Cool season veggies mean green this fall and winter.

As summer heat wanes, plan a cool season vegetable garden for easy growing in Albuquerque. Our mild fall-to-early-winter climate is well suited for growing vegetables of a certain cool-weather kind. With forethought and a few supplies, some crops can grow through the coldest days, giving a healthy burst of greens instead of January drear. These are the veggies planted in early spring in other parts of the country.  But in the high desert where the sunlight is strong, fresh food fans can get started three or four months earlier. With shorter days and lower temps, the bounty of summer crops will taper off. But there is more to be planted for this coming season, providing the fun of gardening year 'round, and a very healthy harvest for the upcoming holiday months. Plan to plant the vigorous and particularly green varieties absent from the sweltering summer gardens.

When temps remain below 85, often mid-September, conditions for cool season veggies become favorable. Each variety has a range in these cooler degrees that best suits their needs, as root vegetables and leafy greens flourish in sunny winter days. But not only for plants is the milder weather more pleasant -- also for the gardeners, as winter veggies demand less time, energy and resources. The frequency of watering drops and other chores for the garden become less toilsome. No need to rush; return home to plants that haven't yet spent their daily water. What a refreshing break! These vegetables will require water only once or twice a week, and for the space-challenged gardener growing in containers, this is a great time to try more varieties. Cool season veggies grow well in pots, and can be moved to adjust their conditions: to gain sun or avoid a freeze.

With the first frost still weeks away, it’s time to choose varieties. To get growing, start the cool weather seeds directly in your garden bed or container. Plant those veggies you will use the most! Leafy greens like spinach, kale and chard are bulletproof favorites. Lettuces of both types (leaf and head) can be easily coaxed and come in many colors. Other exotic culinary greens are also quite cold tolerant. Tasty root crops of beets, radishes and carrots take up little space or time, but will make you proud prepared for a family gathering. Garlic is traditionally planted this time of the year for next summer’s harvest. So don't forget a bulb or two next time you visit a farmers market to divide and plant for later. No need to begin seeds indoors, with the exception of peas or beans. They want to be going by early September and starting indoors will beat the late heat. Be creative! Plant soon. Sunflowers starting to fade can make good supports.

Finally, the average first freeze in Albuquerque is October 26th. With this deadline in mind, design the right way to insulate your winter garden. It’s easy, covering the growing space with insulating frost blanket or capturing the sun's energy on a south facing wall to provide extra nighttime protection from falling, freezing moisture. Cold frames enclose the heat of the daytime sun, offering good insulation and a way take crops further into the winter. Plastic sheeting or reclaimed windows as cover over a box built of straw bales is simple to construct and combats well the winter cold. But be careful to allow for ventilation of the cold frame -- the high desert sun can still cook when captured in the protective plastic. A cold frame that cannot breathe during the day overheats with direct exposure and quickly sizzles your salad crops. For extra insulation, say in the East Mountains, sequester heat in water-filled bottles or barrels. Overnight, cold is counteracted by heat slowly released through the night.

If it's spring or fall and you've started seed for cool season veggies, or are planning to soon, make use of the weather reports to look for your sprouts. True, the conditions in Albuquerque are unpredictable. But take note of the day's high, and look for varieties to germinate well at the following temperatures. If your winter veggies are on a southern exposure, and against a wall, the high temperature will be much higher than the 'daily high'. Keeping an eye on your garden's exposure provides additional details as the sun's angle lowers, and trees begin to lose their leaves.

    Sample germination temperatures...
The following veggies will sprout from seed when soil temps fall into their corresponding ranges:
Beets            55-80°
Broccoli        around 70°
Carrots        50-75°
Cauliflower        around 70°
Chard            55-80°
Kale            65-85°
Lettuces        60-70°
Other greens        50-70°
Radishes        45-85°
Spinach        55-70°
Turnips        65-75°
If you started seed a couple of weeks ago, and no sign of them has yet appeared, there's a good chance they will when conditions are right.

Remember the 'time and date' telephone number? Seems like centuries ago.
Fortunately, there is an online location now for the information, and it proves just as useful.
If you don't watch local news, try this link for weather:  timeanddate.com