Cool weather crops can thrive right up to the first frost and beyond, but planning the fall garden is still a summer activity.
Summer is over. Don’t panic, I’m talking about my garden here and, truth be told, there’s still loads of peppers and tomatoes out there. Still, their days are numbered. It’s time to turn our attention to preparing the fall garden.
We tend to think of gardening as a summer pastime, but a fall garden is a thing of beauty. Cabbage, lettuce and kale. Radishes, onions and carrots. Broccoli, cauliflower and peas. All can be grown in your backyard plot and harvested in cool weather. It you like to start from seeds, it’s really time to get hustling. For many fall crops, seeds should be sown about three months before the first frost. For the rest of us, if can be a safer bet to start from young plants purchased at your farmers market or local home improvement store. The planting specifics vary depending on the crop and your hardiness zone, but if you are considering a fall garden this year (and you should), it’s time to make a plan. Here are some crops to consider.
Cabbage, like collards and kale, is a popular choice for fall gardens due in large part to its impressive cold tolerance. Plants should be planted in nutrient-rich soil about 8 weeks before first frost. Water well and expect maturity in 70-80 days.
Collards are a staple of southern dining and are easy to grow at home once summer crops make room in the backyard garden.
Spinach is another leafy fall favorite. Spinach is a hardy crop, can be planted as close as 6 inches apart and matures in as little as 50 days, making it an easy choice when planning the fall garden.
Beets are a colorful choice for the fall garden. Great for pickling or roasting, they are also among the plants most likely to survive an early cold snap. When harvesting, don’t forget the greens are also edible!
Broccoli is tolerant of cold and will actually improve in flavor after a light frost. Plant seedlings 18” apart 9-10 weeks before first frost. Harvest when heads are 6-8 inches across with form, tight florets.
Radishes are very easy growers, cold tolerant and mature in less than 30 days, making it possible to squeeze in several harvests before old man winter shows up. Plants judiciously or you may be eating radishes at every meal.
Peas are an easy cool-weather crop, but take a little longer to mature in the fall than if planted in the early spring. A fence or trellis will help peas thrive and makes harvesting a snap. Plant 10 weeks before first frost and give plenty of attention to help them weather the first few weeks when hot temperatures can cause the young plants to wither.
Fall crops can be grown in raised beds, but a garden plot left vacant by an early summer harvest can be tilled to accept cool-weather plants.
Other great choices for fall harvest include lettuce, onions, carrots and other root vegetables, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. Check with your local Extension program to see what will grow best in your region.
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