In My Garden, Early November
Early November is a golden time in the garden. Seeds planted in October are growing well. Seed-grown transplants revel in warm sunny days, sinking their roots deep in rich, compost-amended soil that supports healthy top growth. With the cooler nights, the cabbage moths have disappeared and row covers protecting the brassicas are removed.
The thumbnail photo is my garden experiment this year. I was enchanted by the Territorial Seed photo and description of ‘Violetta’ pac choi which can be grown as baby greens or full heads. I will harvest these as small heads and later grow baby greens in a container.
Here seventeen cauliflower plants are interplanted with romaine lettuce and bunching onions. Territorial Seed again provided seed for the five Romanesco and six each of ‘Graffiti’ and ‘Amazing’ cauliflower. Plants are spaced about 15 inches apart and this week I’ll harvest some of the lettuce to make room for the growing cauliflower.
Nearby, six ‘Premium Crop’ broccoli grow next to two Brussels sprouts and ‘Jacaranda’ broccoli. Bunching onions now mostly hide under the enlarging leaves.
Two ‘Red Rubine’ Brussels sprouts grown from Baker Creek seeds stake out territory in front of bi-color purple sweet peas edging toward the trellis. In another color experiment, I’m growing six ‘Jacaranda’ broccoli from Territorial Seed. Since success with purple sprouting broccoli eludes me most years, I’m trying a purple crown broccoli. Stay tuned.
In the shade of the apricot tree, now losing its leaves, ‘Freckles’ lettuce requires a row cover since the birds find it a convenient treat. A dozen or so onion sets squeeze in at the end of the cauliflower bed. In a small urban garden (120 square feet of raised beds) every square foot is utilized.
In another raised bed, transplanted ‘Catalina’ spinach is protected from damage by moles with bamboo sticks. Lately, I’ve been planting in blocks instead of a four foot row, finding it easier to tend to the plants and harvest. Nearby, ‘Golden Sweet Edible-Podded Snow Peas’ are directed to the trellis by pea brush.
In the last bed, four ‘Tango’ celery and a row of ‘Easter Egg II’ radishes grow on the north side. Various carrots, ‘Sweet Merlin’ beets and some rangy arugula complete the bed.
A dozen ‘Seascape’ strawberries continue to produce in November and various lettuces near the time to move to the raised bed.
In an era when the traditional notions of time have all but disappeared,
when the work of a week occurs in a matter of seconds
and the world is no larger than a cell phone,
the steady rhythms and solid surfaces of a garden are a comfort.
Thomas C. Cooper
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