Despite August’s extreme heat temps, now is really a great time to start your cool season fall and winter gardens.
If we look at USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map (https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov we find that most of Madera County is located in Zones 9a and 9b which has a very long, mild growing season that often spans 250 to 300 frost-free days per year. The average first fall frost date typically falls between late November and mid December. By counting backward from the expected fall frost date we can determine the best time to plant.
For example, if we want to grow broccoli that has an average 85 days to harvest with an average 10-day germination then we should start seeds indoors in mid to late August.
Another way to think about this is by expected harvest date. As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, plants grow more slowly. Getting them into the ground early is important. A delay in planting by two weeks can often delay harvest by three weeks or more simply because plants are growing more slowly.
Cool season crops are often tolerant of slight frost and include root crops such as beets, carrots, parsnips, radishes and turnips; stems such as asparagus and white potato; leafy crops such as cabbage, celery, lettuce, onion and spinach; and plants whose immature flower parts we eat, such as broccoli, cauliflower and globe artichokes. For more planting time info, refer to: https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-master-gardener-program/time-planting.
In addition, many flowers like snapdragons, pansies, calendula, violas, poppies and sweet peas perform best when planted in fall. Healthy plants grown in cool weather with deep established roots are better able to handle sudden cold snaps, resist pests and grow sturdier stems for cutting.
A FREE Fall & Winter Vegetable Gardening workshop will be presented by Master Gardener Tom Dinwoodie on Saturday, August 22, from 10 a.m.-noon at Madera Community College, 30277 Ave. 12, Madera. Bring your gardening questions and there will be free seeds and seedlings. Happy Fall Gardening!