Growing Garlic in Zone 7 - Which varieties are best.

 

source: MIgardener

Garlic comes in two basic types: softneck and hardneck. Most softneck garlic varieties are suited to areas of mild winters, but Inchelium Red, Red Toch, New York White Neck, and Idaho Silverskin are suitable for garlic varieties for zone 7 and, in fact, will thrive in zone 4 or even 3 if protected over the winter months. Avoid planting the Creole types of softneck, as they are not winter hardy and do not store for any length of time. These include Early, Louisiana, and White Mexican. 

Hardneck garlic does have a hard flower stalk around which fewer but larger cloves huddle. Hardier than many of the softneck garlics, it is an excellent choice for zone 6 and colder regions. Hardneck garlic is divided into three major types: purple stripe, rocambole, and porcelain. German Extra Hardy, Chesnok Red, Music, and Spanish Roja are good choices of hardneck garlic plants for growing in zone 7.

Characteristic	Category
Longer storage	Softneck
More cloves	Softneck
Can be braided	Softneck
Larger cloves	Hardneck
Uniform size cloves	Hardneck
Has a scape	Hardneck
Peels easily	Hardneck
Warmer climate	Softneck
Colder climate	Hardneck

Red Russian Kale

Red Russian Kale, source: MIgardener

	Sow	Seed to Transplant	Transplant	Harvest
Ideal	May	8-10 weeks (56-70 days)	July	14-18 weeks, November to April
Red Russian Kale	Mid August- beginning of September	3-4 weeks	Beginning to Mid-September	October onward

 

Large American Flag Leeks

 

source: MIgardener

Sow inside in the first week of April, 2-3 seeds per cell, 1/4″ deep.
Seed to Transplant: 10-12 weeks
Transplant: In June, when approx. 8″ tall and pencil-thick, transplant outdoors 6″ apart, rows 24″ apart in holes dibbled about 6″ deep. Only 1-2″ of leaves need extend above the soil surface. Do not firm soil, allow irrigation or rain to fill in the dibble hole.

Before Planting: Leeks are heavy feeders and require fertile soil (pH of 6.2-6.8) for best results.
Watering: Since leeks have shallow roots, they require lots of water and a weed-free environment. Add mulch to retain moisture and deter weeds.
Fertilizer: A season prior to planting, add compost where the leeks will grow. After planting, feed the leeks every week with liquid fertilizer.
Transplant to Harvest: 100 days- September - until a freeze is suspected to hit.
Harvesting: To harvest, loosen the soil and then lift the leeks out be the roots so you don’t damage the plant. Pick what you need until a freeze is suspected to hit, then harvest all the leeks.

Pea Shoots and other Microgreens

source: MIgardener

Microgreens are essentially seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs. Possible seeds to sprout are Kohlrabi, Turnip, Radish, Pak Choi, Beet, Mustard, Chia, Kale, Basil, Peas, Beets, Spinach, Cilantro and Mung beans, to name a few. Just as they are concentrated in nutrients, they’re also packed with intense flavors, and provide a nice textural contrast, especially in the winter months when no other fresh vegetables are available to the home gardener. Most microgreens only take about a week—and at most two weeks—to grow, you can always have microgreens at your fingertips.

Since microgreens do not require a lot of medium to grow on flat trays are generally preferred over regular nursery pots. While microgreens planting trays of different sizes may be purchased from different sources, it is also possible to recycle containers deriving from food packaging. The main recommendation is to make sure you are using material that is suitable for food production, that is clean, and that the trays have drainage holes at the bottom, which will allow to water the trays from the bottom without letting the water get in contact with the greens while enabling the excess of water to drain. After filling or setting the trays with the growing medium, using a clean container without holes and filled with drinking water you can slowly wet the growing medium from the bottom, and once the medium is wet enough let the excess of water drain. The moisture of the medium will help small seeds to stick to the surface and will keep the seeds moist during the germination process. At this point, you can start seeding by evenly distributing the defined amount of microgreens seeds on the entire growing area of each tray. Most of the microgreen's seeds do not require any treatment. However, for some species characterized by larger seeds or by a hard seed shell the germination process may be accelerated if seeds are pre-soaked in water. Seeds can be soaked in water overnight for 8-12 hours. During this process it is beneficial to rinse the seeds in running water a couple of times to wash the seeds and let them get some oxygen.

After distributing the seeds on the growing medium surface, it is not necessary, and it could be better to not cover the seeds with soil so that the sprouts remain clean. After seeding It is enough to apply some water occasionally using a spray bottle just to keep the seed moist during the germination process. To facilitate the germination process and keep a good moisture level during the germination it is recommended to keep the seeds in a dark environment for a few days. This can be easily achieved covering the microgreens trays with something that can block the sunlight. After the germination process is complete and seedlings reach a certain height it is possible to uncover the trays and expose the sprouts to sunlight. In selecting a place to grow your microgreens, consider that like any other plant microgreens benefit from good exposure to sunlight, therefore place them where you have more light. Usually, a window on the south side of the house or apartment will receive more sunlight than one exposed north. As the microgreens start growing, if the light is limited you will see the shoots leaning toward the light. A good level of sunlight will assure optimal growth and a higher accumulation of antioxidants are produced by plants primarily in response to the solar radiation.

At this point, besides the light, the only thing to do is to check that the seedlings have enough water. Water should be provided only if necessary, avoiding excess moisture and allowing drainage to prevent the development of mold. To limit the contact between water and the greens it is recommended to water the trays from the bottom. Opening the window occasionally to enhance air circulation may be beneficial as well to avoid excess moisture. Depending on the species and the growing conditions microgreens may be ready to harvest in a few days or in a couple of weeks after germination is complete. Microgreens may be harvested using a clean sharp knife or a pair of scissors right before being used for any preparation. Washing microgreens in fresh drinking water before consuming them is always recommended, however, be aware that microgreens plant tissues are very gentle, and their shelf life may be substantially reduced after washing. An alternative could be to bag and store microgreens at low temperatures and wash them right before they are used.

Blue Curled Kale

source: MIgardener

Kale’s flavor will actually improve if exposed to cooler temperatures, so light frosts are your friend instead of foe. This curly leaf type of kale has a beautiful green-blue hue that makes it a popular addition to many fall gardens. This variety is considered to be particularly hardy and can be harvested in all climate zones until the ground freezes. Considering that it grows in a more compact fashion than other types of kale, it’s a great crop for space-challenged gardens.

The best time to plant kale for a fall crop is in early September. It can be harvested by late October and through the entire month of November.

December- February Growing Seedlings, Microgreens, Kale and Leeks

Mortgage Lifter, Cherokee Purple and Purple Bumblebee Tomatoes Yo Lo Wonder Sweet Bell Peppers Aswad Eggplant

The winter months are for growing seedlings to be transplanted once the last frost date has passed. Zone 7A's last frost date for 2023 is April 23, so seeds will be planted with this date in mind. The seedlings will take from 18 to 22 weeks to grow big enough to transplant, and the heat loving crops such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants won't be planted out until the ground warms up quite a bit, either late May or June, for a harvest from July to October when the first frost date comes around, about October 23.

Meanwhile, we must content ourselves with microgreens, also sprouted under the grow light.

Blue Curly Leaf Kale and Red Russian Kale

American Flag Leeks

And, I am hoping that if I cover my beds properly this fall, I will be able to still have leeks and kale growing during next winter, but that will also depend on how severe the winter is.