In mild winter climates likes ours in Southern California now is the perfect time to be planting our winter garden, and how advantageous that it should also coincide with the start of the school year.
What to grow in a school garden is a question we hear alot. The short answer right now is cool weather crops. Cool weather crops differ from the warm weather crops we grow in the spring and summer mainly in that they do not fruit. Peruse the list below and you will notice that when consuming cool weather crops we are eating mostly leaves, stems, and roots.
For northern climates cool weather crops can be grown very successfully in a greenhouse.
The following is a list of cool weather crops arranged by family:
Alliaceae (Allium or Onion Family) – chives, onions, scallions, shallots, garlic, leeks
Amaranthaceae (Amaranth or Beet Family) – amaranth, beet, chard, spinach, quinoa
Apiaceae or Umbelliferae (Carrot or Dill Family) – anise, caraway, carrot, celery, chervil, cilantro, cumin, dill, fennel, lovage, parsley, parsnip
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) – artichokes, cardoons, chicory, endive, escarole, lettuce, raddichio, jerusalem artichokes
Brassicaceae (Brassica or Mustard Family) – arugula, bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, radish, rapini, rutabaga, tat soi, turnip
Fabaceae (Legume Family) peas, fava beans, soybeans, lentils
Lamiaceae (Mint Family) – mint, rosemary, sage, marjoram, oregano, thyme
Solanaceae (Nightshade Family) – potatoes
Whatever you decide to plant I suggest starting some of the plants from seed like lettuce, cilantro and radishes. Then choose one of each and allow it to bolt and go to seed. This a very valuable lesson about the cycle of a plant from seed-to-seed which can be easily accomplished within the school year.
