Temperatures will soon start to cool down and as the growing season slowly makes way to the cooler months, it is time to start planning for a fall vegetable garden.
There are veggies that grow well in the fall and some even continue to grow even after the first frost. The following is a list of vegetables that you can grow in the fall and extend your growing season…
Planting Kale in Fall
This cold-weather-loving leafy vegetable bloom well with a light frost and even tastes best when kept frozen after picking.
Planting Broccoli in Fall
This vegetable is among the least susceptible plants to pests. It grows equally well in the spring and in the fall. You can start broccoli indoors or outside now and ensure a harvest of vitamins and mineral rich veggie later.
Planting Cabbage in Fall
This vegetable thrives in cooler regions and it can grow to maturity in late fall or early spring. It should planted in moist soil and watered regularly but be careful not to allow the soil to get too saturated. After harvesting (in 2-3 months) it can be stored for a few months at a time.
Planting Collards in Fall
This vegetable will actually taste better after it has gone through a bit of frost. Collards are both cold-tolerant and heat-tolerant and they are very easy to grow. These veggies can grow in slightly alkaline soil and can survive drought though the quality of leaves could suffer under such conditions.
Planting Kohlrabi in Fall
Among the members of the cabbage family, the kohlrabi is the easiest to plant and harvest. It has a 6-week development period and can be picked by the leaf so it is served fresher and harvested more continuously than other cabbage.
Planting Lettuce in Fall
This delicious salad base is very easy to grow and should be included in your fall garden to-grow-list. It requires little room to grow, has a shallow root system and can bloom a few weeks into the frost season. Recommended fall varieties are Canary Tongue or looseleaf, Four Seasons or butterhead and Romance/Romaine (the yardener.com).
Planting Mustard greens in Fall
Mustard greens are also excellent vegetables to grow in your fall garden.
Planting Chard in Fall
Chard is also frost tolerant so it can be grown during the colder fall season. The seed capsules of this vegetable often have two seeds in them. If both seeds bloom, just cut off one so that the other can reach maturity.
Planting Beets in Fall
Beets make a wonderful fall crop. When planting, dig deep so that the crop stays cool. Be careful not to allow the roots to grow longer than 3 inches or else the beets will become woody and tough.
Planting Carrots in Fall
Carrots are a favorite fall crop. If you live in a state with warm (read hot) summer climate, you can start carrots in September or October for a harvest in late winter. Carrots can be harvested and enjoyed while still young (especially when you need to thin the crop as they grow). They can also be stored for up to 9 months so they are enjoyed all year round.
Planting Leeks in Fall
Leeks belong in the onion family but they are harvested mainly for their stems. This makes harvesting leeks in the autumn a more delicate process. When growing leeks in the fall, make sure you help the stems grow upright by packing soil around the base. They also need plenty of water and as much sunlight as they can get.
Planting Onions in Fall
Onions are indeed easy to grow and they also make a very good addition to your fall garden. When planting them for fall, make sure they are near other veggies like peas and turnips. The website oniongardening.com offers a lot of helpful onion-growing tips.
Planting Peas in Fall
Peas thrive especially in early fall and aside from producing really delicious peas for your split pea soup and other delicacy, this plant also adds beauty to your garden as they are simply a pretty sight when peas are hanging on the stalk. Sugar snaps and snow peas are known to thrive in cooler temperature. Raw peas are one of the best treats you can eat from your garden.
Planting Radishes in Fall
This crop is easy to grow and takes up little space for growth. They can be grown both in the spring and fall but planting should be suspended in the summer. They reach maturity very fast and can produce a bounty.
Planting Turnips in Fall
The tasty bulbs produced by the rapid-maturing turnips are among the reasons you should include this easy-to-grow crop in your fall garden. Turnips are inexpensive, delicious and beautiful fall crops.
Reference Mother Nature Network (mnn.com)