Good Veggie and Flower Picks for a Cool Weather Garden

I find the winter garden to be equally as bountiful as the popular summer season—with a lot less weeding. August is the time to plan your cool season garden. Here are a few of my favorites to help you get your garden started:

Cool Vegetables:

Purple Kohlrabi: This translates to  “cabbage turnip” in German. This vegetable has the appearance of what a cool vegetable might look like in a sci-fi film. It is truly a favorite visually, and it has great versatility in the kitchen. The veggie is best harvested when it reaches three to four inches in diameter.

Kale: This season, I am growing a selection of kale. It's rich with nutrients, easy to grow from seed, and eye-catching in the landscape. This season's varieties include Redbor Kale, Red Chidori, Fizz, Italian Lacinato, and Red Winter.

Swiss Chard: Bright Lights is a favorite variety that I grow every year. It is easily grown from seed and comes in a rainbow of colors. It is beautiful in containers as well as the landscape and is fantastic in the kitchen for an easy sauté. Also, Swiss Chard Bright Lights will hold its color while cooked. Great for kids—veggies are not just green!

Cool Flowers:

Stock Giant Imperial (Matthiola incana): This blooms beautiful 24- to 30-inch tall spires of color in the spring. It's perfect for cut floral displays and is very aromatic.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis): This annual grows 12 to 14 inches tall and is easy to grow from seed. Not only does it provide beauty, Calendula has edible petals. The petals can also be dried and used for tea—try using a Lemon Balm and chamomile combination.

English Daisy (Bellis perennis): This little jewel of a perennial grows only 6 inches tall with daisy-like blooms. It is excellent for containers. I enjoy pairing this miniature beauty with alyssum, pansy, and Linaria for a delicate pot of cascading color.