This year I jumped headfirst into gardening and have been fairly successful at it – let me tell you, it’s because of luck. I took my first official gardening class last night in downtown Seattle, sponsored by Seattle Tilth – it was FREE! My friend Mavis, the gardening expert, invited me – and well, lets just say I learned a lot.
Did you know seeds have germination temperatures?
Like, you know, a temperature for when they decide they should sprout? I had no clue.
Did you know the back of the seed packet is full of helpful info?
For example, the germination temperature, and how long it takes for it to sprout and how long it takes until it’s ready to harvest? Doh, I honestly hadn’t paid much attention to all the fine print!
There are cold weather plants and hot weather plants.
And if you have cold weather plants growing in hot temperatures – they bolt, or go to seed. They basically say “I should die!” and then they do! I had no idea. I’m hoping this is helpful to other beginner gardeners – and for you seasoned gardeners, forgive me for my ignorance. 🙂
So apparently the spinach I planted in June – um, yes, that’s a “cold weather” plant and that would be why it went to seed this month. I should be planting it NOW to harvest in the fall months.
In addition to some very rudimentary information that I should have bothered to learn before I ever had any business gardening. I also walked away with some awesome tips on fall container gardening! And whether or not you have a container garden (or raised beds) these tips should help you!
- Containers require more water than plants in the ground because the roots aren’t able to grow out and seek water. I didn’t know this! In hot weather like we are having now, you’ll need water twice a day, likely.
- Use a good quality potting soil if growing edibles. Seattle Tilth recommends Cedar Grove Potting Soil, Whitney Farms Premium Potting Soil and Black Gold Organic Potting Soil
- Make sure you have the right size pot for your plant. Seattle Tilth has a great chart for vegetables and herbs and what size container you’ll need: Vegetable and Herb Varieties for Containers (pdf)
What can you plant now for a fall harvest here in the Northwest?
Fall gardening requires that you plant now for harvesting in September, October?
Root crops – Carrots, beets, shallots, radishes and parsnips
Brassicas – Heading broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, collards, broccoli raab
Greens – Lettuce, chard, mustards/mesclun mixes, spinach
Legums – Short season peas (snow peas)
What can you plant now for a winter harvest here in the Northwest?
Plant these now and you should be able to harvest them most of the winter!
Root crops – Carrots, beets, parsnips
Brassicas – Cabbage, kale, collards
Greens – Lettuce, chard, mustards/mesclun mixes, spinach
The thing to do is look at the seed packet and see how many days until it’s full grown – do you have enough time before we can estimate our first freeze? Use mid-October as a guideline – can you get a plant nice and hardy before then (60 days or less growing season?) – if so, plant it and see what happens. If you don’t have enough time to start a plant from seed – look for a start at your local farmer’s market or nursery.
The great thing about container gardening is you can plant your fall crops in containers and move them to the shade for lower germination temperatures until it cools down! And you can move them into the sun when the temperatures drop and you’re trying to extend your growing season!
The class was held right in downtown Seattle – a stone’s throw from Pike’s Place Market! How cool is that! The Seattle Tilth does all kinds of amazing community service and gardening programs. Check them out! They have lots of classes every month!
ENTER TO WIN!
Did you learn anything new about gardening this summer?
Leave a comment and let me know your latest gardening lesson learned or tip. And for the love of being an informed gardener you’ll be entered to win a copy of McGee & Stuckey’s Bountiful Container: Create Container Gardens of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers. One winner will be selected from the comments and I’ll order it from Amazon and have it shipped right to you. 🙂 Giveaway ends August 19, 2012 at 8 p.m. PST.
Information credit: Seattle Tilth
p.s. Mavis and I had quite an adventure in Seattle last night. I’m sure she’ll post more about it and I’m working on another post to tell you more, too. Stay tuned!
Linda says
This is my first year gardening. I learned that I am not supposed to sow the seeds in direct sunlight. The little plants are turning brown then die.
Noreen says
Go out after dawn and you can find a bunch of slugs so you can remove them
DeAnn says
We grow our tomatoes in large containers (even though we have a yard, long story why we do that, although the tomatoes love the spot we have them in and have turned into a jungle). We used potting soil from Miracle Grow that will time release water, so they don’t dry out as fast! Seems to work. If you end up having green tomatoes at the end of the season and want to make Green Tomato Relish, let me know and I’ll give you my recipe…it’s a combination of a few recipes, man is that stuff delicious and it makes me happy not to let tomatoes go to waste! 🙂
Adrienne says
I learned that I am crazy good at growing swiss chard ;)and that my broccoli crowns probably won’t be as big as the ones in the store, so cut them as soon as i think they’re ready. Now I need to see if there is a useful way to use all the broccoli pods I have…
Sarah says
This is my first year doing raised garden beds as well. I learned that tomato plants hate to have their leaves wet, so I always water carefully and in the morning, so they have a chance to dry.
Desiree Gabel says
I learned that when Hanging planters on a deck rail you should make sure they are fairly level or they will overflow easily when watered and the plants will droop off the sides more. I also learned my deck does not get enough sun for food-bearing plants.
vickie says
I’ve never thought of growing the snow peas now- a little too late to think of it here now but next year
Chelley says
My lettuce bolted during the last heatwave we had. I found out that you can ‘harvest’ the seeds to plant next year. Watch the flowers closely, and when the seeds (I think they look like dandelions) easily detach, put them in a paper bag and keep them dry and cool until it’s time to plant next year.
Angela says
I wish I knew more! I’m such a rookie, I really need this book!
Chris says
Great info. I am going to try self watering pots next spring.
Melanie Quinn Campbell says
I learned that pumpkin plants have male and female flowers, and how to hand-pollinate them. I would love to win the container gardening book. I am new to gardening this year(growing veggies)and love it!
Caro says
We learned the hard way to not put Preen around raspberrys. Should have read the directions first. Have some raised beds for veggies, but would like more info on growing them in containers. The “Bountiful Container” sounds like a really great resource.
Sarah b says
I need to learn to actually harvest stuff and cook it before it gets too big!
Patrice says
You two gals sound like a lot of fun. I live in a shady neighborhood (as in tall fir trees), but I think I can try setting a container on my back step. I’ll try it. Thanks for the inspiration.
Shannon says
Thank you so much for the tips. Some things I knew and I learned quite a bit from what you did publish. I was just trying to figure out what I can do for fall/winter crops. Need to learn alot more myself.
Holly says
My lesson learned is that plants can die in just a weekend of hot weather. If you are going out of town, check weather temperatures and have someone water for you!
Sue says
I learned a valuable lesson about strawberries. Cut the runners that grow out near their base so your plant will grow strawberries. Unfortunately I learned this a little to late but I should have some nice plants next year IF I can keep them alive that long 🙂 now I’m going to build a small hot-house with the old windows I just got at a garage sale and some pallets I got for free. Hopefully that will keep my strawberries over the winter !!
Lynnette says
A friend of mine makes her whole backyard into a gardeners dream using raised beds…She has everything planted in there & it does awesome. I asked her her secret & she swears by using TAGRO from the City of Tacoma.
Kelly N says
The most important thing that I’ve learned about container gardening is to make sure that you have proper drainage. Even if there are holes in the pot…it’s good to make sure they’re large enough to allow enough water to drain, if needed. We learned the hard way, last year, and ended up with a yucky mess. 🙂
Kat says
Awesome nothing better than snow peas
Molly says
These are some great tips. I started gardening this year in raised beds. It’s been hard getting any good crops due to the weather. I would love a chance to win this book. Thanks for sharing.