Is it too late

[HuntHard]

Is it too late to plant a couple plots for this winter if not what is the cut off date? What is the best to plant I was thinking winter rye and turnup? The plots are small and get sun all day. Any help whould be nice

Thanks

[Graybeard]

Without knowing where you are located it's impossible to answer. If you are way up in Canada or close to there then yeah it's probably a bit late. If you are in the lower half of any southern state definitely not. Rye works well as a winter crop so shouldn't be too late anywhere much but definitely not in the south. Turnips also do well in winter in the south so again likely not too late depending on where you are but the longer you wait the less likely it's gonna work for you.

[HuntHard]

I live in augusta county, Virginia. My plots are in highland county Virginia  and Bath County. getting close to West Virginia.

[Land_Owner]

Keeping a weathered eye on the coming of frost, you should first consult the "general" weather consensus in your community.  If it is going to be real cold real soon, then very few newly germinating plants are going to survive and your time, money and effort may be for nothing. 

As GB said rye is a pretty good choice but be careful in which "rye" you buy because they are not all alike. See the following thread for significantly more on "rye":

http://forums.qdma.com/showthread.php?t=18649

[gdolby]

Good day to all,wheat is still an option for at least another month
good luck

[K.K]

I threw down 55 lbs of winter rye a week ago up here in Northern NY, and it is germinating. The days are warm, but frost is imminent, so we will see what the long term holds. Looks pretty good right now.

K.K

[Land_Owner]

Being from the South I can only speculate K.K.  The growing season here is year round, except for maybe three months in the summer when nothing but the hardiest of thorny sticking weeds (sand spur, cactus, blackberry) will grow in the Temperate heat.  I would be interested in your winter rye and its hardiness after the first frost. 

They say a Florida Native will freeze to death if the temperature drops below 72 degrees F.  I know first hand.  I've done it several times.

[Graybeard]

You can't actually freeze to death below 72 it only seems like it. 

I lived in FL back in '58 for most of the year can't say as I recall ever needing a jacket and am not sure I even used a long sleeve shirt. But either the year before or after can't remember rat now they had a freeze and losts almost the entire citrus crop to it.