As the weather is cooling down, so too are our summer vegetable gardens. What most people don't know is that a fall garden can be just as bountiful as the summer, but with less hassle. From less bugs to less weeds, the cooler weather brings a new gardening experience. Of course you need to adjust the type of vegetables you grow, but with a little know-how you can grow your own, nutritious vegetables well into the autumn. Here are some basics to get you started:
- Select varieties that thrive in cool weather. The group of veggies known as 'greens' do especially well as the temperatures dip down. This includes kale, spinach, mustard greens, turnips, lettuce, tatsoi, swiss chard, collards, arugula, and many more. Here in Virginia, a local seed supplier, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, offers a winter garden mix with a variety of greens. Veggies like cabbage, carrots, and broccoli also grown well.
- Prepare your beds. When choosing which planting bed to use, pick one that is easy to access, clear it of all previous garden debris, and work in a thin layer of compost into the soil. Mixing in some chopped up leaves or dried grass clippings is also a good way to work in more organic matter. Rake the bed over so it is smooth and ready to plant.
- Plant your vegetables. Follow the spacing directions on the seed packets or use transplants. Local nurseries like Southern States offer a variety of cool weather plants. Once planted make sure to thoroughly soak the bed and water daily. You want to make sure the top layer does not dry out or else your seeds won't germinate, and your plants won't thrive. It is essential to give your fall veggies a great start so they can start producing and continue to grow into the late fall.
- Use a crop cover to extend your crop. By using a garden quilt, you can extend your crop even longer. These garden quilts provide frost and cold protection down to 24 degrees F. They are ideal for season extending into the early spring and late fall, or for overwintering salad greens. You can either lay the fabric over hoops, or simply lay them on top of the vegetables (doesn't protect as well as with hoops, but still works). Light and water can still come in, but it protects against extreme cold temperatures.
So give it a try! You really have nothing to lose and lots to gain in the form of fresh vegetables throughout the cold season. For more information, check out the Gardener's Supply company for useful tips on growing vegetables in the fall. Happy Gardening!
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