Fruits/vegetables that grow well in the south

[Greg Kemper]

So seeing that I'm new to this gardening thing, I don't want to waste time and money on fruits and veggies that don't do well in the clay of DFW and the climate of the south. Any advise on what does great here and what not to plant?

[Ty Mellon]

Well, DFW is a little different than Austin in that you get more freezes, ice, etc. It's a little late for "FALL planting", but there are a number of things you can plant if you are expecting the remainder of the year to be mild. Some examples of what we are growing here:

Lettuce,
Broccoli
Radishes
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Red Vine Spinach (not technically a Spinach, but big, yummy, meaty leaves
Chard
Kale
Brussels Sprouts
Zucchini

Those are some examples. Remember, when you are in very cold conditions, to have previously watered as plants that are hydrated well tend to tolerate both hot and cold extremes better than those that do not. It's also a perfect time to plant strawberries too! :)

If your soil has poor drainage because of its clay composition, you may want to try a raised bed garden with organic garden soil, fertilizer and a good starter such as seaweed. Just make sure you have a few weep holes for drainage and you may want to add some gravel and a bit a of sand to your soil mix to promote drainage....

Keep the discussion going and let us know how you do. I might encourage you to add some pix to the site so we cn see your process! Have fun!!

Ty