We pulled out the watermelon vines and are giving the last to the birds. The Turkeys are just reaching maturity and starting to display. Hanna and the kids are all doing well. The eggs have slowed suddenly down with the cool fall weather so I will put a lamp in the coop soon to extend their light hours back up to summer levels. I read in the last issue of the internationally bestselling “Backyard Poultry” (yeah right) that pumpkin is a natural wormer for birds. Last week I gave a split pumpkin to the ever hungry flock and it was gone in a couple of hours, husk and all. The hens were indifferent and left it mostly to the turkeys- pumpkin being one of their very favorite treats.
Many people are asking what I’m putting in my winter garden. What I have put in is getting dug up every night by a very vigorous raccoon. Last night I set a trap for him or her and oh help me god if I catch a skunk. We caught a neighbor’s cat first at about 10pm. I will go out when it gets light to see what …….
I’ve planted onions and garlic. Onion plants in a 6 variety assortment from Peaceful Valley. Early California garlic, also from PV, and Inchellium Red and Shantung Purple from a garlic farmer I know. I’m experimenting with perennial onions- walking onions, potato onions, multiplier onions and shallots. The coon isn’t digging up these beds. hmmmm…… I do not recommend the onion sets (bulblets) sold at the big boxes and nurseries. In my yard they have gone to seed before they make a bulb. Bad. You can put onions in from seed and have spring onions with full bulbs next summer or you can buy 6–packs at the nursery. Separate the little plants, trim top and roots and plant.
6¬–packs of cauliflower, chard and broccoli are in to get a head start. I will be starting other cabbage family plants in the house as seeds- I should have done this a month ago. This is where you get to plant some unique and wonderful things- Spigariello, Romesco, Broccoli Raab, colored Cauliflowers, Bok Choy, Napa Cabbage, Tatsoi and more.
Parsley and Cilantro- Cilantro grows easily and goes fast – be ready to throw out some more seeds.
Direct seeding- Now’s the time for all the lettuce greens. A good assortment of Lettuces broadcast over a 4x4 ft. area will provide you with months of cut and come again salad. You can plant a fresh patch later in the season. DON’T buy one of those “mesclun” mixes- the more vigorous mustard family plants will crowd out the lettuce. Keep lettuce on it’s own. Plant mizuna, red leaf mustard, arugula, mache, dandelion, curly endive (frisee) and garden cress separately.
Carrots, and radishes. Mix these seeds together to broadcast. The fast growing radishes with be pulled up and gone, leaving more room for the slow growing carrots. The French breakfast radishes are a fave.
Scallions- red and white. Renee’s garden seeds has a good combo at OSH
Peas- oh yeah! Snap, shelling and Snow. Snow Peas grow low so a 4 or 5 ft. trellis is enough. Snap and Shelling need at least 6 ft. but 8 is better. This height is important. Ever since the original snap pea was developed the breeders have been coming up with new ones. They have all kinds of names- Super Sugar Snap etc. Not one of the many I have tried compare with the original. Just Sugar Snap.
Beets and Turnips. My experience with these is mixed at best. If we have a long cool spell with no frosts or heat waves the root crops thrive. But we live in SoCal…. I take my chances because when they are good they are sooooo good. Golden beets are my favorite.
Don’t forget Fennel and Daikon!!
Happy Gardening
