Homesteading in the Winter: Onions and Garlic

 

I am taking part in a posting series related to the topic of “Homesteading in the Winter.” 

Each Thursday there will be a new post on a different issue associated with the needs and unique challenges of living on a homestead (big or small, urban or rural) during the winter.  I am a teaming up with several other bloggers to bring you this series.

Today’s topic is “Growing Cool Weather Fruits and Vegetables.”  The participating blogs for this week include:

After reading my post, please take a few minutes to visit these other blogs and learn about what growing cool weather food crops looks like where they live.  

 Welcome to Fall/Winter Gardening in Southern California!

 

I’m in Zone 23….here’s a look:

 

Did you find me??

 

Here is what Sunset has to say about my zone:

ZONE 23: Thermal belts of Southern California’s coastal climate 

One of the most favored areas in North America for growing subtropical plants, Zone 23 has always been Southern California’s best zone for avocados. Frosts don’t amount to much here, because 85 percent of the time, Pacific Ocean weather dominates; interior air rules only 15 percent of the time. A notorious portion of this 15 percent consists of those days when hot, dry Santa Ana winds blow. Zone 23 lacks either the summer heat or the winter cold necessary to grow pears, most apples, and most peaches. But it enjoys considerably more heat than Zone 24—enough to put the sweetness in ‘Valencia’ oranges, for example—but not enough for ‘Washington’ naval oranges, which are grown farther inland. Temperatures are mild here, but severe winters descend at times. Average lows range from 43 to 48°F (6 to 9°C), while extreme lows average from 34 to 27°F (1 to –3°C).

 

So what is a girl to do for her fall and winter crops around here??  Well once it has cooled down just a tad…here is my list:

The Cabbage Family:

This includes cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower and kale.

These amazing veggies germinate in about a week and can be placed into a protected garden bed about a month before your last frost date. If the weather is still cool, add a row cover or cloche to the plants to keep them warm. I posted an article all about winter protection for plants HERE.  In warm areas you can grow these vegetables in your fall garden too, not just for winter crops. Transplant the seedlings and put them into the garden in September, and protected from hot afternoon sun. Warm summer soil combined with cooler fall temperatures help the seedlings to settle quickly and a second crop is produced about 60 days later. Have a frost protection cloth ready in case an early frost occurs.

The Onion Family:

Onions, shallots and leaks.

These little round jewels take a long time to mature. Onion and shallot sets can be put into the garden about a month before you last frost date, as well as seeded in the garden for a fall crop. They can also be planted in fall to emerge late winter for an early spring harvest.

Salad Vegetables:

Lettuce, lettuce and more lettuce!

There are numerous varieties of cool weather lettuce and mixes that thrive in fall and winter gardens. All these colorful greens can be started indoors about 2 months before the last frost. Put the seedlings out about a month before the last frost and cover with a cloth on cool nights. Seeds can also be sown for a longer harvest. Try planting some seeds in late summer too for a fall harvest.

 

 

So I prepped my little raised garden beds:

 

On my list to plant, right now are: Onions, red and white.  Garlic as much as I can fit in.  And packets and packets of heirloom lettuce.  I was looking for some really nice and healthy looking broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and kale but I just haven’t been pleased with any I have seen yet.  Will keep looking, our local hardware store (yes, were a small town) says they are getting more organic 6-packs and 4-inch veggies in this weekend…so you know what that means…more DIRT time!

 

And here is a look at my new little veggies…..

 

 

Look for part two coming soon….I will give y’all an update on the Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage and Kale hunt…..!

This article is hopping around the following Blog Hops:

Homestead Barn Hop, Wildcrafting Wednesday, From the Farm Fridays, Simple Saturdays Blog Hop, Simple Life Sunday Blog Hop.

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Medical Disclaimer:

Nothing in this post is to be construed as medical advice, simply a sharing of things that have worked for me & my family. If you have any symptoms of serious illness, taking medication, pregnant or nursing, or have never worked with herbal materials or essential oils before, please consider consulting a medical professional before use. I am unable to offer advise for your particular medical situation; please ask your Doctor, Nurse Practitioner or Naturopath for further guidance.  The statements made here have not been approved by the Food & Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act.