Vegetable Gardening

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

In addition to the leeks, I will plant these for the winter garden next weekend:
spinach (seeds)
lettuce (seeds)
collards (plants)
kale (plants)
peas (seeds)
garlic (cloves)

--what am I missing--? I don't like cabbage or cauliflower, but I do like broccoli, so maybe I'll try some for the fall. That's funny- to grow collards in there in the Fall- not something I could do here! I used to grow collards in Puerto Rico long ago....and pigeon pea (gandules) bushes.

How about radishes?- they like the cool. And maybe beets? Swiss chard likes cool too and can survive mild frosts.

As for the greenhouse, I don't think it will be a true greenhouse this year, but rather a tower of shelves covered with thick clear plastic. I've seen some that have either 4 or 5 shelves. Hopefully that will work well enough, and then next year (after my real house is finally finished) I can invest in a true greenhouse, say 6'x6' with a door and a louvered window and such (like GLC's!) Whatever it is, I will certainly let you know and post photos.

Yes, I hear you about a makeshift greenhouse! We spent so much on the new garden this summer, that this Fall I will be draping/rigging up some clear plastic tarp as makeshift cold frames to continue harvesting lettuce and spinach etc after the first frosts. Of course we get MUCH colder here in NY than where you are- plus lots of DEEP snow and ice too, so my tarps will be a bit different I suppose, sturdy and slanted to hopefully shed heavy snow.

Fall seems along ways off today at 90f degrees out. But I know it's just around the corner!

[Photoflygirl]

I will plant lettuce, maybe try some leeks. But will probably plant next month. We are having a cool spell right now, it tends to get warm again in the first of September. We'll see what happens!

Oh, and we have a new stinging insect in the garden. Bit two of our friends as we were touring the garden last Saturday. Fairly big, skinny and black, he attacks swiftly then is gone. His venom stings like when you feel the liquid from a shot going under your skin. I scraped my skin to remove any stinger that might be there. Just a hurtful little beggar!