• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Nancy Reading
  • Carla Burke
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • paul wheaton
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • Jay Angler
  • Liv Smith
  • Leigh Tate
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • Timothy Norton
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Maieshe Ljin

Fall Balcony Planting In Austin Texas: Questions

 
Posts: 6
2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I live in Austin and I've got a small space on my balcony for pots where I'd like to plant some dwarf tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs this fall.

But I've got questions. My previous gardening experience was in the northeast, and all in the ground.  I've read that central Texas can do a fall planting. But right now temps are over 100 degrees each day and the sun is merciless. I feel like most young plants would get destroyed in this weather. But if I wait much longer to plant I'll be flirting with a frost killing the tomatoes before they're harvestable. So what should I do?

I plan to plant from seeds. Maybe I could start them out in an almost totally shady spot on the balcony before transplanting them into a sunnier spot.

Any thoughts?

 
gardener
Posts: 2371
Location: Just northwest of Austin, TX
551
2
cat rabbit urban cooking
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
You're on the right track with the shade.  If these are in pots you could also move them inside in the afternoon.   Think of it like starting an early spring garden in a cold climate.  You can also start plants in the Cole family over the next few weeks and harvest all winter. I am trying to generate enough motivation to start this process myself.  If you can get them started, we're going to hold right at the 100 degree line until late September or mid October and then we can expect ideal temp till after the official start of winter.

Just be prepared to cover from Nov on. When a cold front comes through we usually get only a few hours of freezing during the nights but it can be a 50 degree drop from the afternoon temperatures so it hits the plants hard. Our winters are very, very nice.
 
steward
Posts: 16058
Location: USDA Zone 8a
4272
dog hunting food preservation cooking bee greening the desert
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
By having the plants in pots you will be able to bring the plants in when frost is predicted.

Just think tomatoes in December!
 
Jude Thaddean
Posts: 6
2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Will tomato plants sprout in "full shade" where no direct sunlight hits them but there's direct light falling on the balcony a few feet away? Can I assume photons will bounce their way over?

Casie Becker wrote:You're on the right track with the shade.  If these are in pots you could also move them inside in the afternoon.   Think of it like starting an early spring garden in a cold climate.  You can also start plants in the Cole family over the next few weeks and harvest all winter. I am trying to generate enough motivation to start this process myself.  If you can get them started, we're going to hold right at the 100 degree line until late September or mid October and then we can expect ideal temp till after the official start of winter.

Just be prepared to cover from Nov on. When a cold front comes through we usually get only a few hours of freezing during the nights but it can be a 50 degree drop from the afternoon temperatures so it hits the plants hard. Our winters are very, very nice.

 
pollinator
Posts: 561
121
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Jude Thaddean wrote:I live in Austin and I've got a small space on my balcony for pots where I'd like to plant some dwarf tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs this fall.


Any thoughts?



First, welcome to Texas.  Second, we don't really consider Fall to be until December, so expect to plant much later than expected.  Yes, you can get first frost in early Novermber.  However, since you are container planting, you may have to cover your pots with plastic on some nights if the temperature is forecast to drop, but uncover them during the day.  It is often the case we see 32F for a few hour overnight in December and then 75F by noon the next day.  

I personally don't fool with slicer type tomatoes in the fall because they are fussy and I am not a big fan.  I do find that cherry tomatoes do okay.  Remember that tomatoes won't set fruit if over night temps exceed about 85 degrees.  That will be your limiting factor for success.
 
When evil is afoot and you don't have any arms you gotta be hip and do the legwork, but always kick some ... tiny ad:
2024 Permaculture Adventure Bundle
https://permies.com/w/bundle
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic