Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Wayne" <wa2yne@gmail.com>]

According to the USDA hardiness zone map, I seem to be barely in zone 7b, 
just near 8a.
I consider here to be in the Pecos River valley, only about 3 miles south 
of the river.
I wonder if I can try spinach here, would love fresh for salads.
Last time I tried Spinach was near Modesto, maybe planted it too late in 
the spring, as it didn't do well.
I plan on growing what I can, will have to irrigate most of the time, as 
it's been mostly dry here (no noticeable rain since Sept.), and even the 
Bermuda grass is browning (I don't water the grass to speak of).
I do want nice fresh stuff...
I may have some very early tomatos next year. I used some soil from some 
starter, that croaked back in August, to try and get a Hackberry seed to 
sprout. Instead I've had several tomato seeds sprout, two seem viable.
Plan to transplant to a couple of pots, maybe put on front porch on nice 
days, and put in ground or a bigger planter when all danger of frost is 
over. I had a seedling winter over back in Modesto that did produce a few 
tomatos when I finally put it in the ground. I also plan to make what had 
been an added room into a greenhouse of sorts, can use plastic sheeting to 
enclose it temporarily, once I get all the old carpeting out of there, and 
replace the 2x4 around the bottom with pressure treated lumber.
I'd like suggestions from anyone in west Texas as to what might grow for me 
here.
Soil seems to be alkaline, fizzes like crazy when I pour vinegar on it (did 
that where a cat pottied to discourage it from doing more). I should look 
for one of those PH testers like is used for aquariums and determine what 
the PH really is here. Can always add something (besides the compost and 
manure) to bring it where it's more suitable...
YMMV

Wayne WA2YNE
www.desert-rat.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Laura McKenzie" <laurabrownmckenzie@worldnet.att.net>
To: "Healthy soil and sustainable growing" 
<livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 5:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] winter and spring vegetables?


>  Back when OG was good, I remember reading about planting spinach in the
> fall and letting it overwinter.  The article said spinach won't grow much 
> in
> the winter but has a head start in the spring.  In our zone 7b area (I
> really think I have a microclimate nearer to zone 8) I can plant spinach 
> in
> October and have it start up quickly in the spring. Its a very successful
> practice.
>
>
> Laura