By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

November Gardening

It’s finally November and if you don’t have your winter garden in yet, it’s probably a safe bet you’re not going to have one.

On the other hand, if you’re one of those lucky people who have a toasty greenhouse, potting shed, hoop house or some other enclosed structure it really doesn’t matter that it’s getting a little chilly outdoors to plant. You can pretty much call your own shots.

Indoors or not, however, it’s possibly a good idea to stick with cool season crops. These include spinach, lettuce, kale, kohlrabi, artichokes, peas and collard greens. Root vegetables also do well in the cooler temperatures including beets, carrots, turnips and leeks, among others.

Beets are one of my favorite vegetables. Beets “seeds” are really husks that contain more than one seed, which means that once they germinate, they’ll need to be thinned. If you’re putting seeds directly into cool outside ground, an overnight soak in warm water will help them germinate.

The northeast office of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) is planning to construct a hoop house on the property in Logandale Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Anyone interested in gardening is encouraged to attend and help because it’s really going to be a free hands-on workshop. Participants will learn all the ins and outs of making their own hoop house based on a proven design from Utah State University (USU).

Denise Stoesser, horticulturist at UNCEs local office, said in addition to helping build the hoop house, participants can learn about crops especially suited for the structure as well planting strategies and schedules.

“We can suggest size variations for those who are considering a hoop house for their own backyard garden,” Stoesser said.

Give the office a call, 702-397-2604, if you’re interested in attending since lunch and refreshments will be provided and they’d like a head count.

November is about the last chance flower gardeners have to put in spring-flowering bulbs such as Dutch iris, bearded iris, amaryllis, daffodil, freesia, montbretia and anemone. Be sure to mulch since, although rare, we do have occasional freezes in Moapa Valley.

Apply fertilizer, 3-1-2 ratio, to overseeded lawns that have been growing for at least two weeks.

Although it may be mild out as you read this, now is a good time to think about protecting cold-sensitive trees or shrubs from freezing winter nights. If a freeze is forecast, all it takes is a sheet or blanket thrown over the plant for the night. Be sure to remove the cover as soon as the temperature goes back up the next day.

Another good protector is frost cloth. It keeps plants about five degrees warmer than the ambient air temperature, while letting in light and air. It can be left on for several days or a few weeks if necessary.

Bare root fruit trees can be planted in November, and if there are any pomegranates left on the trees after the Moapa Valley Art Guild’s Pomegranate Festival, it’s time to get them picked.

Comments and suggestions for the Garden Spot are always welcome. Email ideas or questions to mouse@mvdsl.com.