skip to main content

Southwestern Gardening

What can I be doing with my veggie garden right now?

the_farmers_wife

18 years ago

We gardened here last year, but moved into our home mid-May, so we could start immediately with the garden. This year, with our mild weather (and yes, I'm sure it will get cold once more) I'm antsy to get started again!

Is it too early to even be doing things like tilling good soil into our "dirt"?

Are there any cold weather things to plant?

thanks much for any suggestions!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

leira
18 years ago
I just moved to Santa Fe last fall, and I've been wondering the same thing.

Last weekend I mixed compost innoculant into my compost bin, but I fear it might still be too cold for that to do any good.

I've started raking leaves, and noticing where the trees and bushes have dead branches that could be cut out. I won't cut live branches until the new Spring growth starts up.

I'm designing a rain barrel system, and collecting the parts to attach to inexpensive garbage cans, so that I can hope to keep my over-ambitious garden watered this summer.

I've been collecting materials for building self-watering planters, as described in the Container Gardening forum. As the weeks wear on, it becomes an ever more complex engineering problem, involving float valves and such so that they really *are* self-watering.

I've been re-potting, pruning, and propagating houseplants to keep myself busy and allow myself to dig in dirt (or faux dirt, anyway).

Soon I'll start a few seeds, even though it's early, because I've decided to take my chances with germinating my collection of old seeds (some quite old indeed -- though experience has shown me that many old seeds will germinate just fine), and I'd like to see what's going to make it before it's too late to go get new ones, if there's something I can't live without. I'll also try my hand at propagating the indoor herbs from cuttings, because I've never done that, and a few more herb plants wouldn't be a bad thing.

As for amending your soil, I'd guess it's not too early for that -- some amendments are best done well in advance of planting, anyway, so that things can settle in.

There may be a couple of things that could be planted this early. Garlic and the like comes to mind. You could try radishes, which don't seem to mind the cold, but don't be too heartbroken if you lose them.

If you build a cold frame, you might be able to start other cold-tolerant crops.

