At last, real fall weather temperatures have arrived to
start the week and cooler temperatures will grace our
area for more than a day or two. Weather predictions
for the remainder of week include sunny days which
will make it a joy to get out and work in the home
vegetable garden.
Experienced gardeners know that an amazing variety
of vegetables can be grown here during the cool
season from October through early April. And these
cool-season vegetables include some of the most
delicious, nutritious and popular ones around.
Broccoli is an easy-to-grow and productive fall
vegetable. Transplants can be planted now through
mid-November. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart
in rows or beds. The 12-inch spacing will produce
smaller heads, but total production is greater because
you have more plants.
Broccoli heads are harvested when the largest
flower buds in the head are about the size of the head
of a kitchen match. After the main head is harvested,
the plant will produce side florets, and harvesting can
continue for several weeks, often doubling the production
of each plant.
Other cool-season vegetables include cabbage,
carrot, celery, collards, endive, kale, kohlrabi, leek,
lettuce, mustard, onion, peas (English and snow), rutabaga,
shallot, Swiss chard and many herbs, such
as thyme, sage, rosemary, oregano, French tarragon,
chives, cilantro, dill, mints and parsley. All of these
can now be planted from seed or transplants.
Garlic may be planted now through November.
Break the bulb into individual cloves, and plant them
by pressing the big end down, pointy end up into a
prepared bed. The tip of each clove of garlic should
be about one-quarter inch below the soil surface.
Space the cloves 4-to-6 inches apart in rows spaced
about 15 inches apart. Garlic is a slow growing plant
and the 15-inch space between rows can be used for
intercropping.
Intercropping is a term used when two or more different
vegetables are grown in the same space at the
same time. Garlic plants will not need the 15 inches
between the rows for several months, so a quickgrowing
vegetable can be grown in that area and
harvested before the garlic needs the space. Good
choices would include radishes, leaf lettuce, beets
and spinach. These vegetables are not large growers
and will be harvested long before the garlic is ready
next May.
Intercropping may also be done with other vegetables
that are initially spaced far apart, such as cabbage
and cauliflower.
Root crops are also excellent for the cool-season
vegetable garden. Plant the seeds rather closely to
make sure you get a good stand.
Once the seeds of root crops come up, the seedlings
must be thinned to the right spacing, or the roots
will not develop properly. Some commonly planted
root crops and the proper spacing are: beets, 3-to-
4 inches; radishes, 2-to-3 inches; turnips, 3 inches;
carrots 2 inches; and rutabagas, 4 inches.
If you seek rapid gratification or feel gardening is a
challenge, then try radishes—they are easy to grow
and some varieties can be harvested just 22 days
from planting.
At a Glance
Fall Plant Sale, The Sequel. 9:00 – 11:00 A.M.,
Thursday, October 25. Master Gardeners will conduct
a plant sale at the Discovery Garden located in
Carbide Park (4102 Main Street, La Marque). A variety
of plants remaining from the Annual Fall Plant
Sale will be available at discounted prices including
citrus trees, perennials and cool-season vegetable
transplants for planting in the fall vegetable garden.
“Texas Tuff” Plants for Texas Landscapes. 9:00 –
11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 27. Galveston County
Master Gardener Marie Leal will provide a seminar
to discuss landscape plants that perform well in our
Gulf Coast growing region. Discussion topics will
include plants recommended for local landscapes
as well as how to care for them. Conducted at the
Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide
Park (4102-B Main Street, La Marque). Preregistration
requested (phone: 281-309-5065; e-mail:
galvcountymgs@gmail.com).
Turning Dirt into Soil…guidelines for creating an
ideal garden soil. 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Saturday, October
27. Galveston County Master Gardener Jim Gilliam
will explain the difference between dirt and soil, soil
structure and characteristics, pH, nutrients, sources
and strategies for amending soil, soil testing and cultural
practices. He will emphasize how to improve
your existing soil. Conducted at the Galveston County
AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park (4102-B
Main Street, La Marque). Preregistration requested
(phone: 281-309-5065; e-mail: galvcountymgs@
gmail.com).
Master Gardeners will conduct a second Fall Plant
Sale on Thursday, October 25, from 9:00 to 11:00
a.m. at the Discovery Garden in Carbide Park (4102
Main Street) in La Marque. A variety of plants will be
available including citrus trees, avocados, blueberries,
gingers, salvias, bulbs and fall vegetable transplants
