July is Time to Plant Cole Crops for Fall Harvest

Date:  July 10, 1997
Editor: D'Lyn Ford  (505) 646-6528, dlford@nmsu.edu

LAS CRUCES -- July is a great time for gardeners to replace old pea vines and leftover radishes with cole crops for a fall harvest.

"Cole crops include plants like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kohlrabi," said George Dickerson, horticulture specialist with New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service.

Cole crops planted in July will mature in the fall when it's cool. "Cool weather slows the plants' respiration and causes sugars to accumulate," Dickerson said. "This improves the quality and taste of these crops."

Before planting, he suggests incorporating about 2 inches of garden compost to replenish nutrients and soften the soil. Then rake the bed smooth. Most cole crops should be planted about 1/2 inch deep in rows 36 inches apart.

" I like to plant 2 to 3 seeds together and cover the seeds with vermiculite, which keeps seed cooler in the summer and prevents soil from crusting," Dickerson said.

Keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge. Thin plants when seedlings have a few leaves.

"Cole crops require a lot of nitrogen, so they should be given a little nitrogen fertilizer every time you hoe," Dickerson said. Scatter the fertilizer lightly around the plants and carefully hoe it into the soil. Water immediately after each fertilizer treatment to move the nitrogen down to the roots. Be careful not to burn the plants by over-fertilizing, Dickerson cautioned.

Cabbage loopers or inch worms can be a major problem on cole crops, he said. "I prefer to treat plants with a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis, usually referred to as 'Bt,' that is available at most nurseries. It is a great biological way to kill loopers but won't harm humans, pets, birds or other beneficial insects."