It came upon us fast here in the Maritime Northwest: winter! Not the season, but the time to plan our fall and winter garden. That happens now, in July and August, at the height of summer, as part of a four-season gardening strategy.
Gardening in the fall can be just as productive and enjoyable as summer...and easier. To start, you won't be pulling as many weeds as in spring and summer, and the ground will be much softer, so working the dirt and pulling any weeds won't be as difficult a chore. Many of those pests are gone on the summer breeze too, and your water dependency will be cut to almost zero, so costs are lower. It's cooler too, of course, and more comfortable. Yeah, that means no tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc., but there are plenty of nutritious and delicious crops to enjoy, including some that you simply can't grow in the heat. And think of this: winter gardening is a key step in becoming more food secure. Overwintering vegetables is using your soil as storage. There's nothing like walking out into your garden in December and pulling up beets for a Borscht. The question that remains is what can I plant, and when? Timing isn't critical. A couple weeks late or early starting isn't going to factor in much, as the weather is different each year and out of our control...with the exception of some climate hacking with hoops, cold frames, etc. The more critical factor is species/variety selection. You've got to plant appropriately for your ecosystem, or terroir, as they say in viticulture. And, you must maintain a clean garden. Remove piles of debris and expired summer vegetation far from your growing area, or rodents will move in and eventually eat your root vegetables right out from under you.
Before I present the grow list, a note on our seeding setup. We used a grow medium mixed with SeaCoast compost to help retain moisture.
Our seeds trays are 72-cell and sit in a wicking tray that we filled with compost tea after seeding. You cannot let your cells dry out or it's game over. You have to be vigilant to keep them moist. Of course, I recommend an automated irrigation system with overhead sprayers. It's a low cost investment and will likely make the difference between success and failure.
And here you go, the List.
Endive
BATAVIAN FULL HEART
“A 2-cup serving contains 289 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin K! Endive also contains kaempferol, a flavonoid that may reduce the risk of certain cancers.” Couple that fact with great taste and late season availability, and you’ve got a real winner. Start seeds indoor or out in July and August.
Arugula
WILD ROCKET
The spice brings balance to your salad. It grows fast and tolerates cool weather, perfect for us here in the Maritime Northwest. Seed in August. You can direct sow or tray start. Pair with any vintage Tignanello.
Brussel Sprouts
Colorful and sweet, filled with antioxidants. Frost hardy. Great addition to Thanksgiving dinner.
Start seeds indoor or out in July and August.
Beets
CROSBY'S EGYPTIAN
Great overwinter option. But watch out for voles, as with anything else you store in your soil over the winter. They love beets. Start seeds indoor or out in July and August. Pair the earthiness of beet root with a Pinot or Mencia.
Broccoli
EARLY PURPLE
Direct sow or start in seed trays. This frost hardy variety will persist through the winter. Cut back and it will, as advertised, resprout in the spring.
Cabbage
KALIBOS
Beautiful enough to be an ornamental. Full of wonderful flavor and excellent for raw eating or krauting. Direct or tray in July.
Celtuce
Exceptional flavor. Frost hardy. Greens in winter. A staple of southern Chinese cooking. Easy to grow and independent. Doesn’t want your babying. Direct or tray in July, again in February.
Carrots
Frost hardy and, due to its low profile (stubby and fat), it doesn’t require deep soil. A great option for gardens with shallow or developing topsoil. Direct in July or August.
Chard
Pick any variety, they all grow without restraint and reseed until you can’t take it anymore. Great option for pots or confined space. The more colorful varieties are more nutritious and, naturally, much prettier your garden. Easy to direct sow almost any time of year.
Collards
VATES, YELLOW
No excuse not to have collards around until that first hard freeze. They're easy to grow and nutrient rich. Must have in your morning smoothie. Direct or tray in July or August.
Garlic Chives
Frost tolerant perennial that leans into garlic flavors more than onion. It’s a must for your perennial vegetable bed. Easy to grow. Seed inside or out in late summer.
Kale
Winter-hardy types (Lacinato, Siberian, Wintebor, Redbor, etc.)
See collards. (No excuse not to have these around.) Seed in August.
Kohlrabi
EARLY PURPLE VIENNA
Frost hardy. Good to eat raw or cooked. Starting outside is probably better but indoors can work for you. Seed July or early August.
Komatsuna
Highly underrated green. Quick to mature. Extreme cold hardiness. Excellent flavor and versatility. Don’t take it from me, it’s a headliner in the Masterclass series. Seed July or early August.
Corn Salad
AKA Mache. Plant as late as September, or even October as part of your overwinter strategy. I love the flavor: buttery, light, nutty. Pairs great with medium body Chardonnay
Mizuna
Loaded with anthocyanins in the stem. Can be grown as a microgreen. Reseeds easily. Good to start anytime in or out doors. Pretty as any ornamental vegetable.
Mustard
JAPANESE GIANT RED
Great stir-fried or pickled. Start in August. Grows quickly and reliably.
Leeks
AUTUMN GIANT
Reliable and versatile crop year round, and great for overwintering. Don't let it get woody. Seed July or early August.
Dandelion
ITALIAN.
A member of the chicory family. Beautiful and nutritious. You can push these year round. Forgotten green that should be in your salad bowl and smoothie daily.
Bok Choi
PURPLE LADY
Colorful, uniformed, and delicious; loves the cool temperatures. High in nutrients and very flavorful for your stir fry. Seed in August.
Radish
Variety: Black Spanish
Frost hardy overwinter option. Black skin, white flesh, and spicy. Direct sow. Grows up fast and easy to make you look like you know what you're doing.
Spinach
AMSTERDAM
In general a cool weather species so almost any variety will perform. Choose a slow bolter, though, in case of a hot spell in September. Opt, as for your lettuce, a spot with half day shade. Seed and keep seeding in succession to insure you don't have a drop ready all at once.
Tatsoi
Salad greens, stir fry, pesto? Yeah, go ahead and make room for this one in your garden and stomach. Easy to grow. Start indoor or out in August.
Lettuce
LANDIS, ROMAINE, BRONZE BEAUTY
Plant and treat like spinach. Landis, especially, will give you nice heads in November and has a mild buttery flavor.
Gook Luck to all of you this winter.
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