Just a quick note to say what perfect planting weather we're having! Fall is the absolute best time in Texas to plant just about everything; trees, shrubs, groundcover, perennials, bulbs and cold hardy herbs and veggies. Planting now gives your plants a good 8-9 months to start getting established before the onset of summer stress. If you planted warm season veggies at the beginning of summer, and cold-hardy veggies and herbs in late-August and September, then you're probably harvesting along with me. Currently, I'm seeding more salad greens and planting cole crops (broccoli, cauliflower, etc.), daffodils, Dutch iris, pansies and violas and Iceland poppies. OH and purple Pak Choi. Be sure to check out my article on growing Pak Choi in the Nov/Dec issue of Neil Sperry's Gardens Magazine.
Often you may find it difficult to find certain plants you would want to plant in fall. Thus, I often hear the complaint that "I don't plant in fall because no one has what I want..." Well, this comes down to a classic supply and demand situation. Most folks plant in spring. Period. In fact, most independent garden center customers shop a few times in spring, then don't go back until the next spring. Much of this behavior has to do with the fact that many Texas residents are transplants from up North, where spring is traditionally your one main planting season and it is the best time to get new plantings established. That's just not the case here in Texas, where we have a year-round gardening climate. So, gardening consumers have conditioned the growing market to cater to spring when it comes to providing the biggest and best selection of plant material. Good independent garden centers will work hard to bring in the best selection they can in fall and keep encouraging you to plant. But alas, with traffic being so much slower than it is in spring, there is often just not enough supply or supply of certain items available from the growers for fall...because there has traditionally been so much less demand. Chicken and egg kind of situation. So, you should plant in fall...and if you want more to select from, then make a point to visit your local garden centers this fall to shop and be sure to tell staff what you're looking for! Happy planting...
Yes, you can direct seed Pak Choi and relatives into the garden right now - they will basically count as your last succession planting for this year (you can start seeding early Sept. depending on temps). There are also transplants avail. of it in local garden centers right now, if you like to get something harvestable into the garden right now, and then seed your next crop.
Posted by: Leslie Finical Halleck | October 31, 2011 at 04:21 PM
Can I start Toy Choi from seed in my 7b garden now? This sill be my first season attempting to grow it.
Posted by: variegatagal | October 30, 2011 at 07:33 AM
I recognized it because we use ours in the garden, too. Sadly, we are able to use the red one. ; ) Beautiful harvest!
Posted by: Catherine | October 27, 2011 at 08:02 AM
Catherine, why yes, it actually is, good spot! I have a set of them and love them. They are BPA free!
Posted by: Leslie Finical Halleck | October 26, 2011 at 07:08 PM
Is that a Preserve mixing bowl?
Posted by: Catherine | October 26, 2011 at 02:04 PM