I’ve decided to post my monthly entry to The Overleaf Chronicles to maintain continuity. October was a month of disappointment for me in the garden. I prepped the beds and direct sowed seeds for many of the plants I hoped to grow in my fall/winter garden. Two weeks in I was seeing some sprouts, but ultimately 90% of what I planted failed to come up. The remaining 10% fell victim to foraging squirrels, birds and raccoons, or it inexplicably turned dark and shriveled overnight. I can’t really figure out what might have caused the general failure, other than the possibility of soil inadequacy, or I may have been using seeds that had passed beyond their prime. Regardless, I’m not giving up, and will do my best to reclaim the garden and move ahead. I’ll continue focusing on soil building and improvement, and do additional research to obtain viable seeds for my future efforts.
November takes us fully into the frenzy of the holiday season. Halloween kicks off the festivities, giving us about a month to plan our Thanksgiving banquets, then all too quickly Christmas is upon us, closing with the celebration of the New Year. It all happens so quickly it often seems like a blur. A good way to slow down, catch your breath, and get a bead on things is to spend some time in the garden. There is still plenty to do, as November brings cooler and wetter weather via cold fronts that make their way to even the southernmost parts of the state. Along about Thanksgiving we traditionally get our first freeze, although that’s by no means a certainty, as many years we stay rather warm through most of December. As with any season in Texas, adaptability is key.
Vegetables:
Almost all the vegetables listed here are fairly cold tolerant, handling a light freeze or frost, but if the forecast calls for a hard freeze, they should be covered for protection. Transplant: Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collard Greens, Kale, and Onion sets. From seed: Beets, Bokchoy, Brocolli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Caulifower, Kohlrabi, Chinese (aka Napa) Cabbage, Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens, Collard Greens, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Spinach, Turnip Greens, Onions, Leeks, and Radishes.
Other Herbs, Spices, and Flavorings:
November is an excellent time to plant herbs. Transplant: Oregano, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, and Mint. From seed sow: Dill, Fennel (a licorice like flavoring also eaten as a vegetable), Nasturtiums (edible flowers and buds) will all grow in our area. A Bay Tree that gives us Bay Leaves can be planted almost year round. It will need full, sun and being a tree, some room to spread. Also consider Sugar Cane if you have the space for it.
Fruit and Nut Trees, Vines, and Berries:
If you are planning on growing fruit and nut trees in containers, you can plant them starting in November through the winter months. For in-ground planting, its best to wait for mid- to late winter when they in the depth of their dormancy. Dewberry and Blackberry vines should be pruned of old growth (the berries arrive in the spring on the current season’s growth) and mulched heavily to protect from cold, and cut down on weeds. Bare root Strawberry sets should be planted this month.
Wild Flowers and Native Plants:
Late fall into November is still a good time to sow seeds for most wildflowers. The natural life cycle of wildflowers will prevent them from sprouting until next spring, and the unpredictable freeze/thaw cycle they encounter in south east Texas will only help to insure good contact with the soil, and to help scarify the seed coatings. The best practice for planting seeds is to clear as many existing plants as possible, loosen the soil, and scatter the seeds in mass plantings. Rake the seeds in and water them in to insure good soil contact. A light layer of straw mulch or dry autumn leaves will maintain moisture and protect the seeds from direct heavy rain and marauding birds, but still allow the seedlings to reach the surface in the spring. Look for seed blends that contain species native to your area, or purchase individual seed packets and make your own blend for better control of the mix. Seeds will sprout and produce some flowers in the spring, but they typically become well established after the first two years.
November is also a good time to transplant native shrubbery and trees. American Beauty Berry, Lantana, Turks Cap, Yaupon Holly and others have mostly gone dormant in November, and stand a better chance of gaining a foothold if they are not fighting the heat and often dry conditions of the summer. Just make sure they have good soil to root contact, are well watered in, and mulch them well to protect them from frost and drying out, as they will still be forming roots. When spring comes they should be ready to send out abundant new roots into the surrounding soil.
General Garden Information:
Abundant Autumn leaves are a gift from the trees this time of year. Collect them and store them in plastic bags for use as a moisture saving and temperature equalizing mulch throughout the year. Another use for the leaves is as the major carbon component of compost. Slowly breaking down over the winter months, compost will be a ready fertilizer for new plantings in the Spring. If you aren’t going to grow anything in a bed over the winter, consider a cover crop. Annual Rye Grass, aka Winter Rye, and even an Annual Clover will protect the soil from compaction, and add organic matter when turned over in the spring. Once winter crops are established, add a little compost around each one to give a boost of fertility. Winter is a great time to peruse some online seed catalogs and order your hard copy seed catalogs. If you order them now you will have them in hand to get ready for the Late Winter/Early Spring planting season, which will arrive sooner than you think. Check with the seed companies to find out appropriate shipping dates and schedules. When you do order seed, just make sure you order varieties that are bred and suitable to the local climate, and avoid disappointment.