Monthly Archives: November 2022

Broccoli Romanesco

Posted on November 20, 2022 by Dallas Garden Buzz

November 21, 2022

Grow your own garden art! Romanesco is a cole crop with characteristics of broccoli and cauliflower. It is widely grown in Italy and gaining popularity in Texas. Thanks to Romanesco, vegetable gardening is not just rewarding and nutritious it is also beautiful.

Romanesco produces thick stalks and wide, rough leaves. Leave a large space to grow this vegetable. The central head grows very large and eventually the plant can span 2 feet in diameter.

Me-Ann Lamb holding a Brocolli Romanesco from my garden in 2016

Sow seeds in a fertile location from February 1 to March 5 for a spring crop or August 20 to September 20 for a fall crop. Fall crops are ofter more sucessful as this plant thrives in cool weather. Sow seeds tinly and cover with 1/2 inch of fine soil. Keep evenly moist. Seedlings will emerge in 10-21 days. Thin to about 16 inches apart when seedlings are 1-2 inches high. Transplants are also available and much easier to grow. These plants will reach maturity in 75-100 days. To harvest, pick the enitre head before it begins to seperate.

Romanesco is a true photo opportunity. Take a close-up shot and it looks like and apple-green mountain range. The scientific name for this unusual ordering of rows is a “fractal.” Fractals can be thought of as never-ending patterns-nothing wrong with bringing math into the kitchen.

Susan Thornbury, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

Photo by Starla Willis, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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The Raincatcher’s Garden Fall 2022

Posted on November 16, 2022 by Dallas Garden Buzz

November 18, 2022

A note from Jackie:

I thought I would follow up the beautiful fall photos Starla submitted to the blog with these photos of our garden that I recently received from our friend, Diane Washam.

Check out this bee visiting our Mexican Honeysuckle Plant. This plant blooms from late spring to fall.
I have never seen garlic chive seeds look so beautiful!
This lizard looks quite comfortable on the spotted manfreda plant.
Mexican Mint Marigold looking pretty after the rain.
Lambs Quarter is in the same plant family as spinach, chard and beets.
This is the Fidalgo Roxa pepper. We planted it on the courtyard as an ornamental plant. The beautiful, colorful peppers look like candy! However, don’t let the candy like appearance fool you as this pepper is extremely hot.
It was a good year for peppers! This is one of the many pepper plants that we planted in the edible garden, the donation garden and the courtyard garden. Many of these wonderful peppers were donated to the food bank, many of them were used to make our jalapeno jellies and a few were just there as ornamental plants to add interest to our gardens.

Jackie James, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 1993

Photos by Diane Washam

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Before the First Frost

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Dallas Garden Buzz

This is look at The Raincathcher’s Garden before the first frost. Temperatures may drop this weekend and then around mid to late November you can expect our first frost. Take a good look now through these pictures from Starla. She snapped many pictures and kept saying “the garden looks amazing.” Starla saw butterflies, a Texas spiny lizard and laybugs enjoying our fall garden.

Gorgeous walkways brimming with color

Lots of pollinators like this Orange Sulphur on Mexican Mint Marigold

A Gulf Fritillary on Red Salvia
A Queen poised for her next flight
And a Morning glory blossom hosting a honey bee

Ann Lamb, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2005

All photos by Starla Willis, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

Today is the pick-up day for The Raincatcher’s Pansy and Plant Sale 2022. Thank you all for your orders! We’ve had a very successful sale and can’t wait to see you today for pickup.

If you haven’t already made arrangements for delivery (larger orders only) or late pickup, please plan to come by the garden on Wednesday afternoon between 1pm and 4pm to pick up your order. There will be volunteers on hand to help you load them from the north parking lot at the shade pavilion.

Raincatcher’s is located on the campus of Midway Hills Christian Church at 11001 Midway Road, Dallas, TX.

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