Let’s Fall for the Garden again!
Garden Week Seventeen 7/31/2018
Let’s Fall for the Garden again!
Summer harvest has begun! Yum! But does the pleasure have to end with the summer heat? Why no, it does not.
Rather than just tilling in the used beds and leaving them fallow or just letting them run rampant until spring; you can start planting for fall harvest. Because it is really hot, there is no need to start inside; however, this summer heat can be too much for precious germinating starts. Try these tricks to protect your new plants.
• There is no need to rototill, as this may bring weed seeds to the surface; just fork, rake or till and amend soil as usual.
• Plant seeds deeper than you would in the spring.
• Cover seeds with straw or row cover to hold moisture and shade new starts.
• Water seeds, then seedlings daily to avoid heat stress and plant loss.
• For the most tender of plants, start indoors and transplant when the weather is milder. Don’t forget to harden these plants off before sowing into the garden.
Once you get your fall plants growing you will want to protect them from the temperature changes of the fall. Knowing your first frost date will help you to prepare. Here in Zone 5b, our first freeze date ranges from August 1st – 31st. Be prepared to cover plants with protective row covers or PVC Arch. If you use a cold frame, make sure it is good order before the fall freeze comes on.
You still have time to plant: Root veggies like beets, radish, parsnips and carrots; Cabbage, kale, collard greens, broccoli and cauliflower; Lettuce, swiss chard, spinach and endive; Mustard and Asian greens; Cilantro; and Spinach.
If you do not plan to grow more veggies, consider planting a cover crop or cover crop mix to revitalize the nutrients and soil composition for next year. Here are a couple of cover crops to consider.
To help with soil structure by maintaining aeration and adding organic matter, consider using an annual Rye Grass or Winter Rye. These have to be started when temperatures are between 60-75 degrees daytime and soils are still between 50-65 degrees. Planting these too late will inhibit germination and not be beneficial.
Buckwheat, also called a smoother crop, because is germinates and grows quickly, this heat loving plant will add valuable organic matter to your garden and keep weeds at bay while the summer heat persists. Buckwheat will thrive in the cooler days but is not tolerate the freeze. Because the plant grows quickly, and the bees love their flowers, these can be a great benefit to bees during the dearth of summer.
If you haven’t burnt out from the all spring and summer garden work, I wish you luck in growing a fall garden too!
Happy Gardening!
Brad's Atomic Grape: Bundle upon bundle...tomatoes for day!
