The Winter Garden

[Florence]

Gardening in the summer here on the Texas Gulf Coast is an exercise in frustration, aggravation, and heat exhaustion. I am not saying that I don't develop seasonal amnesia each spring and plant a doomed summer garden, I get the seed catalogues and have visions of a beautiful, bountiful summer garden. About the only thing that truly thrives in our summer heat and humidity is okra. Other than okra, what the heat and drought doesn't do in, is feasted on by one insect or another.
Which brings us to the winter garden on the Texas Gulf Coast. Greens- collards and turnips, kale, bok choy, and spinach. Sugar snap peas are dependable. All these do very well over the winter.
The Burpee catalog is currently staring at me. It is to me what catnip is to my cat. Silly cat, silly me. Maybe just a few tomato plants, have to try some climbing beans, and cucumbers! Carrots and squash. Oh dear!

[Laser_Cat]

I hear you Florence especially about the seed catalogs!! I've already ordered my next year's garden seeds from Bakers Creek! So many varieties to try and winter isn't even technically here yet!! You'll have to keep us updating on your winter garden. Slugs ate all of my fall crops sadly but I learned now what slug eaten plants look like. So next year!!

[Gardenarian]

In California we are finally getting some rain after 2 very dry years, and things are already turning green - what a welcome sight!

I have been off-track with gardening due to health issues, and also buying a cabin (!) that needs a lot of work (clearing blackberries and more.)
I planted greens and radishes a few weeks ago but racoons have completely ravaged my raised bed. Oh, well.

I put in a wildflower meadow in place of a lawn last year, and it was a great learning experience! Now I am renovating the meadow with much more carefully selected seed. I'm using clover, daisies (Bellis perennis), alyssum, chamomile, and thyme for the main open area, and saving the taller plants (coneflower, poppies, sunflowers) for the edges.

With the clay soil finally soft enough to dig, I'm doing a lot of rearranging - putting some things in containers, doing some late dividing of perennials, and so on. I plan on putting in an apple tree and a pear tree in January.