Here are the key points for fall and winter vegetable gardening in Texas:
Choosing Easy Vegetables to Grow from Seed
Cucumbers love the warm days and cool evenings of fall and can produce a big harvest. They are easy to grow from seed.
Radishes are an “instant gratification” vegetable that can be ready in as little as 30 days from planting. Watermelon radishes are a tasty variety.
Tomatoes, eggplants and peppers can be grown for a second harvest in the fall if planted in July. They thrive in the warm days and cool nights.
Protecting Plants During Cold Snaps
Use frost cloth to protect plants when temperatures drop below freezing. Avoid using plastic which can burn plants.
Cover plants overnight when freezing temperatures are forecast and remove the cover once temperatures rise above 32°F, usually by noon.
Tips for Container Gardening
Use high-quality potting soil from a local nursery. Containers dry out quickly so water daily when temperatures are above 90°F.
Fertilize frequently since containers are watered so often.
Time plantings so vegetables have enough time to mature before the average first frost date.
Best Vegetables for Fall and Winter
Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, kale and arugula
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower
Root vegetables like carrots, beets, radishes, turnips and rutabagas
Onions, garlic, leeks and shallots
The key is to get plants in the ground at the right time so they mature before cold weather sets in. With some planning and frost protection, Texans can enjoy a bountiful fall and winter vegetable harvest.