In just a few weeks, summer will be winding down, but it doesn’t mean gardening season has to. Fall is the perfect time to plant cooler weather crops again before winter sets in, or to over-winter certain crops for an early spring harvest.
I always plan on 3 full gardening phases. Early spring, summer and fall. It allows me to get the most out of my space. Maybe you missed the spring/summer garden, but really want to jump in before next year? No matter what your situation, now is the time to start preparing for a fall garden.
Here’s a couple of tips to get you started:
- Start lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi and cauliflower indoors now. It’s still too hot to get the seeds to germinate {or the plants to thrive for that matter}, so start them indoors in a climate controlled environment. I use my grow lights, but this time of year, you’ll probably have some luck with a bright window too {so long as they seedlings don’t get too hot.} Once they are established, you can plant them outdoors, just make sure to water them a little more religiously and plant them a little deeper than you would in the spring to keep their roots from getting too hot.
- If you have the space, there is still time to plant cucumbers, summer squash, snap beans, etc. for a late fall harvest. You can directly sow these ones, as they will germinate even in higher temperatures.
- As the weather starts to cool down–say September-ish or 10-12 weeks before your average 1st frost, you can direct sow Arugula, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, turnips, spinach, parsnips, mustard, Asian greens and radishes. The turnips and parsnips may end up having to over-winter, but if you mulch them well with a thick top layer of straw, you should be able to dig them up as soon as the soil is workable in the late winter/early spring.
- I plant spinach successively until the weather all but stops its growth. Around these parts, that means spinach clear through November.
- In late summer/early fall, plant another round of carrots. You can mulch them well and over-winter them for an early March harvest.
- As you harvest or remove spring/summer plants, keep crop rotation principles in mind for planting your fall garden. For example, fall beans and peas would go nicely in a place might need a little nitrogen boost in the soil–as they both fix nitrogen to the soil.
- Consider starting a counter-top herb garden indoors right now. You’ll likely have good light with the long daylight hours and the seedlings will be thriving by the time the days shorten.
- Lots of veggies get better after the first frost: carrots, spinach, kale, leeks, etc. can survive several frosts before they will peter out–if they ever do.
- Extend the length of your fall gardening season by building a hoop house or covering your plants to protect them from any early frosts.
- Look for seeds that yield quick to mature plants. Packets that say 30-60 days are ideal for a fall garden.
Will YOU be planting a fall garden? What will you plant?
~Mavis
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