As I was potting up tomatoes this morning for sale at the Farmers' Markets in the upcoming weeks, I realized that in much of the United States, gardeners are getting ready to harvest the vegetables they've watched grow all summer... or are already in the midst of the harvest. You might be elbow deep in green beans, have tomatoes waiting for the sauce pot on every surface of your kitchen, or be bringing summer squash to your neighbors on midnight visits... so they don't catch you off loading your bounty on them.

More and more I talk to people at the Farmers' Markets who are transplants here in Texas and, understandably, they are at a loss as to our seasons in regard to vegetable gardening, herb gardening and even when to plant certain favorite flowers. Many herbs as well as vegetables and flowers that can grow happily all summer in the mid-west, New England and northern states during the summer are transitional season varieties here in Texas, especially in the southern part of the state.

So, while those of you in the colder parts of the country are harvesting and preserving vegetables and herbs, we, in the south, are looking at giving our gardens another dose of compost to rev up the soil, and are planting warm season crops such as cucumbers, green beans, summer and winter squash varieties, new tomato plants to replace the ones that are so tired and burned up from the summer, new peppers and even eggplant.

It won't be long until we southerners can plant cool season crops like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and even lettuce, kale and other succulent greens that grow all winter here and keep us in such healthy salads, stir-fry dishes and steamed vegetables.

IN THE HERB GARDEN, our northern and cold climate gardening pals are harvesting herbs by the armful to either dry, freeze or otherwise preserve for winter culinary delights. Who doesn't like a pesto dish in the middle of winter to bring the aroma and flavor of summer basil to the table. Even where I live, basil doesn't survive winter, and I always put lots in the freezer for a quick meal.

Thyme, oregano, savory, rosemary, and, of course, lavender dry beautifully for winter use. Parsley can be chopped and frozen in ice cube trays for winter, and keeps its fresh flavor that way. Like fresh, add it at the end of the cooking time so it maintains its savory flavor.

Herb butters and vinegars are a great way to preserve the flavor of your herbs, and make popular gifts for the Holidays, a new neighbor or to donate to a sale at your church or favorite charity fundraiser.

Here in the warmer climates, we'll be planting cilantro, dill, chervil, calendula and nasturtiums for our winter herb gardens. These annuals generally do so well in the winter. Just make sure the soil in the herb bed is well draining, in case our drought breaks and we get those cold winter rains. We don't want the roots of the herb plants standing in cold, wet soil too long. They'll rot for certain. Parsley is another candidate for the winter herb garden. The dark green leaves are so succulent and tasty when grown in the cool winter air. Don't forget how ornamental curly parsley is and feel free to use it with winter flowers or to fill in empty spaces in the garden. It, too, thrives in our cool winter temperatures.

Wherever you live, if you've had potted plants outdoors that you want to bring in for the winter, it's best to acclimatize them little by little to life indoors. Move them to a shady area for a few days before bringing them indoors. And, be sure to check for hitchhikers on those plants. A spray of insecticidal soap will discourage insects from staying on the plants you want to bring indoors. You may have to cut back some plants that have gotten too big. That's OK. Just prune judiciously and your plant will be just fine.

If the plants have gotten root bound, and you already have it in a big enough pot, carefully unpot the plant and prune the root ball. You can safely prune a big root ball to about two-thirds its former size successfully. Then, adding some new potting mix, repot the plant in its old pot. You can take this opportunity to wash the old pot, to brighten it up before repotting.

Indoor herb gardens can be successful if the plants are given enough light, and not kept too moist. I find most people keep their indoor herbs too wet, thus they fail to thrive. So, if you're growing herbs indoors, use a good potting mix that drains well, and dump any residual water that may sit in the dish under the pot, after the pot has drained. Whether you use individual pots or a larger container with several herbs in it is up to you. Just make sure you fertilize lightly every 2 weeks or so with a good organic fertilizer. I really discourage use of the "blue water" fertilizers. Herbs seem to thrive better with an organic program.

Whether your at the end of your main gardening season or the beginning of your next gardening cycle, there's lots to do in the garden and kitchen and greenhouse. The main thing, of course, is to enjoy your endeavors.