Cold, Hardy Vegetables

Last week’s heat took its toll on me and my garden. By the end of most days, we were both looking pretty wilted. 

We made it through on plenty of water and light feedings. I survived on seltzer and salads (my tomatoes were ripe for picking). My garden survived on plain tap water and diluted organic blooming fertilizer.

I had other plans for my garden this week. I was going to start sowing vegetable seeds for fall harvesting.

Late July to mid August is the perfect time to sow seeds for cold hardy vegetables like turnip, beets, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, spinach, kale and collards. 

I can continue to harvest these vegetables through November and the first frost sweetens the flavor of beets, turnips, kale and collards.

Undaunted by the weather, I took my activities indoors. I decided to grow some of my vegetables in containers. I am using old 5 gallon cat litter buckets and plastic tubs from the dollar store.

My brownstone has a shed-like extension which I use as a quasi-greenhouse. The environment of the shed is perfect for seed starting. It is warm enough for the seeds to germinate and I don’t have to worry about the soil drying out from exposure to too much sun.

I started seeds for kale, collards, salad greens and spinach. I also started seeds for pansies, ornamental kale and cabbage.  I’ll transplant these to my window boxes and stoop planters in late September to replace the fade summer annuals.   

Once the seeds have germinated, I will move the containers to a semi-shaded area in the backyard and eventually into full sun once they start to mature.  

If you plant vegetables directly in the garden, you can still start seeds for cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower indoors in seed starter trays.  These vegetables can be easily transplanted into the garden later. 

This week was not as hot, perfect to direct sow collards, kale, spinach, beet and turnips.

Next Week: More on growing cool hardy vegetables.