By Joan Casanova
The growing season isn’t over with the arrival of cool weather. Until the first hard frost hits, you have plenty of time to plant, pick and plate cool-weather crops. In fact, many cool-season crops hit their heyday as autumn temperatures drop, and some even taste better when nipped by a light frost.
As long as their basic growing conditions are met, vegetable plants don’t care what season it is. If you live in a warmer climate, you may be able to grow your fall garden all winter long. If, however, you live in a colder area, your growing season will be shorter. (However, growing fall crops in raised beds can help protect plants from frost damage.)
In most regions of the country, gardeners plant fall vegetables in August or September for harvest in October and November. You’ll need to carefully calculate your growing season so you can ensure plants have time to produce before freezing weather arrives.
Generally, you should plant fall vegetables when daytime temperatures range between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (the cooler the better), night temperatures should be above 40 degrees, and you’ll need enough sunshine to ensure plants will get at least six hours of sun per day. You’ll also need to give plants at least an inch of water per week.
Find out your local frost and freeze dates. For most areas, frost doesn’t have to end the fall growing season. Monitor your local weather forecast during late September and early October so you know when frost is coming. (To determine the first freeze dates for your area, go to http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov)
Once you know your local frost and freeze dates, you can begin planning – and planting– your fall garden. Remember, when growing vegetables in the fall, plants need to be in the ground in time to mature before the first frost, and to yield most of their harvest before the first heavy freeze. Some cool-season crops mature in as little as 30 to 40 days, while others may take several months to produce.
If you’ve been diligent in your garden all summer, you won’t have much work to do preparing it for cool crops. If your garden got a little ahead of your efforts, don’t worry. It won’t take long to get it into tip-top shape for a second season of planting. Just follow these simple steps:
Tidy up: Remove spent plants, like early planted beans, cucumbers or lettuce, since they’re pretty much done for the season and can harbor pests. Clear away holes left from pulling plants, and get rid of weeds before they go to seed. Throw away anything distressed and compost the rest. Discard any fallen fruits, rotting produce can attract pests. Take note of where everything was planted so you can be sure to rotate crops.
Set up the soil: Freshen garden soil by removing the existing layer of mulch and replace it. Straw makes an excellent cover because it’s easily scattered, it’s also a favorite home for spiders that will help control insect pests in your garden. You can also use a layer of shredded leaves for mulch.
Loosen compacted soil and fluff it up with a garden fork. Major tilling isn’t necessary; just move soil enough to allow new plant roots to settle in and let water get through. Test soil (you can buy a testing kit at most garden retailers) to see if it needs help. Add amendments, if needed. At the very least, work some compost in where your plants will be growing.
If you’ll be using a cold frame or hoop, set it up early so that it’ll be ready to go when you need it and you won’t risk damaging plants and roots once they begin to grow.
Pick your plants: Starting with transplants will buy you lots of time. Since plants are six weeks or older when you put them in the ground, you’ll harvest sooner than if you start from seed.
Here are some top crops for fall planting:
• Winterbor kale – This vigorous producer weathers winter easily, even in very cold climates. Cut outer leaves so that center can continue growing. Space transplants about 12 inches apart.
• Georgia collards – Another leafy green similar to kale, Georgia collards are prized for their sweet, cabbage-like flavor. Space transplants 36 inches apart.
• Romaine lettuce – Romaine packs more vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients than other popular types of lettuce. Space transplants 18 inches apart.
• Early dividend broccoli – Popular, productive and easy to grow, this broccoli is high in fiber and calcium. Set transplants 18 inches apart.
• Mustard greens – Offering spicy hot leaves; this is a very fast-growing, nutritious vegetable. Mustard greens always taste sweeter when nipped by frost. Space plants 12 inches apart.
• Bonnie hybrid cabbage – Bonnie’s best cabbage (www.bonnieplants.com) is high in beta-carotene, fiber, and vitamins C and K. Space transplants 24 inches apart.
• Arugula – These fast-growing leafy greens are super-food for your bones. The leaves are “nutrient dense” and low in calories. Leaves grow best in cool weather.
As winter grows closer, you can extend your garden harvest by using floating row covers on frosty nights, or by planting in containers that can be brought indoors overnight. Be ready with some kind of protection to cover your plants. You can opt for something commercially manufactured, such as, cloches, polyethylene blankets and corrugated fiberglass covers. Or, try simple household items like old towels, bed sheets—or even used plastic milk jugs with the bottoms removed.
You can continue to enjoy fresh, homegrown vegetables through fall and even into winter when you start with some expert knowledge and the right plants.
Joan Casanova is the founder of Green Earth Media Group in Avondale, PA.
To learn more about growing a fall garden visit www.bonnieplants.com. The company sells an all-natural fertilizer made from Soybean oilseed extract that includes vitamins, minerals, amino acids and proteins, enzymes, plant hormones, and carbohydrates.
Environmental News from Living Green Magazine – Where Green Is Read
Category: Featured Articles, Home Garden
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