It’s that time of year again – fall gardening time! The broiling temperatures of summer have finally surrendered, the rain has shown some promise, and armies of fall vegetables are tempting buyers on the racks of local gardening stores. Who can resist? If you succumb, here are some tips to help your fall garden grow more successfully.
You may be tempted to get out the trowel and start planting; however, be sure to feed your garden soil first to replenish nutrients and beneficial organisms that were depleted in the grueling Houston summer weather. Organic fertilizers are the way to go, as are composts which will be filled with nutrients, and teeming with the living organisms. Look online locally for composted manure, which is often available cheap or even free. Get a little extra for your own compost pile to mix in with your fallen leaves.
Take advantage of plants that are more susceptible to cooler temperatures, but love our mild falls here in southeast Texas such as summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, and quick-producing beans. These plants should be purchased already started and planted quickly. Snap peas make a fun snack and can be seeded now. Choose areas that receive at least six to eight hours of good, direct sunlight. The more the better!
Root crops and greens are a must-have in any fall garden. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kohlrabi can be transplanted now. No good Southern garden would be complete without some mustard, collards, and turnips. Tuck radishes and carrots around your short-rooted greens to get more out of each foot of garden. Hardy kale is not only delicious, but a beautiful decorative plant; plant one or more in your flower garden where summer annuals have passed. And of course, now is the time for the more delicate, salad greens such as rich spinach, and varieties of colorful, leafy lettuces – from simple to frilly. Sneak a patch of variegated lettuces along the edges or your garden, or even in containers for those with less space. These root crops and leafy greens tend to be a little more forgiving of shade.
This is also the time to put in your garlic and onions from transplants as well. Growth over the winter results in larger onions and garlic harvested. Choosing firm, larger cloves will also result in better harvests.
Enjoy your gardening, the cooler weather, and the results from your successful fall garden!
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