When you think of when you should plant your garden, most of us think of planting in the spring and harvesting in the fall. For most of the crops we plant this is right. But there are things to be taken into consideration such as plant species and climates variations.
In some cases, it’s actually very helpful for next year’s crop to plant in the Fall. Many of these are designed to be plowed under rather than harvested, in order to enrich the soil for next Spring. In other cases, like certain lettuce varieties, you can plant late in the Summer and still harvest before the frost.
When you should plant certain vegetables depends on the species and your climate zone. Get the best estimate possible on when to expect the first frost. Some good sources to find out information on possible frost are the 30-day weather forecasts and the Farmer’s Almanac.
Be sure to clear your area of any spring or summer crops before planting new seed or transplanting new vegetables. Leftovers decay, encouraging bacteria. Spread a couple of inches of new compost or mulch over the area. Turn the top layer of soil up and water well, then let it rest for a day. Since in most areas, you’ll receive more rain (and sometimes snow) in the Fall, be sure you have well draining soil.
Many varieties of vegetables will thrive if you take these preliminary steps.
Beets do well if planted before the beginning of August. If you intend just to harvest the tops, the date can be extended to the beginning of September. Try some Winterkeeper.
Broccoli can be transplanted until about mid-August. It will continue to thrive in most climates until Thanksgiving, when it can be harvested for a great addition to the holiday meal. In some warmer zones it may even last as late as Christmas. In fact, Italian broccoli can be planted during the winter in areas with no snow and will produce shoots until spring.
Fall cabbage planting is common in various climate zones. Jersey Wakefield cabbage is often seeded in the first couple of weeks of September and survives throughout the winter to be harvested in late spring.
Carrots, since as a root vegetable the food actually grows under the ground, will last through just about anything. If you plant by mid-July or even in the Fall, you can harvest in Winter, provided there’s little snow on the surface. Very cold temperatures will freeze the ground, making digging almost impossible.
Endive does well if planted by mid-July. A light mulch will keep it protected from frost and it can be harvested in Winter (again, assuming at most only light snows). Make sure it doesn’t get drenched. Drainage in the Fall and Winter months is much slower than in Summer.
Romaine can be sown in July, and then harvested in the fall. Since it’s low to the ground and very leafy, it’s important to keep it from being excessively wet. Fungal growth is still possible in fall, even though temperatures are cooler at night.
Plant some peas in early November, then harvest them the following June. That way you get vegetables to eat while you are still planting your other species.
Happy Gardening!
