In My Garden, Late October
The fall-winter garden heartens me as I step into the area of four raised beds. Two are fully planted, one mostly and another awaits the finish of bell peppers and seed saving for the pole beans. The zinnias were relunctally removed recently. They most reliably attract monarchs and gulf fritillary butterflies.
Rosaine lettuce (Territorial Seed Co.) is lovely and perfect for my winter salads.
A purchased six-pack of Bibb lettuce plants will jumpstart salad season.
Similarly, Lollo Rossa lettuce. With a busy fall and some travel, I grew less lettuce from seed.
Arugula sprouts in just a few days and will be ready to harvest in about 35 days.
Spinach seedlings germinate under some protection from sun, watering and birds.
Sunny, warm days transform the green bell peppers to my favored red.
Golden Sweet Snow Peas clamber toward the trellis.
While cabbage moths frequent the garden, the gauzy netting protects the broccoli from their egg laying and destructive caterpillars. Growing here is seed-grown Purple Magic and Premium Crop broccoli. Several herbs anchor the end of the bed.
Six Amazing (white) cauliflower and the same number Graffiti (purple) cauliflower fill most of this raised bed. Six Jacaranda broccoli grow at one end. When the cauliflower is harvested, there will be room for mid-winter plantings of potatoes, carrots, chard and other favorites.
Six Johnny Jump Ups border the end of the raised bed and cheer me as I pass by. The Globe artichoke comes into its own in the fall.
The promise of future harvests grow in the warm autumn sun. Join me again in a few weeks for a walk through the cool season garden.
