Preparing for Fall and Winter

by Linda Carloni

Yes, it’s tomato, zucchini and green bean time! I hope that your gardens are giving you wonderful produce for delicious dinners. But school is in session, and Fall will be with us sooner than we think. One of the benefits of our Mediterranean climate is our ability to plant in any season, if you pick the right plants.

There are definitely benefits to growing in the fall and winter. Once the temperature drops, many insect pests become less active and water needs decrease. When the rain starts you can cut back further on irrigation, and may even be able to stop it altogether. Vegetables that will succeed best when planted in the fall (cool season vegetables) include:

• Brassicas: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Asian greens (bok choy, tatsoi, Napa cabbage, mizuna, etc.).
• Leafy greens: lettuce, arugula, chard, collards, kale, mustard, spinach
• Onions, garlic and shallots
• Root vegetables: carrots, potatoes, turnips, rutabagas, beets
• Peas: sugar, snap, English

If you are interested in starting from seed indoors, it’s time to get those seeds in. Here’s some info on starting from seeds and when to start:

• Planting Times for Coastal East Bay Climates
• Video: Growing Cool Weather Crops from Seeds

For an overview of planning and planting for fall and winter veggies:

• Late Summer or Early Fall is the Time to Plan and Plant
• It’s Not Too Late to Plant your Winter Garden

More details on what to plant:

• What to plant in November
• Five Asian Vegetables to Try
• Splendid Spinach in Containers

And there are still some pests to deal with in the Fall:

• The Cabbage Moth Scourge
• Snails and Slugs Love Moist Weather – How to Manage Them

If you aren’t planting vegetables this fall and winter, a great alternative is to improve your soil by putting in a cover crop.

Wishing you bountiful summer, fall, winter and spring gardening!

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash