A North Texas Garden Can Still Grow Dinner

When summer tomatoes and peppers slow down, the vegetable garden doesn’t have to close for the year. Cooler weather brings an entirely different group of plants into their comfort zone, and a few of them can turn a small Garland garden into a winter salad bowl.

Think leafy greens: lettuce, kale, spinach, mustard greens, collards and Swiss chard. They generally prefer cooler conditions to the fierce heat of July. Many tolerate light frost, although young plants, varieties and the severity of a cold spell can make a difference. A prolonged hard freeze may call for protection.

Timing matters. Many fall vegetables are started well before November so they have time to grow while days are longer. If you are getting a late start, look for healthy, locally grown transplants of suitable greens and plant promptly when conditions allow. Growth slows as days shorten, so a winter harvest is possible but not guaranteed. Check a local planting calendar before sowing a particular seed.

Choose a spot with good sunlight and drainage. A raised bed or large container can be useful if your garden soil stays wet. Make sure containers have drainage holes, and fill them with a suitable potting mix rather than heavy garden clay. Give plants enough room to spread and water them in after planting.

Keep an eye on moisture, especially for young transplants. Cooler weather usually means slower drying, but windy days can still dry a container quickly. Feel the mix or soil before watering; the goal is steady moisture, not a swamp around the roots.

When leafy plants are established, harvest a few of the larger outside leaves and leave the growing center intact. Rinse your harvest well and use it fresh, or add greens to soup, beans or a skillet of olive oil and garlic.

If you have only a balcony or small patio, a single large pot of lettuce or chard can still provide the pleasure of picking something you grew yourself.

Have lightweight garden fabric on hand for an unusually cold night. Secure it before the wind arrives and remove or vent it when temperatures warm. Protection helps, but it cannot guarantee a crop through every North Texas freeze.

A small winter garden is a wonderful reminder that our growing season does not end when summer does.

What cool-season vegetable would you like to grow—or what is already growing in your garden?

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Gardening Garland •