Fall/Winter Garden in Las Cruces, NM

[Tiffany]

I am going to plant a fall/winter garden this year. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should plant and when I should plant it? This will be my first fall/winter garden. Thanks!

[Carol]

I don't know what zone you are in Las Cruces but here is some great info for Texas and I hope one of the zones here matches. Good information here:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/fallgarden/fallindex.html
I can't grow lettuce well in the Texas heat so that is one of the crops I like to grow over fall and winter. Arugala loves the chilly weather also. I like to grow it in pots on the porch so it is off the ground and semi protected on the south side from any freezes. I just cut the leaves and let the plant grow more. Cilantro is another one that likes it cool and overwinters really well in the garden without protection. I get lots of nice cilantro in early spring from fall plantings.

[Tiffany]

Thanks Carol! Las Cruces is close to El Paso, and I'm not sure what zone that is but I'll try your suggestions because I started growing some lettuce early in the summer but then it got too hot for it.

Carol said:

I don't know what zone you are in Las Cruces but here is some great info for Texas and I hope one of the zones here matches. Good information here:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/fallgarden/fallindex.html
I can't grow lettuce well in the Texas heat so that is one of the crops I like to grow over fall and winter. Arugala loves the chilly weather also. I like to grow it in pots on the porch so it is off the ground and semi protected on the south side from any freezes. I just cut the leaves and let the plant grow more. Cilantro is another one that likes it cool and overwinters really well in the garden without protection. I get lots of nice cilantro in early spring from fall plantings.

[marie]

I recommend you download the catalog offered by http://www.nativeseeds.org It has a lot of growing information based on season and altitude for desert crops.

[Larry Snyder]

Hope it is in by now. I plant Cabbage , Kale, Onion starts. I have a poly cover I can protect my garden from heavy frost & freezes. Any of the Cauliflower,Cabbage, Brussel Sprout group do will in cool climates. Onion,Garlic& Leeks can be planted in the fall fore summer harvest. If you have a poly type protection you will be able to enjoy Lettuce & all its family members well into late fall & again in early spring.