Summer’s end a great time to grow leafy veggies

By Angela O'Callaghan

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009 | 1 a.m.

Even though summer is, by the calendar, coming to a close, the intrepid Mojave gardener does not need to stop all gardening efforts until next year. That might be the fate of growers in other parts of the world, where winter is a long series of grim, cold, wet months. In fact, desert autumn is one of the best times to get out and grow delicious vegetables.

Virtually any edible that we grow for its green, like spinach, chard or cabbage; or its roots, like beets, carrots and parsnips, will grow better when the weather is cooler.

They are usually quite successful in spring and autumn. Under early fall conditions they can thrive, since they do not lose all their water in response to high temperatures and because the sunshine is a little less intense and a little more forgiving.

During the summer, we work with shade cloth to try and keep the most extreme sunlight off leaves, flowers and fruit; otherwise these plants generally fry and fail.

Gardeners are also vulnerable to burning up when they are out working during the heat of a midsummer's day. The spring and fall are gentler times to us, as well.

This does not mean that an autumn garden does not have some requirements. These leafy greens and root-producing plants have their own demands. Like virtually all common garden plants they insist on good drainage. Unless you are sure that a plant evolved in a swamp, you should determine that the roots will not be sitting in an airless hole. Note that I did not say "growing" there, since plants will not grow without air getting to their roots.

They are also not going to do well without good watering. Some cool season vegetable varieties are more drought tolerant than others, but all of them need to be kept evenly moist. Fortunately this is considerably easier when scorching heat is not drying out the soil constantly!

Leafy vegetables respond best when they are placed in a well amended soil. High nitrogen content will help them produce deep green leaves. The soil should be enriched with several inches of good compost before planting.

Starting from seed is a good practice for these plants. Unlike the summer vegetables whose seedlings should be transplanted into the growing bed, greens or root edibles are usually faster growing. This means that the time from seed to mature plant is shorter, and transplanting becomes unnecessary.

What cannot grow well during this period are the fruiting vegetables. This is not the time to try to get the perfect tomato or the most pungent pepper. Keep those seeds in the refrigerator until February. Now, it is possible to discover the flavors of beet greens and kale. They are worth the effort.

Angela O’Callaghan is the area specialist in social horticulture for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached c/o the Home News, 2275 Corporate Circle, Suite 300, Henderson, NV 89074, or [email protected].