last gasp harvest

[tielan]

Report from a late summer garden (in the southern hemisphere):

Harvest and planting for winter.

My area in Australia is mild enough that cool-weather leafy greens do pretty well over winter, so long as you protect them from frost.

I know most of you equatorially-north folks are just getting into planting times for your gardens - what do you plan to grow this year (and how's that coming along), and is there anything new you're going to try this growing season?

Speaking for myself, I'm trying to grow: cabbage, cauliflower, bok-choy, raab broccoli (I've never had luck with regular broccoli), rocket, brussel sprouts, onions (both the ones you use the leaf stalk and the ones you store the bulb), carrots, parsnips, sugarbeet, and the usual run of beetroot (which I have finally worked out how to cook: bake in individual wrappings of foil, and then after 40 mins, put a dob of butter on top and bake for another 40 mins).

Comments

[liana]

I've had no luck with onions, but for carrots check that your soil is loose enough. Dense or compacted soil could be the cause of forking. You may want to add some organic material such as compost or peat moss. Also some sand or gypsum. When they start looking crowded, pull some to thin them out. I use the thinned roots for snacks and throw the greens in soup or salad.

[tielan]

Yeah, I've sown them in loose soil this year, so we'll see how it works out. And yes, lots of organic material in the bed!