My peas are going downhill fast in this heat. Although some of the pea plants might come back when the weather cools, I am getting ready to plant some seeds of crops that will do well through the fall.
Cold-hardy fall vegetables, such as broccoli, are supposed to be seeded 90 days before the average first frost. In our area, that's about Sept. 15, so I'm already a little late for broccoli, but I might try it anyway.
Brussels sprouts require 90 to 120 days to mature, and will withstand a heavy frost, although the severe cold will slow growth. If you pull the whole plant and store it in a cold location, the sprouts will keep for a few weeks.
Cabbage is another hardy fall crop. Carrots do very well in my soil, and they will be ready to eat come fall. Some purple varieties of cauliflower, such as 'snow crown' or 'Rushmore,' take only 50 to 72 days to reach maturity and sound interesting, even though cool weather will slow head development.
Of course, radishes can be seeded throughout the summer for a quick-growing crop, but should be sown eight weeks before frost. In addition to the traditional round, red radishes, there are black Spanish, Chinese, Japanese or daikon and even German beer radishes. The black Spanish with its black exterior and white flesh is pungent and keeps well. Daikon are white and carrot-shaped and can grow to 2 feet long in deep soils.
Rutabagas are another vegetable that will tolerate severe frost. I have never even tasted a rutabaga, but I like the word. It rolls off the tongue. Rutabagas do have to be harvested before a hard freeze, but can be stored in damp sand or sawdust for long periods. Another common name for this odd-sounding vegetable is the Swede turnip or yellow turnip.
Now, I have eaten turnips - YUCK! They tasted like dirt. I'm sure there are turnip lovers out there who will disagree.
I may have to grow some beets. They can be difficult to germinate, so I recommend presoaking them. Some cultivars are bred for winter storage such as 'Lutz Winter Keeper.' Even though they need only 55 to 70 days to mature, it is best to plant them two months before the first frost. Again, I'm a little behind schedule. However, I can harvest the greens, then harvest the baby beets. After that, I can harvest and store anything that is left just before a hard freeze.
It seems odd to be planning for fall when the temperatures are reaching 100 degrees, but now is the time to plant these vegetables to fill your dinner table in the fall!
For more information, e-mail skellyj@unce.unr.edu or call me at 887-2252. You can "Ask a Master Gardener" by e-mailing mastergardeners@unce.unr.edu or call your local University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office. Check out many useful horticulture publications at www.unce.unr.edu.
• JoAnne Skelly is the Carson City/Storey County Extension educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.