Fall Garden

One of the things I wanted to experiment with here in zone 7b was a fall garden.  Where I'm from (zone 5) after the harvest you put up your tools and hibernated for 6 months.

So I made a second 4x8 bed and planted Lettuce, Spinach, Green and Purple Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, and Pole Beans in the first week of September.
I also added a small section of Radishes and Carrots in the first bed.

Everything was going great until a week or so before our first frost date (Nov 1st).  The beans weren't quite ready and the frost took them.  A simple row cover probably would have protected them without a hitch.  Next year... next year.

Fall 2012 Garden Bed

I did have a number of items planted in my newly finished greenhouse that continued growing just fine.  I think the greenhouse cost a whole $75, and the self watering containers were made from reused pop bottles.

Fall 2012 Garden

Fall 2012 Greenhouse

So come spring of 2013, and a few tough items made it through unprotected.
Purple Broccoli
Kale
Carrots
Cabbage
Green Broccoli and Cauliflower, though an attack of fall pests didn't leave enough to grow.  I found that applications of BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis) saved the rest of what you see here.  Best thing about BT, it is safe for human consumption, unwashed, even if it was applied the day you harvest.

The survivors of Winter 2012-2013