Re: Question for Northern California gardeners


Diane McGill wrote:
> simy1 wrote:
> > are you kidding? there are literally dozens of greens to choose from,
> > plus carrots, broccoli, beets, and peas.Tell us what you like, what
> > your soil is like, rainfall or irrigation, and we will take it from
> > there. I live in Michigan and right now one of my two gardens is
> > completely green with greens. I will start eating that in a couple
> > weeks.
> >
> Well, I'm talking about planting now for winter. We get a lot of rain
> here. Our soil isn't the best, but we plan to rectify that before
> spring. It's obviously much warmer here than in Michigan.
>
> Diane

true, it is much warmer there. But that just means that you have more
choice
than I have. Basically, I have to limit myself to radicchio, collard
and kale,
arugula and garlic shoots, and I have to plant them well ahead of time.

Cold or not, I still planted broccoli raab and pea shoots last week.
They will
be ready in a month or so.

If your soil is so-so, and assuming that it is on the alkaline side (it
being the Central Valley)
may I suggest radicchio and other chicories, chard, peas and beets.
Garlic shoots are always a cold weather treat here, and they will come
up in a hurry for you to put in pasta and omelettes.

If you do know for a fact that it will rain a lot, kale will also do
well. If it will rain a lot and you are willing to fertilize, collard,
lettuce, bok choi, broccoli raab, and arugula (as well as the rest of
the mustards, like mizuna) come into the picture. If the soil is not
hard carrots and radishes are an option (no fertilizer), carrots being
far more drought resistant than radishes.

If your soil is very hard just forget about the root crops except
potatoes. If the soil is hard, potatoes, radicchio, and fava beans will
help break it.

Once you have a well manured soil you will also open the option to have
cardoon (best planted
in July), potatoes and various cabbages, and your lettuce will improve
in flavor and appearance.
There are a number of small greens (notably mache and miner's lettuce)
that you can grow as a ground cover amongst the bigger vegetables (they
will reseed and be there forever).

Right now you are better off buying a packet of everything, plant, and
see what sticks, and
of those that stick, what you like. The greens growing under the peas
and the favas will get enough nitrogen that they won't need fertilizer.

.

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