Hey, Duane!
Like Rick suggested, I maybe should've asked for Zoners relative to my frost-free dates, LOL! No matter, cause I can still figure out what to do from the other Zone 8-9a folks by adjusting my schedule by two months or so!
You're the closest on to my frost-free dates (February 7th for Houston), so I'll play tag-a-long with you, if it's ok.
I have three active raised beds to date, with plans to add another next weekend or so.
In RB #1 I have cauliflowers, broccoli, turnips, spinach, and beets, all from seeds I started inside under fluorescent lights.
A bit concerned my cauliflowers won't head, because the leaves are humongous, but I see no signs of a curd in the plants (I've peeped), and they should be starting to head up. I think I held them too long inside, and they were stressed (or the growing cycle was interrupted) before I transplanted them.
Only reason I'm not thoroughly disappointed is because I do eat the cauliflower leaves, so, I won't count it as a loss. I'm also wondering if there's too much nitrogen content in the bed. I didn't add any, but, just wondering...
I've had the raised beds covered with PVC hoops and clear contractor's plastic sheeting since transplanting. To date, the foliage and growth is pristine, without a single bug hole that I can detect on any plants. The cauli has been out for almost three months now, and everything else was transplanted two weekends ago. These plants growing under the protected hoop have grown faster than I've ever experienced. I'm learning how important it is to protect the plants against the wind -- the cold they can handle -- but, our constant Texas wind will just decimate the poor baby seedlings!
RB #2 has cabbages, spinach and beets. Growing slower than RB #1, but coming along steadily.
There are flats of mustard greens and beets hardening off, just waiting for an open spot to jump into!
Carrots and kale are growing in large planters, and I have eight (8) patented Earthboxes full of onions. Onions were set January 20th, transplants from Dixondale Farms. Working on building another PVC hoop to cover them, since the squirrels keep jumping down on the soil bed -- shoot!
I started tomato seedlings inside on January 5th and potted some up to tall drinking water bottles this weekend. Still have a large flat to pot up tonight. Will start hardening off next weekend (for two weeks). Tomato transplant is scheduled for February 15th.
Finally, I have still
more beets ( I love beets -- and, I just learned to can spiced, pickled beets!!), turnips, and collard green seedlings inside under lights, ready for succession transplanting as spots open up in the raised beds. Or, once the add'l raised bed is built, I can transplant all of these seedlings into that site.
I want to add cucumbers and green beans to my repertoire this spring, but I think I'm supposed to wait until closer to the hot weather to direct sow those seeds, Yes? I'll start pepper and eggplant seeds next weekend. Behind on the peppers, I know...Will help the eggplants along with some warmth inside.
So, that's my garden, and, "welcome to it!"
Any scheduling tips will be greatly appreciated.
Hugs!
