December
Winter Gardening Warms the Heart!
IF YOU LIVE IN THE BAY AREA, COOLER WEATHER MEANS LEAVES, ROOTS, FLOWER BUDS AND PODS IN YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN.
There are many different vegetables that are at their best when temperatures are cool and sometimes even resistant to light to heavy frosts. The seed of these vegetables also germinate well in cool soils.
- The best time to plant these vegetables is fall into winter. (These vegetables can be planted into early spring as well). Leafy vegetables include the commonly grown chard, all lettuces and spinach. Try also planting collards, kale, mustard and endive. Leafy vegetables like water, so make sure you keep the soil constantly moist, drying only slightly between waterings.
- Veggies in the flower buds category are represented by broccoli and cauliflower. These plants "head up" best when night temperatures average about 45°. The pods, are the peas, including English peas, snap peas and sugar peas. These vegetables like a regular watering schedule but not as moist or as frequent as the leafy vegetables. Some of the easiest salad greens to grow are arugula, cress and sorrel.
- Make sure they get even moisture, especially when the plants are young. Soil preparation is critical to make it suitable for growing vegetables. One or two inches of organic amendment such as *E.B.Stone Compost should be added to the garden area each year, either in the spring or fall. Soil should be kept moist, not wet. Soaker hoses that run 4 hours once or twice a week are very effective. All should be fertilized one or two months after planting with *E.B.Stone Tomato Vegetable and Herb Fertilizer.
