Planting the Second Season Garden: Broccoli and Celery
The days are shorter and cooler and I am planting the winter garden. Read more about the Second Season Garden in an earlier post. In Southern California, September Begins the Garden Year.
Broccoli ‘Premium Crop’
‘Premium Crop’ is my favorite broccoli variety. It produces very large heads—usually 9-12 inches across and abundant side shoots. Some years I start seed (an F1 hybrid) in August. This year the six-pack at the nursery looked very healthy and the bed was ready after the zucchini finished. In a few weeks I’ll plant another six-pack to stagger the harvest.
Purple sprouting broccoli
On impulse I decided to try purple sprouting broccoli again this year. It’s a British favorite and they seem to grow it easily. I’ve had varied success in the past. Some of my plants haven’t produced sprouts but results like the above urge me to try again. I’ll put two plants in the garden and pinch the apical bud to promote sprout formation.
Celery ‘Tango’
Here are three of the six ‘Tango’ celery plants added to the garden today. Celery is an easy and rewarding crop for the winter garden. The plants typically produce well into the spring and thrive in the cool winter weather. It’s so convenient to go to the garden and cut a few stalks to cook with other vegetables or an entree. Celery makes everything taste better.
Celery growing next to ‘Bulls Blood’ beets in the winter garden.
Read how to grow Cut and Come Again Celery in an earlier blog post.
The celery harvest in Ventura, California. Watercolor by Gerry Segismundo.
