|
| I'm a newbie (purple-thumbed) gardener. Last year's crop was a total bust (well, I'm cautiously optimistic about my elephant garlic). This year, I'm concentrating on perennials herbs instead of annual veggies (mostly) and have bought an automated drip system which I hope will help things.
The summers here are extremely hot. Very frequently over 100C. Over 90C almost daily. I just ran across a blurb that said broccoli was a cool-weather crop. oh for heaven's sakes. And I just started some broccoli seeds. I found the reference on Sacramento Gardening but the list is purely annual veggies. Not perennial herbs. How on earth can I tell that a plant is not going to do well in my summer climate?? The seed packages rarely say so! And the zone thing doesn't tell me either.
|
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| In your zone 9, you could have grown broccoli in winter and still get a decent crop. Most coles are difficult in very hot weather. I think that French tarragon would grow well there as would bay leaf, oregano, mint, rosemary, and even chervil, and marjoram. There aren't too many herbs that are perennials, so you need to keep digging.. |
|
- Posted by thorspippi z9 CA (sac) (My Page) on Fri, Feb 25, 05 at 15:08
| These are what I have in mind this year. Do you know offhand if any of these will be in trouble this summer? Perennials: Annuals: |
|
- Posted by Jennifer21 (My Page) on Mon, Feb 28, 05 at 16:26
| Get the book Heat zone GARDENING- for ornamentals (doesn't list veg) and to learn the philosophy of considering a plant's heat tolerance as well as cold tolerance (hardly an issue for you) when selecting it. Remember- I'm in cold zone 8 here in England just as I was in central Texas. But went from heat zone 9? to 3-4 which explains why I need a greenhouse here for tomatos peppers etc and why growing sweetcorn and pumpkins without starting them earlier indoors doesn't always work here. |
|
- Posted by thorspippi z9 CA (Sac) (My Page) on Thu, Mar 10, 05 at 17:24
| Thank you, Jennifer! I will look for it. (sorry it took me so long to find your reply!) |
|
- Posted by overrocked SW USA (My Page) on Mon, Mar 21, 05 at 18:53
| Treat your zone like a 2-crop short season garden Plant your heat lovers in the spring (corn,squash,melons) And your cool lovers in the fall (brassica, peas, greens) OR Set out plants in the fall that you've grown indoors during the hottest part of the summer. Greenhouses in reverse:) I have a tomato plant that keeps on giving- just protect your heat lovers from the cold with cold-frames in the winter- Looks like I'll get 10 lbs tomatoes from 1 plant! |
|
- Posted by thorspippi z9 CA (Sac) (My Page) on Mon, Mar 21, 05 at 20:53
| ahh, good idea! only problem is, I'm not sure which is which. Lettuce is cool weather. and now I know your list above. Do you know where I can go to look it up? |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Edible Landscape Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.