and some say is zone 4... I'm not sure what's true. About a month ago we planted garlic, broccoli, winter squash, pumpkins, sunflowers, peppers, and more stuff that I can't remember. All that's coming in, though, is the sunflowers, pumpkins, and winter squash! I don't know why... we didn't have this problem last time. It's kind of hard to tell if the other ones came in becase they were instantly covered in weeds! We're afraid to weed because we might pull out the seedlings we want. ~sigh~ I'm obviously new at this. But I'll tell you all how it works out.

[sunnysandiegan]

heathergirl67 - I am also in San Diego. I've never heard of our area being described as zone 3 or 4. Most sources on the West Coast use Sunset magazine's guide and those numbers are higher than the typical zone 1-10. In any case, you may find it useful to attend the free gardening classes held at Walter Anderson Nursery in Point Loma and/or Poway. I have learned a lot of useful information in the one hour lectures. If the actual lectures are not convenient for you, I have found most of the employees at both locations to be quite knowledgable.

[heathergirl67]

Awesome, thank you!

[seaheroine]

I'm in zone 10 too, and started pulling out my hot plants today to replace with winter seeds --- I bought spinach, kale, lots of different types of onions, lettuces, broccoli, turnips, beets...

It's still really hot here, but not blistering. I'm looking forward to a weekend of tilling beds and starting seeds!

[mum4vr]

***note on garlic***

the "easy way" for garlic, if you don't like digging w chilled numb fingers, is to dig the holes NOW while it's warm and sunny. Then just drop them in and push the dirt over w your toe after frost.

We love kale the best-- it gives us a continuous supply of greens all winter even when in N IL!

Ditto the other winter crops mentioned above-- our broccoli and brussels sprouts did nothing this year, but we'll try again since it may have been too hot.

great thread

blessings

[mum4vr]

oh-- and we just hand scattered oats and quinoa in the pasture.

Quinoa may actually grow grain, but the oats is just to provide oat sprouts/ "oat grass" for the sheep since the heat scorched everything else. They may eat the quinoa as sprouts, too, but I'm hoping enough survives to make a little seed at least.

[rhianna813]

I am in Oregon zone 8 and it's best to plant your fall garden by mid August. I planted lettuce and kale. And for garlic I plant it in October but last year totally flaked and planted it in Feb... it did great!

I also have leeks I planted in the spring that are getting big, and will harvest over the fall months. And beets too.

Rhianna

[boricuaqueen327]

I am southern AZ (still getting to the 100s during the day!) so my plans for upcoming planting are: broccoli, lettuce (in containers), spinach (in containers), eggplants (in the ground though I am getting conflicting info... it may be getting too cool for them), peas (in the ground), 2 types of carrots (in containers), and several types of beans (in the ground). We have kind of a reverse planting season as the summers are too hot to grow much more than melons and squash.

[sweetpeppers]

Can I still plant kale now? I'm moving into a new house in a couple weeks, and I would love to plant some kale. But I don't have any kale seeds!

[Chicky2]

I just got back from vacation and my okra is blooming, my swiss chard came back, our bottleneck gourds have babies all over them, and our tomatoes have blooms everywhere! Oh, and my basil is going nutso too.

I think I'll plant kale and some Romaine and call it good this year. I'm making a cold frame out of an old chest freezer and the door (glass) from an old display Gatorade refrigerator. Should work great! Maybe I'll plant some carrots too. It's plenty deep.

[justKate]

I'm putting in winter plants for the first time...been reading here. I'm in central tx and my peppers and basil are still going strong. I wonder how long they'll last?