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November gardening tipsBy David Coltrain Walnut Creek Extension District, Agriculture Agent Kansas The calendar says it is November. Does that mean the vegetable garden is done producing? The answer should be a resounding "No." Freezing temperatures may have killed the warm season vegetables, but a variety of hardy cold tolerant plants could still be yielding produce. Many vegetable crops that survive freezing temperatures are called "Cole crops" and are in the Brassicaceae family. This family includes cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, kohlrabi, radishes and greens like collards, kale, mustard. Other family members can add interesting flavors to salads such as arugula, mizuna, pakchoi, tatsoi and many others. Members of this family vary in how they tolerate low temperatures. Cauliflower can only stand temperatures of about 28 F before their heads will turn soft. On the other end of the temperature range, I have seen turnips still surviving with temperatures down to 12 degrees F. Their green leaves and tops will be surviving and hanging on, but their root globes are still in good shape. Most vegetables that do well in the fall are also ones that can be planted successfully early in the spring. But some vegetables do much better in the fall than in spring. Two radishes especially fit into that category, daikon and red meat or watermelon radish. Both are fast growing radishes that grow great during autumn months, but will bolt or go to seed if planted during spring. Daikon is the better known of the two. They are commonly available in large supermarkets. The ones growing in my garden are snowy white radishes 12 inches long and two inches in diameter with a very mild flavor. Red meat or watermelon radishes are not so common, but should be grown more. They are shaped like turnips and look similar to turnips on the outside. But they are bright red inside and make a great addition to a salad. They are best harvested at about three inches in diameter. Other crops able to survive freezing temperatures include many lettuce types, chard, radicchio and spinach. Mix these with greens and salads from the Brassicaceae family and your vegetable garden could still be producing through most of November in normal years. The November Green Thumb News newsletter is now available and contains a Garden Calendar and 12 articles with information on Vegetables, Trees, Lawn Care, and Flowers. If you would like to receive a copy and be on the monthly mailing list, please e-mail me at coltrain@ksu.edu or call the LaCrosse Extension office at 800-460-9079. Date: 11/13/07
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