Growing broccoli, a nutrient-rich superfood from the cabbage family, requires special care. It thrives in full sun, cooler weather, and well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.5. Over-fertilizing or neglecting watering habits can hinder growth. Transplant indoors-grown broccoli outdoors once it has true leaves. Conversely, direct seed outdoors for fall harvest. Different varieties mature at different times, thus enabling a stretched harvest season. However, they face threats from pests like cabbageworms, flea beetles, and cutworms, so protective measures are necessary. Some recommend a three-year family rotation to prevent disease buildup.
Growing Collard Greens is simple and rewarding due to their high nutritional value. These leafy vegetables prefer cool weather and are adaptable to a range of soil pH levels. They are susceptible to common cabbage family pests and diseases but can be protected with a floating row cover and crop rotation. For optimal taste, harvest them after the first frost.
Cauliflower is a member of the Brassica family (cabbage family) that grows in the cool season. It requires good timing in order to get the cauliflower to develop. If planted late in spring, it may get too warm, and then the heads are likely to not develop. Also, in the fall, it will not tolerate a hard frost.
Cauliflower has a great amount of vitamins C and K. It also has vitamin B6, B5 among others, and various anti-cancer phyto-chemicals that help fight cancers. It also has a lots of minerals. In addition to all these nutrients, it also has a good amount of protein and fiber. An amazing vegetable.
Growing Conditions
Cauliflower requires full sun but a light shade will help during when the weather warms up and the heads are trying to develop. It needs well-drained soil with lots of organic matter and tolerates slightly sweet soil with a higher pH up to 7.5. A pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 is best.
Cauliflower requires good moisture all through the growing season. Also, the root system is very shallow, so weeding the plants with care is essential. Therefore, it is best to place a good amount of straw to keep weeds down and maintain moisture in the soil.
Plants can get as high as two feet tall and spread to around three feet. The leaves can be dark green or medium green, and some have white stems and veins. Want to know more about growing vegetables get ‘Garden the Organic Way‘ https://gardentheorganicway.etsy.com
Seedlings and Spacing
Seeds will germinate at low temperatures of 40°F but do best at around 70°F. Keep seedlings indoors in the spring for four to six weeks prior to the last frost before placing them outside. Plants should be kept cool at around 60°F, with good lighting to prevent them from getting leggy. Once the soil is workable and danger of frost has passed in the spring, plant between 15” to 24” apart in the row and 24” to 30” apart between rows. Best to transplant while the seedlings are young and have only four or five true leaves.
Cauliflowers comes in different colors and types. The colors can be purple, yellow-green, orange and white. We are most used to seeing the white varieties, but these varieties in particular require blanching. To blanch the cauliflower, you tie the outer leaves with string or a rubber band at the top in order to shade and protect the cauliflower growing in the center. You do this when the head is small-around two to three inches in diameter. If exposed to the sun, the cauliflower will burn and turn brown. There are varieties that are self-blanching.
Harvesting
Once the heads are tied and begin to develop it takes between a week to a month for them to fully develop. As soon as the head is big enough, you can start harvesting them. If it starts to get to hot in the summer then harvest all of them or if a hard frost is coming in the fall. They will tolerate a slight frost but not a hard frost.
The whole cabbage family being protected from pest using row covers.
Protection Against Pest
Using row covers is a great idea to keep the cabbage worms, flea beetles and other pest out. Once the weather warms up in the spring you have to remove the row cover otherwise it will get to hot inside the area and the heads will not develop. Hand pick any that manage to get inside. Handpicking works if you look for them in the crevices of the leaves close to the main stem. To learn more about row covers https://gardeningtheorganicway.com/maintenance/season-extenders-vegetables/ Rotate crops on a three to four year cycle to prevent diseases. The whole family has to be taken into consideration in the rotation of crops.
Putting the garden to rest and preparing for spring is very important as it will determine the following year results. It’s when the nighttime temperatures start dropping into the 30°’s F and during the day they are staying in the 50°’s F to low 60°’s …
Season Extenders Comes in all Sizes Season extenders are simple ways that we can extend or lengthen our growing season through various means using different methods, materials or products. The concept is to start the spring earlier and end the growing season later. Some things …
When the temperatures are down in the 40’s at night and during the day they are in the mid 70’s is time to plant for the fall. What to plant in the fall is the question? The first frost date is what you use to calculate your planting. Therefore, what can be planted and harvested before it’s killed by frost during the night.
There are a number of vegetables that will tolerate frost, while others, of course, will die immediately as the leaves turn brown. There are many blogs about many of the vegetables I will mention, and you can refer to them for more detailed information. Get my paperback copy: ‘Garden the Organic Way’ and become an expert gardener. Garden the Organic Way is a comprehensive guide to organic gardening, designed for all skill levels. The book provides methods for growing delicious, pesticide-free vegetables using sustainable practices. https://gardentheorganicway.etsy.com
The short season cool weather crops that can still be planted in the fall are:
Harvesting radishes
Radishes
These will be ready for harvesting 25-60 days. Pick fast maturing varieties that will be ready in about 25 days, and you can then plant two crops, one in early fall and the following one to two weeks apart. Read more about growing radishes and look at the video on how to grow radishes
Mustard greens
Mustard greens will be ready to harvest in 30-40 days and will survive a light frost. This is advantageous, as you can then go until the second week of December and maybe even the third week. Start picking the outer leaves once they are 6” to 8” long and you can continue to do so until it gets to cold. Then harvest the whole plant.
Spinach
Spanish will survive a light frost and may even overwinter. Pick a variety that can be planted in the fall and continue to do so until the ground freezes. These seeds can be soaked for a few hours and then planted in order for them to germinate quickly. Leaves will be ready to start harvesting after 30 days. Once it leafs out, do the same as the mustard greens, by harvesting only the outer leaves. To read more on how to grow spinach.
