Summer months are slipping by, and fall is right around the corner with its shorter days and cooler nights. Many think that the end of summer heralds the end of our planting and garden season. That is not necessarily the case. The cooler temps mean reduced water needs, which reduces the stress on plants (and the people digging and weeding them).
When shrubs, trees and late summer vegetables are planted in the fall, the plant’s energy is sent to the roots, which will continue to grow until a hard freeze. You are giving the new plant, tree or perennial a head start for the next year.
Fall also means fewer pests munching on our plants and fewer opportunities for disease. Insects turn their focus from feeding on plants to searching for a place of winter dormancy. Fungi and bacteria thrive on heat and moisture. With the temperatures tending to be lower and fewer leaves to infect, the spread of disease lessens.
I put together a list and time frame for some of the vegetables and flowers that are good for fall planting.
Early October
Spring bulbs (tulip, trout lily, daffodil, snowdrop, starflower), trees and shrubs, perennials, (peonies, daisies, sedum, etc.), accent plants (mums and asters), lettuce and spinach, kale, leafy greens such as collard greens and kohlrabi, cabbage and Swiss chard, bok choy and mustard greens, radish, herbs.
October
Spring bulbs (iris, tulip, daffodil, hyacinth bulbs and crocus corms), sedum, hardy mums, asters, and fall pansies, garlic, shallots, peas, arugula.
November
Spring bulbs, trees and shrubs
Clean up the garden beds from dying summer crops and add compost and kelp to feed the soil before planting the next crop this fall.
Watering is probably the most important task for a fall garden. The air and ground temperatures are already warm (unlike at spring plantings).
Keep on gardening and enjoying all your delicious and healthy bounty. You will be pleasantly surprised at how easy fall gardening can be.
Next month, we’ll talk about our gourd and pumpkin harvest.