One of the most versatile of the fall and winter vegetable families is the Cruciferi – also known as the Brassica family. This includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, horse-radish, mustard and collard greens, turnips, radish, and kohlrabi.
They are easy to grow, taste wonderful, and many doctors consider them a critical component in our bodies’ fight against toxins and cancer.
To be successful all you need is garden soil enriched with compost, and kept reasonably moist. Keeping these plants watered is the key to success here ... especially during lingering warm days of fall.
If you top dress the plants with a balanced garden fertilizer, compost or granulated fish emulsion three weeks after they are set out, it will give these moderately rich feeders a boost.
By now (October), garden starts should be readily found in the local nurseries. Here are some varieties to look for:
Broccoli - Waltham, Green Comet, Emperor, Premium Crop
Brussels Sprouts - Jade Cross, Catskills, Valient
Cabbage - Globe, Early Round Dutch, Red Rock (red)
Cauliflower - Snowball, Snow Crown, Snow King
You can grow these Brassicas from seed. Some varieties to look for:
Mustard Greens - Tendergreen, Florida Broadleaf
Collard Greens - Georgia, Vates, Blue Max
Turnips - Purple Top White Globe and Seven Top
Radish - Cherry Belle, Early Scarlet Globe, White Icicle
Kohlrabi - Grande Duke, Early Purple Vienna.
The most common insects you will encounter are cabbage loopers and aphids. Gardeners can control these quite easily with the organic B.T. and a little All Seasons oil.
I hope you enjoy great success with your fall garden, and that you will want to replant these fine garden plants again in the spring of 2007.
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Question: Is it possible to grow ginger from the rhizomes that are in the grocery store?
Yes, it is pretty easy. Pick out roots (rhizomes) that are fresh and without bruises or soft spots. Plant them in a rich loamy potting soil and water them in.
Gingers like a warm shady spot to grow in. They will thrive during the hot summer months and begin to turn yellow in the cooler months of fall. You can then harvest the whole rhizome. Ginger can be stored in the fridge for short term and frozen for long term.
Question: Some of the leaves on my tomato plant appear to have little, irregular tunnels carved on the upper surface. Is this an insect and how can I get rid of the critters?
It sounds like a case of leafminers. We see many varieties of plants infected with leafminers, from gerbera daisies to tomatoes to citrus. Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a gardening question, send it to me via email: [email protected]. (Please put ‘Ask Chris Winslow’ in the subject line.) Or mail your letter or postcard to: Ask Chris Winslow. It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748
