October 8, 2004

Now is a ‘cool’ time to plant certain annuals and vegetables

By Shari Kaplan
Staff Writer

Autumn is the time for cool-season annuals and vegetables. As long as we don’t have an unseasonable heat wave or long “Indian Summer,” most cool-season plants are probably ready to get into the ground.

One of the most perennially popular cool-season annuals is the pansy (Viola wittrockiana). In fact, pansies are so popular that some nurseries sell them year-round. They can grow as perennials in certain microclimates, but unfortunately, many gardeners learn the hard way that pansies do poorly in summer heat or when subjected to reflected glare or over-drying.

The good news is that nurseries are loaded with pansies in the fall—along with the smaller violas and johnny-jump-ups—in more frilly, colorful varieties than you can shake a shovel at!

All do well in our mild-winter climate; fall-planted pansies can grow straight through spring and usually don’t decline until summer. Some popular pansies to look for include “Imperial Antique Shades” with pastel coloring, pretty veining and a sweet, rose-like fragrance; “Jolly Joker” with strikingly contrasted purple and orange petals; and “Rally Lilac Cap,” whose typical pansy “face” is deep purple and is framed by various amounts of white and purple—sometimes with surprise splotches of yellow.

As one might guess from its name, the Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule) does not mind cold conditions. This cheerful winter bloomer should be available in nursery cell-packs by now, with several color varieties to pick from.
In mild climates like the Santa Clara Valley, the hairy-stemmed plants will bloom until the weather warms. Feel free to use Iceland poppies as cut flowers; this encourages them to prolong the blooming period.

While there are hundreds of species, hybrids and strains of primrose, most gardeners are happy just knowing there are some that bloom during winter.

Among the best-known of these is the fairy primrose (Primula malacoides), which in our area, is practically a perennial. It begins blooming in fall or winter and will keep blooming until spring, sometimes longer. The lacy flowers form in tiers on upright stems.

German primrose (Primula obconica) is another attractive choice for our mild winters; when summers are mild as well, it may even bloom year-round. Both types appreciate regular irrigation, so if the winter isn’t rainy, make sure you give your primroses enough to drink.

There are many more cool-season flowering plants that thrive in our area, but I don’t want to give short-shrift to the aforementioned veggies. Among my favorites are carrots and beets. If you want to enjoy them throughout the winter, sow the seeds now. Carrot seeds take several weeks to germinate, so keep the soil consistently moist during this time.

Space seeds far enough apart to allow for ample root growth down the line. Some people plant the seeds in rows and thin the seedlings later. Not all varieties reach the same size or maturity date, so be sure to check the seed package. Water them regularly, give them full sun exposure and light-textured soil, and your carrots should be happy.

Although beets are not in the same family as carrots, they coincidentally have very similar sun, water and soil needs. They also happen to be among the most pest-free of all garden vegetables. The main problem with beets is that they can become “woody” if allowed to grow too large; but again, different varieties have different growth habits, so check your packaging first. An added beet bonus is that the leafy greens are as edible as the roots!

Speaking of greens, this is also a good time to plant certain types of lettuce. According to the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County’s Web site, at least 17 cool-season varieties thrive in our area.

Visit their Web site at www.mastergardeners.org/scc and click on “Best Picks” for more information. They also offer recommendations for a myriad of other veggies, fruits and flowers well suited to local conditions.