Harvest of Winter Vegetables

Under the Solano Sun

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Seasonal observations of the UCCE Master Gardeners

Author: Launa Herrmann

Published on: March 10, 2015

The newly purchased galvanized container that sits along my side yard fence outperformed itself for yet another season. In addition to last year's abundance of summer vegetables, I'm now enjoying winter vegetables. As you'll notice from the photos, I'm harvesting Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) and bok choy (Cruciferae Brassica chinensis), and soon will be picking snow peas (Pisum salivum). Frankly, I can't ask for more in such a compact space.

This galvanized stock tank works for me. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, this container sits at just the right height for tending vegetables and means less back-breaking work and fewer insects.

If you've never tried growing bok choy, give this member of the chard family a try. With its tasty, tender leaves and stalks, the charm of this cole crop lies in its versatility. The entire plant is edible, whether mature or immature. Simply snip off a few stems from each plant, chop up both the leaves and stems, then add to a stir fry or omelet. Within days new stalks will sprout on the old plant. Last fall I ordered two six-packs of bok choy from Vacaville's Pacific Hardware and look forward to a harvest through March.

Bok choy. (photos by Launa Herrmann)

Chard

Galvanized container with winter veggies.

March harvest.

Comments: 6

Comments:

by Tina

on March 11, 2015 at 8:38 AM

I just got a couple of these. Did you have to put the drainage holes in them, or did yours come with them? If you had to do it, where is the best location, how many are best and what is the best tool for this?

by Mitzi

on March 11, 2015 at 9:44 AM

I saw these containers in the feed store and wanted desperately to pick some up but wasn't sure why. Now I know! Our yard has a thick layer of clay that makes digging a difficult endeavor; we've resorted to a power auger just to get shrubs in. Instead of lawn, we wanted to plant vegetables in the back but raised beds of any size are expensive, and not as sturdy as these would be. Do you put in drainage holes at the bottom?

by Marian Chmieleski

on March 14, 2015 at 9:30 AM

Launa, what a great idea! I think I'd like to try some in my yard. Did the metal get super-hot in the summer heat? Did that affect the plants?

by Launa Herrmann

on March 14, 2015 at 12:16 PM

RE: Drainage holes. Since the original purpose of these containers is as a water tank for livestock, a drain hole is already installed. As I loaded the container with soil, I added a handful of rocks around the drain opening inside the container to prevent dirt from exiting. One occasion I left the hose on a bit too long -- and the drain did its job. The soil in the container was obviously wet but not a pond.

by Mitzi

on March 17, 2015 at 9:39 AM

Great, thank you for the info. These are going to be fun!

by LUANA WHEELER

on March 21, 2015 at 5:15 PM

Do you know what will happen to my broccoli this year? The plants are huge but no heads to be seen. Is it getting too hot to get any heads this year? Thank-you.