CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 25 OCTOBER IS NOT TOO LATE The climate of the Sandhills is surprisingly well-suited for a late fall garden, even if nothing is planted until October. "Sure, you'd rather get it in in September," said Jeff Thomson, the famous "Blooming Idiot" of Bell's Seed Store, but gardeners can catch up by purchasing plants rather than seeds. For some vegetables, like cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, the result of planting in October is a first crop before the end of the year and the surprising treat of a second crop in February or March. "You double your money," laughed Thomson. Other dependable options to plant in October are collards, spinach, turnips, mustard, rape, kale, winter squash and lettuce. Due to the decorative nature of many varieties, lettuce is gaining popularity as a fall crop. "A lot of people have started planting it, whether they're going to eat it or not," Thomson said. Cold-hearty herbs like rosemary, thyme and basil will enhance winter dishes, and add flair to flower arrangements year-round. Choose a sunny spot away from cold, gusty winds. FALL FLOWERS Faithfully, mums roll out the welcome mat for October, playing host to the last scorching days of the year and trick-or-treaters alike. Available in every autumnal hue, they put on a show for four to six weeks, and how do we show our appreciation? We heave them into the trash after Thanksgiving. Thomson has a better plan: "When they die back in the fall, cut them back to an inch or two high, and plant them in your yard." A perennial plant, they will come back every year. To maximize blooms in the fall, cut back the leafy green foliage in July. "When you're celebrating on the Fourth of July, you go back out to those mums and cut them back about six inches tall. They'll grow right back out again, and in the fall, you'll get a heavy bloom." Pansies and violas are colorful, classic annuals that will not only survive, but thrive in the winter months of Zone 8A. Thomson's directions for successful pansy-keeping are simple: Wait for a true break in the hot weather before planting, lest they become leggy and temperamental. Then, next May, at peak bloom, start thinking about their replacement. "After five or six days of 85-degree weather, they're just going to melt away and look terrible." Decorative mustard, flowering cabbage and flowering kale offer pops of color in both leaf and stem, lending interest and texture. "The word 'flowering' is deceptive," Thomson said, as he explained that flowers should be removed to promote continued growth of colorful leaves. The result of planting in October is a first crop before the end of the year and the surprising treat of a second crop in February or March. The feeling of fall has arrived in Fayetteville.

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