Turnips
Turnips take 50 to 60 days to harvest, so you can get one crop in. Also, you can choose to grow the turnip greens, which become quite sweet and tangy as the weather cools off. Harvest outer leaves until frost. I strongly recommend this delicious green. Read more about how to grow turnips.
Lettuce and leafy greens
All leafy greens takes only 40 days to reach full maturity but you can harvest outer leaves until frost hits. Soak seeds before planting and don’t cover them. Just pat down. To read more about growing lettuce and greens.
Kohlrabi will survive a light frost and you can get one crop if you plant it in early fall. It takes 50 days or so to harvest. Read more about growing kohlrabi.
Kale is a very hardy plant that survives to temperatures in the 20° F range. Harvesting outer leaves is viable well into December. Enjoy this highly nutritious, fiber-rich vegetable. Read more on collard greens as they have similar habits.
Collard greens mature in 40 to 65 days and, like kale, tolerate temperatures into the 20’s F range.
Collard plants
The plants will overwinter and come back in the spring. One can harvest the outer leaves well into December. Read more on growing collard greens.
Garlic
can be planted until the beginning of November or before the ground freezes. It will overwinter in the ground and be ready to harvest in July. By planting now and allowing the plant root system to develop, it will be ready to take off in spring. Read more about growing garlic.
Cabbage
Use cabbage transplants that are fast growing varieties. These are ready in 50 to 60 days. The difficulty may be in finding the transplants or seedlings from a local nursery. Visiting a community-supported agriculture farm or a farmer may be the best choice or start your own. Cabbages are hardiest down to 20° F. To read more about how to grow cabbages easily.
Broccoli
Another member of the cabbage family and you need to use transplants. Broccoli will be ready to harvest in 50 to 60 days. They survive a light frost and, in a worse case scenario, you may just have to harvest the heads before they are totally developed. Read more about growing broccoli.
Beets
Beets only take 50 to 60 days to harvest and are capable of surviving temperatures in the high 20’s. Read more on growing beets.
Basil only takes 30 to 40 days for a full plant to develop. But it’s very sensitive to frost and cold temperatures. High winds and temperatures in the low 40’s totally brows the leaves on basil. Use a blanket or row cover to protect it overnight in case temperatures drop. See video on advantages of row covers
Parsley
Parsley will survive right up to frost and, in a protective area right against the house or the like, until January with some overnight protection. To read more on how to grow parsley.
Additional greens that do well at this time of year are pak choi (Bok choy or Bok choi), corn salad, arugula, Chinese cabbage and Tatsoi. These will do well until frost and, with a simple row cover, can survive to the low 20’s F in the evening.
Delicious, Nutritious Turnips- Not Just a Root but Amazing Greens. When we think of growing turnips, we naturally think of the root crop. The reality is that turnips are probably one of the most nutritious vegetables you can possibly eat. Therefore, how to grow turnips …
Cabbages – are used as a detoxifying agent in many cultures. Cabbage has lots of fiber and can be eaten raw, cooked, or fermented into sauerkraut. It has very few calories and highly beneficial to the body. Cabbage belongs to the Brassica Family, along with …
A chapter within Garden the Organic Way on spinach and other direct seeded vegetables.
Growing spinach, a delicious and nutritious vegetable. Spinach is very flavorful and nutrient-rich leafy green vegetable. Spinach has high antioxidant content and anti-cancer properties that and promotes better health. In addition, it is an excellent source of protein, iron and other vitamins and minerals.
Temperature for Growing Spinach Spinach thrives in cool weather and can be planted at the same as radishes, lettuce, peas and many Asian greens. Direct-seed spinach when the temperature reaches 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Timing for Growing Spinach Direct seeding of spinach in late summer for a fall crop that will perform better and continue growing into winter. However, a late fall planting requires diligence for keeping. The soil has to be kept moist (especially on hot days) until the seeds germinate. Once germination occurs and while still young it needs to be mulched. Mulching will help ensure the plant remains healthy, as the weather turns cooler.
Timing for Growing Spinach in Warmer Regions
In warmer regions if planting occurs later in the fall, the harvest will be in November and/or December. In much warmer areas, growing occurs throughout the winter months. Planting in the spring has a shorter season and the plants can bolt or go to seed once the temperature gets warm. Bolting can also occur, as the days get longer.
Different Varieties for Spring or Fall
Overall, the success of the crop’s harvest is heavily contingent on the plant type. Use a slow bolting variety, in the spring. However, varieties that are quick to bolt do well, in the fall. It is recommended that different plant varieties be tested to determine what works best in your local region. Most varieties resist some frost.
Harvesting Tips
Harvesting the outer leaves works great! In the spring, a continuous harvest is possible; that is, until the temperature rises. Then, harvest the whole plant. Plant fully developed within 40 to 50 days. To create a more delicate and flavorful leaf, harvest plants before they are fully developed. They will continue to send new shoots from the center of the plant. See video on How to plant spinach
To read about other cool weather vegetables see my blog on How to grow beets.
Get my paperback copy: ‘Garden the Organic Way’ and become an expert gardener. Garden the Organic Way is a comprehensive guide to organic gardening, designed for all skill levels. The book provides methods for growing delicious, pesticide-free vegetables using sustainable practices. https://gardentheorganicway.etsy.com
Fall Production is awesome! Cool weather Crops – most of us feel like, when it comes to gardening, everything ends when the summer ends. In reality, we must look at the coming fall as a spring but better. In the fall certain cool weather crops …
