I planted my first fall and winter gardens this year. I live in the mid-south where we have this extra gardening season. In September, when I think that the gardening is done for the year, I planted Black Beauty Zucchini, Rainbow Swiss Chard, Russian Red Kale, cabbage, Red Cabbage, Collard Greens, Kohlrabi, Brussels Sprouts, Onions, Broccoli, three varieties of radishes, Cilantro, cucumbers, and something that is a cross between a radish and a cabbage. I should have realized that a family that doesn't like to eat radishes wouldn't like to eat a cross between a radish and a cabbage. It grew fine we just didn't like the radish flavor. I tried many different plants to see what would grow at this late point in the year.
How did the other plants do? Until the first frost the zucchini were amazingly tender and produced like crazy. The broccoli was deliciously mild and produced well. I planted rows or radishes next to them and I think that it helped. The cucumbers grew and grew but never gave me and cucumbers so I won't try that again. I had never had Kohlrabi before and now I see why everyone wants to grow it. It don't produce much in that little bulb for the garden space it takes. Once you harvest the bulb the plant is done for the season- but yum it has great flavor! We just peeled and sliced it into little sticks and ate it raw. There aren't as many weeds or insect to deal with. Watering is crucial in the beginning and then tapers off. I was really surprised at all we were able to harvest.
Since the first frost the other plants have surprised me with what and how they have produced. So far the Swiss Chard has kept coming back. I will think that it is dead but then it grows again. The Russian Red Kale has done really well. It just gets curlier and more ruffled but keeps producing. Collards did great also. The cabbages grew large but didn't form very good heads. The Brussels Sprouts didn't form heads either. I think that I may have planted them too close together. All of the greens are so much sweeter and more mild after they are frozen. I planted the onions, radishes, and cilantro as companion plants. I think that they really helped the other plants thrive. I was really surprised that Cilantro is frost hardy. Each week I have harvested a couple bunches. It is wonderful because it doesn't bolt away from me like it does in the summer. I hope to plant it every fall to harvest all winter. All and all I have been happily surprised with my first attempt.
The biggest problem I had was that the rabbits would eat my collard greens as fast as I planted them. I transplanted seedlings. Next year I will plant a huge row by seed. My friends planted this way and produced a great crop. Live and learn. Last night was very cold for us 8 Degrees. The fun might be finally done outside. Now we will dream over the seed catalogs about next year!
