This year I have talked to a lot of folks who started vegetable gardens for the very first time. The extra time at home has given families more time to enjoy outdoors, and gardening is a great activity to get some sunshine, exercise, and grow some fresh food.
If you started a garden this year, do not think that the coming of cold weather means the end of your garden. Fall and winter is a great time for gardening in Texas! The shorter days and cooler temperatures make this a great time to plant cool season crops.
A number of crops can be planted by seed or transplant in October and November: Asian greens, beets, chard, collards, garlic, greens, kale, lettuce, mustard, radish, shallots, spinach, and turnips. One idea to consider is succession planting so you can spread out the harvest time. Plant your seeds or transplants 10 to 14 days apart to distribute your harvest over a longer period. Leafy greens can be cut a couple inches above ground level and left to continue growing for more harvest, or you can pull the whole plant for a one-time harvest.
We are on the tail end of planting season for cole crops like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. Purchase these plants as transplants at local nurseries and plant them as soon as possible. These might take a little longer to grow, but homegrown broccoli is delicious!
For winter crops, be on the lookout for cabbage looper and aphids. Loopers can be controlled with a spray of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis). Aphids can be controlled with a strong spray from the water hose or a spray of insecticidal soap. Be sure to keep an eye out for both pests so you stay ahead of them.
Remember that winter vegetables need to be fed. Apply a complete fertilizer like 10-10-10 at planting and work it into the soil, and be sure to continue fertilizing as the plants grow. You can find great fact sheets about each vegetable crop, as well as specifics for fertilizer and pest control at https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/easy-gardening-series/.
Be sure to sign up for upcoming gardening classes at the Williamson County AgriLife Extension Office. We have some great programs coming up in November about container gardening, herbs, and trees. Call the AgriLife Extension Office at 512-943-3300 for more information.
