Plants in the Fall/Winter (Austin, Cleveland: transplants, organic, garden)

[ClePhx]

Just curious if in the fall and winter seasons if all the plant life dies off like up here in Cleveland? Besides the evergreens are there any plants/trees that bloom or flower? Thanks.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by ClePhx

Just curious if in the fall and winter seasons if all the plant life dies off like up here in Cleveland? Besides the evergreens are there any plants/trees that bloom or flower? Thanks.

Short answer: NO

We have a second fall growing season. Many cool weather crops like lettuce only grow here in the fall and early spring. I'm getting ready to put in transplants right now.

Lantana and many other native plants bloom all winter until there is a freeze (sometimes there is no freeze). Pansies can take cooler temps, they bloom all winter.

Our climate is nothing like Cleveland! We are in zone 8, practically tropical.

[mimimomx3]

Most years we do get a couple of freezes, and the native things' foliage will die and come back in spring. Palms and citrus trees will need some TLC over winter, but they usually do just fine. Of course annuals like impatiens, petunias,etc. won't make it. Agreed with CentralAustinite that this is a great time for those cool weather veggies and pansies! I love pansies. They do well all winter- but don't plant them yet...it will get hot again, probably through October. I love Texas gardening!

[dburatti]

If you're interested in edible organic gardening, check out http://www.bohemianbounty.com. The do planning & planting and also hold classes about organic gardening.

Dewayne

[Maliades]

I found that my 'winter' vegetable garden did SO much better than my 'spring/summer' garden. Also the fall is a good time to plant certain native plants, check out the The Natural Gardener: Organic Gardening Headquarters website and click on the Information tab for a monthly to-do list. I've found it's pretty right on.

I use mostly native plants, and I don't baby them. I save old torn sheets and blankets, even canvas drop cloths and towels, to cover my plants with if there is going to be a freeze. I didn't bother to cover anything in my front yard last winter, and nearly everything came back. Austin is very garden-friendly and you can find tons of gardening groups & classes on gardening in Austin.

[ClePhx]

Can you grow Citrus trees in AUS? This may be a silly question but can a Joshua tree grow in that region? Thanks.

[prodigaltxn]

How do gardeners cope with the thinner/rockier soil in Southwest and West Austin?

[Trainwreck20]

There is a thread on here somewhere about elevated gardening and/or container gardening, which I think is pretty common. In some areas, you can garden in the natural soil, you just will have to use a good roto-tiller and move a lot of stones for the first couple of years. The soil itself is not bad, it is just the lack of soil compared to the rocks...

[atlanta hope]

I have a lemon tree in my backyard. It has a PVC frame to cover it up when it gets really cold. It's a bit of a pain but it sure is nice to see the lemons turning yellow on my tree right now. I also have pear, pomegrante and persimmon trees. Now only if I had an avocado...

[mimimomx3]

I have mandarin oranges, lemons and limes. I love the fruit, but I love the flowers even more. They are amazingly fragrant. As for the soil....you just have to add, add, add. Manure, compost, even sand. Containers and raised beds are easier.