Published in the Contra Costa Times on August 28, 2004

Q. I have never been very successful at winter gardening, but I want to try again. What is the best time to plant winter vegetables?

A. Have you noticed how much later it gets light in the mornings? We are getting closer to fall equinox, and is it time to get those winter vegetables in the ground. It takes a bit of getting used to since we often have very warm days in August and September, and tomatoes are in full production. Winter vegetable gardens are well worth the time and effort you need to put in now. In our wonderful climate you can be picking fresh vegetables from your garden all year long, if you time it correctly and the raccoons don’t move in.

Winter gardens need much of the same kind of preparation as the summer garden needs. Beds need to be prepared with aged compost dug into a 10” depth or deeper if you want straight carrots. Incorporate a slow-release form of nitrogen such as alfalfa meal, and rake the soil smooth. Water till the soil is moist to a 8-10”’ depth: check with a shovel.  You can start many of the winter vegetables by direct seeding, and perhaps plant a few by transplant to stagger the harvest.  Plant vegetables that you enjoy eating, although it is always great fun to try something new. Vegetable from home gardens often taste quite different (read better) that vegetables that have traveled long distances to get to your local store. These plants grow well from seed: Arugula, white, gold and striped Beets, Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Chard, Claytonia, Corn mache, Escarole, Favas, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Minutina, Mustard, Parsnips, Radicchio, Radish, Spinach and turnips. Onions will produce much better when planted by seed, but garlic can be planted from bulblets through November.  One of the great advantages of winter gardens is that we usually get fall and winter rains and do not need to water as often, but until the rains come, keep the seeds moist till the plants have sprouted, thin appropriately, and water deeply several times a week. Some of these plants will sprout and grow readily, such as the radishes, lettuce and Corn mache. Others won’t be harvested till late winter early spring such as the Fava Beans.  Sugar-snap peas can be planted from late October till January. If you want more detailed information on each crop, contact the Master Gardeners at (925) 646-6586, where enthusiastic gardeners will be happy to help.