Good luck,
Linda
Related Discussions
New greenhouse - what can I do right now with it?
Q
Comments (9)
gardenobsessed, I am in DELCO, I've had my tomatoes and peppers in my cold frame (with water jugs) during the day for about 2 weeks now. They are very stocky, but growing nicely. The day temps here have been between 45-60, with recent night temps between 35-45. On the nights that the temp stays above 40, I've left the tomatoes and peppers outside...on the nights below 40, they have come in. They had been outside for 5 straight days, until last night, because we got hit with a bit of a drop in temp (35 last night). I started the plants inside (next to my furnace and hot water heater, and the tomatoes sprouted in about 4 days. They stayed inside until a single flourescent light set-up I bought for $10 at HomeDept ($15 if you count the two bulbs), and potted them up and started putting them out when they developed their first set of true leaves. I also have planted out my cabbage, spinach and lettuce. A week ago I had to cover them at night, temp fell to the high 20's, but they didn't seem to mind when I took the cover off in the morning! I would expect that in your greenhouse, even unheated, you could be planting greens and coles. They don't mind a little cold. Inside I would be planting tomatoes and peppers and even some others, with the idea of moving them out to the greenhouse as soon as they sprout. They should be fine. If the temp are forecasted to drop too low (based on the temp differential with water jugs) just bring them inside the house overnight, and then put them back outside. If you are using seed starting trays like the Jiffy peat pellets, that would hold 72 plants easily until time to pot up after first leaves...by that point, you shouldn't have to worry about bringing them inside the house. Good luck!
...See More
what veggies can i plant now
Q
Comments (6)
Climate information is normally given by USDA Growing Zones of 1-10. California has more detailed zone information called Sunset Zones. There are 24 Sunset Zones which are used in California and other western states to further give climate information. Sunset Zone Map for California I am guessing Sunset Zone 23, or USDA Zone 9a, which is similar to Houston, TX. You may find my Houston Planting Dates chart helpful. As always, I appreciate any comments, concerns, complaints, etc. about it. Right now, you can plant Cauliflower, Broccoli, and Brussels Sprouts transplants, Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, and Rutabagas from seed, and onion sets (transplants). You're a bit late for green/wax/pole beans but you can probably still do so. You could conceivably plant potatoes if you have access to good seed potatoes. You're too late for tomatoes and peppers unless you can find large transplants of small-fruited varieties like cherries approx 2 feet tall in a 1 gallon pot. Mid-October is time to start seeding or planting lettuce, cabbage, spinach, and strawberry crowns/starts. Save English peas, snow peas, and sugar snap peas for December. Start tomato and pepper seeds in late December early January for March plant-out.
...See More
What veggies are you planting right now?
Q
Comments (21)
tom, you growing those onions and radishes in containers or in the ground? Onions for sure go in the ground, they take up too much real estate to put in containers so they'll go in the raised boxes they were in last year, between the bananas. The radishes will probably go on the edge of the onion boxes just like last year so I can grow the lettuces in my window box planters on the upper deck. I'd like to plant onion bulbs but have not seen them anywhere. Any idea where to find them? You should start seeing onion sets (60) at the Big Box stores any time now.... Tom, did you say this is a good time to plant zucchinis? And do they climb or trail? Yes, you can grow them now. The bush types trail. We've been experimenting with the English vining marrows since last fall, hard to find seeds but Silvia did well this past year and has been able to share seeds with those who have ask for them. Since it went so well with the Table Dainty, and we can no longer get seed from England, I though I'd better get some of the Trailing Green Marrow in case the source for it dried up. I have enough seeds of it right now to send anyone who wants to try it six seeds each. These are vining squash, just as Silvia's picture shows.... I'll post pictures later if my humidity and morning dew don't do these plants in with DM/PM. I currently have three of each started on my veggie arbor. hey, i rather liked the cuccuzi! Good Michael, I've got seeds to send you ;-) I am happy to inform you that ALL the GOURDS went to a nice home. To a friend that really, really likes them! Silvia, give me their address, I'm looking for a sucker, er, I mean a loving home for mine :-)
...See More
What can I do right now?
Q
Comments (11)
Great idea to have a location for fallen limbs & branches from winter storms. Every year I have more than enough for Christmas greens for decorations. Last January's ice storm gave us so much debris, by the time we got to the vegetable garden we were done hauling, so I just tossed them in our pallet garden. Later topped the garden with composted horse manure + pellet bedding a few months before planting. The pallet garden is a combination of various scrap pallets into a large rectangle (maybe 12' long & 2 pallets wide) with a liftout pallet for access in the back. It's been super easy to layer compost ingredients & plant in spring or summer. So far we've grown potatoes 2 years (with new compost & no tilling) & last year with the branches underneath 2' of horse manure + bedding we grew winter squash with very little supplemental watering! This past spring we also laid some large flat double paned window pieces across the top to cover 2/3 of it. I can slide them over if I can't reach inside. I plan to put any debris in it again this year prior to spring or summer planting and will keep rotating crops through it along with compost. It will take years to build up enough depth. If any one is interested I could get a photo posted. Corrine
...See More

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Houzz Survey: See What Homeowners Are Doing With Their Landscapes Now

By Annie Thornton

Homeowners are busy putting in low-maintenance landscapes designed for outdoor living, according to the 2015 Houzz landscaping survey

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Small Garden? You Can Still Do Bamboo

By Matt Kilburn

Forget luck. Having bamboo that thrives on a wee plot just takes planning, picking the right variety, and keeping runners in check

DECORATING GUIDES How to Love Your Kitchen More, Right Now

By Laura Gaskill

Make small changes to increase the joy in your kitchen while you cook and bake, without shelling out lots of dough

KITCHEN DESIGN The Cure for Houzz Envy: Kitchen Touches Anyone Can Do

By Becky Harris

Take your kitchen up a notch even if it will never reach top-of-the-line, with these cheap and easy decorating ideas

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Tips to Start a Garden — Can-Do Ideas for Beginners

By Alison Hodgson

Green up your landscape even if you're short on time, money and knowledge, with these manageable steps for first-time gardeners

FUN HOUZZ 14 Things You Need to Start Doing Now for Your Spouse’s Sake

By Mitchell Parker

You have no idea how annoying your habits at home can be. We’re here to tell you

URBAN GARDENS Can-Do Design Ideas From 8 City Gardens

By Annie Thornton

Look to urban rooftops, walkways and street patches for small-space gardening approaches that embrace what's nearby

GARDENING GUIDES Step Right Outside for Fresh Herbs and Vegetables

By Abundant City

Decks and patios can be convenient spots for edibles, and sometimes they even offer advantages over backyard gardens

CLOSETS Simple Ways to Get Your Closet Organized Right Now

By Tiffany Carboni

Streamline your clothing storage with strategies you can implement in a weekend

GARDENING GUIDES Southeast Gardener: What to Do in July

By Gardening with Confidence®

Time to claim your prize: a bounty of fruits, veggies and flowers, but don’t forget to keep an eye on weeds, pests and water

Sponsored