Cauliflower is grown for its edible flower buds that form a solid head atop single stalks. The heads are edible raw or cooked. While cauliflower is perhaps the most delicious member of the cabbage family, it is also the most finicky to grow in the home garden. When the conditions are right, even the novice […] More
Collards–also called collard greens–is a tall growing form of kale whose coarse leaves borne in tufts are eaten like greens. Collards are a cool season crop but they can stand more hot weather than cabbage or ordinary kale, and so are consequently grown in the South. Georgia collards are the standard variety grown mostly in […] More
Lettuce grows best in cool weather and sunny locations. Spring, mid-summer, and early fall are the times of year to plant lettuce, but you can grow lettuce in the summer even in warm regions if you choose heat-tolerant and bolt-resistant varieties. There are lettuce cultivars that are ready for picking in 45 days and others […] More
Beets are a cool-weather crop. Beets can again be planted 2 to 3 weeks before the last average frost date in spring or in late summer or early autumn 6 to 8 weeks before the first average frost in autumn. Beets can be grown as a winter crop in mild-winter regions. Beets are biennial plants […] More
Carrots are among the easiest garden vegetables to grow—and the most bountiful–given the right conditions. Carrot culture is very simple. Sow the seeds rather thickly and thin the plants to 3 to 4 inches apart. If the soil is nutrient-rich and loose, there will be no trouble with root development. Remember, young, tender, quick-growing carrots […] More
Kohlrabi is grown for its swollen base which is actually the plant’s stem. The globe-shaped base develops above the ground. Kohlrabi is a good choice for gardens that don’t have deep soils. Kohlrabi is a hardy biennial grown as an annual. Both the globe base and leaves can be eaten. Kohlrabi is a hardy biennial […] More
Swiss chard is a member of the beet family grown for its rosette of large, crinkly green leaves on thick red, white, or rainbow stalks. Plants can grow to 16 inches tall and leaves and stalks can be harvested several times over the course of a season on a cut-and-come-again schedule. Swiss chard can be […] More
Chard—Swiss chard—is a cool and warm-season crop. It will tolerate frost and keep growing in summer. The optimum soil temperature for germination is 50° to 8°5F (10°-29°C). Direct—seeding is the most common way to start chard. Sow seed in the garden 2 to 4 weeks before the last average frost date in spring. To get […] More
Brussels sprouts are a cool-season crop; they thrive in temperatures between 60°F and 70°F (16-21°C). Mature plants can withstand temperatures as low as 25°F (-4°C). Brussels sprouts require a long growing season—90 to 120 days. Commonly Brussels sprouts are planted in late spring to mid-summer for harvest in fall. Brussels sprouts touched by frost just […] More
You can grow carrots just about any time of the year in raised beds or containers—even in winter with the protection of a plastic tunnel. Carrots are easy to grow; just give them loose, rich soil free of clods and stones and a soil temperature anywhere between 45° and 85°F. Short and finger-size carrots that […] More
Broccoli is a cool-season annual commonly treated as a two-season crop with spring and late summer planting. Broccoli seedlings are usually transplanted into the garden after being started indoors. Seeds are sown indoors or in a cold frame 5 to 6 weeks before they are set in the garden. In spring, give broccoli an early […] More
Collards are a hardy cool-weather crop. Collards can be grown in early spring and in mid to late autumn. Collards thrive in temperatures between 65°F and 75°F (18-24°C) and can withstand frost down to 25°F (-4°C). If summers are warm in your region, start collards in late winter or early spring for a late spring […] More
Stephen Albert