Best Advice to Grow Vegetables in the Winter in North Dallas
Feburary 2, 2024
We are lucky to live in this area of the world where we can grow different things even in the winter, for the most part anyway. May be in a hundred years we get this weird climate events like the Snowgeddom (that’s a term some us invented for that event in February,202), but other than that we can grow anything.
I’m going to share a list of vegetables that do pretty well throughout the winter season here in our area. There is no need to cover them unless it gets super cold, and I’m talking about low 20’s or below, otherwise they are fine. In this case you need to cover over, but that is not big of a deal.
You can use a sheet, blanket, frost cloth or any material that is breathable. If you feel like layer them 2-3 blanket on top, do it! One advice, don’t go to those big stores a day before the freeze event because most likely you are not going to find them. So always plan ahead. Try to save those old sheets and blankets for your garden, don’t throw them away. Second advice and this one is big… DO NOT USE PLASTIC AS FROST CLOTH. What happens is that the plastic doesn’t allow the air to pass through so that forms condensation under the plastic and that would freeze and it would freeze to the plants. This way the plants get a lot of freeze damage on the foliage. So always use breathable materials to cover your plants.
The KEY to grow vegetable is full sun, you can’t do it in the shade. A little bit of the afternoon shade is ok but give them at least 8 hours of direct sunlight.
- Fertilization
I just want to open this segment by clarifying that fertilizers and soil amendment are two different things with different purposes. So, if you are on the market to buy the best solution for your vegetable beds be aware of this and keep reading.
When it comes to fertilization, recommend once or twice during the season. Please be conscious about the kind you use. I am a big advocate for anything organic, eco-friendly, sustainable and good for the planet. So, please try to avoid any chemical fertilizers. The effects on human health are serious and the devastating impact to our soils, surface fresh water bodies and ground water contamination are catastrophic. But I am not writing this article to talk about how bad they are, there is plenty of information online if you want to know more about this. I recommend you do it though, just to be aware of the situation and become more proactive with your decisions.
So back to fertilizers, please try to use organic fertilizers and pass the word along. I have used Plant-Tone for years and I love it. This is my honest advice, the company that manufactures this product doesn’t pay me a penny to promote it. Plant-Tone is an all-purpose plant food meaning it is a balanced blend of equal portions of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. The only con I have found is the smell because is made of chicken poop. So you will get that smell for a couple of days. Not a big deal, just think about the benefits to you and the environment. After you rinse the soil to incorporate the matter, the smell will be gone in a couple of days. Use gloves and a long sleeve t-shirt because the smell will get to your clothing. After you are done just put it in your laundry machine.
Other organic fertilizers friends have recommended are Medina Growing Green, also made of chicken poop, and MicroLife. Google them for dealers near you. This coming spring, 2024 I am going to do an experiment using these three organic options. I will share my comments and pictures. Like what they say, Stay tune!
If you have used any other organic fertilizers that I am not aware of, please make a comment in the comment section below. We all appreciate your inputs.
Last note on organic fertilizers is that they are more forgiven to the amount recommended per square footage. When using nasty, chemical fertilizers you have to be very careful with the exact amount you incorporate, otherwise you will burn the plant.
- Soil amendments
I think using soil amendments is more beneficial than using any type of fertilizer. Don’t get me wrong, they are both important but if I have a good, rich soil on my planting beds the need to fertilize periodically is less than what the product recommends.
So, what soil amendment means…any substance or product that is intended to change or improve the condition or quality of the soil. Usually, these products tend to be organic matter. So basically, what you are doing is incorporating this organic matter to the existing soil you have. The goal is to provide a richer environment for roots to grow stronger. Some benefits you will be bringing to your existing planting beds are improving soil texture, water retention, reduce compaction, nutrient improvement, incorporate beneficial microorganism, and some more benefits.
Two tips I want to share. First, do a pH test on the existing soil before applying any amendments. This is important because no matter how good your intentions are, if the soil pH is unbalance your plants won’t be happy. Every plant requires a certain range of pH level to thrive. So, make sure you are bringing those levels to the ideal required by the plants you are trying to cultivate. In general, the range from pH 6.0 to 7.0 is good for vegetables. In Dallas the soil tends to be on a little bit on the alkaline side. Soils in Texas generally have a pH between 4.5 and 8.5, but exceptions do occur. Second tip, your plants use up the nutrients, rain can wash them away, and even with a well-amended soil, it tends to go back to its natural state over time. So, it’s a good idea to give your soil a little boost regularly. The frequency depends on your starting soil, but once you get to know it better, you’ll figure out just what amendments your garden craves!
I recommend start your vegetable bed with the best planting soil available in your area and use soil amendments to get the best results. like worm casting, cow manure, or I use compost from my kitchen.
Organic amendments include compost sphagnum peat, wood chips, grass clippings, straw, compost, manure, biosolids, sawdust and wood ash.
Well here is the list for our area:
- Lettuce
- Pak Choi
- Cabbage
- Mustard
- Broccoli
- Collards
- Cilantro
- Onion
- Parsley
- Leek
- Rosemary
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Swiss Chard
- Kale
- Spinach
Swiss Chards are also very beautiful and there are some varieties that are sold as ornamentals because of the color of the stalks and the leaves. This is a great plant to bring color to your planting beds. They are still edibles and you can harvest them. Another tip… they look great in containers.
Let me know your thoughts and inputs. Also, I would like to know if you have questions on this article or topics that you want me write about.
One last thing I would like to mention… I am here sharing the little knowledge I know about my passion for gardening. So please don’t criticize me for my writing skills or style. English is not my primary language and I am trying my best, believe me. My goal again is to share my love for gardening and nature.
I’m always here to help you with your project… Javier Bohorquez – Casa Outdoor Design