August 29, 2020 - By Bob Labozetta (UC Master Gardener, Mariposa) - It’s 90℉+ outside. Yep, time to prepare for your winter veggie garden. WHAT?
Winter veggie choices include beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, chard, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions/shallots, parsnips, 
peas, potatoes, radishes, rhubarb, rutabaga, spinach, turnip, and other leafy greens such as bok choy and kale.
The above veggies can be direct seeded into a prepared garden bed, and many of them can be purchased as seedlings in nurseries. Make a plan and draw up a list of the cool season veggies you like and grow well in your area or microclimate.
Next, determine when each veggie needs to be planted and when you are going to harvest your warm season crops to leave space for the winter crops. Continuing to plant beans, corn, cucumbers, and squash during the warm months may not leave you room for your winter selections.
Although tomatoes will produce up to the first frost date, late tomatoes aren’t as tasty as earlier pickings and you may be better off just doing a final harvest in late September or early October for the sauce pot. Then pull them up and plant peas, for example, in that space. You can use the same supports and put up mesh for the peas to grow up.
Cool season veggies need some warm weather to get roots established and enough above ground growth to handle really cool weather. Knowing when your first frost date is and when to direct sow (in most cases) in relation to that date is critical. Follow these simple steps…
Step 1: Find your first fall frost date. Mariposa County contains several hardiness zones and microclimates.There are various resources to guide you in finding the first frost date in your garden. Try...
- https://www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-learn-your-last-frost-or-freeze-date/
- https://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-california-2012-usda-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php
Step 2: Determine when to direct sow and set out transplants. Use fall planting calculators such as...
- https://seedsforgenerations.com/fall-planting-calculator-tool/?code=76.9.75.145
- https://www.groworganic.com/pages/seed-planting-calculator/
- https://www.johnnyseeds.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-JSSSharedLibrary/default/dw55bb4a0c/assets/information/calculator-planting-dates-fall-harvest-crops.xls
Step 3 (optional): Use a garden planner. Mother Earth News offers a comprehensive garden planner that helps you find frost dates (first and last), design garden beds, and compiles a chart showing how many of each plant you need to buy or raise from seed, the correct spacing and recommended planting dates for your area. Print both the plan and plant list for reference. https://www.motherearthnews.com/garden-planner/vegetable-garden-planner#axzz2VSRB8xS4
For assistance, contact our Helpline at (209) 966-7078 or at mgmariposa@ucdavis.edu. We are currently unable to take samples or meet with you in person but welcome pictures.
The U.C. Master Gardener Helpline is staffed; Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Serving Mariposa County, including Greeley Hill, Coulterville and Lake Don Pedro
Please contact the helpline, or leave a message by phone at: (209) 966-7078
By email (send photos and questions for researched answers) to: mgmariposa@ucdavis.edu
For further gardening information and event announcements, please visit: UCMG website: http://cemariposa.ucanr.edu/Master_Gardener
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/mariposamastergardeners
Master Gardener Office Location:
UC Cooperative Extension Office,
5009 Fairgrounds Road
Mariposa, CA 95338
Phone: (209) 966-2417
Email: mgmariposa@ucdavis.edu
Website: http://cemariposa.ucanr.edu/Master_Gardener
Visit the YouTube channel at UCCE Mariposa.
