The summer season is slowly coming to an end. Avid gardeners are going to be in a rush to tend to and preserve their flowers, vegetables, and other plants. While many plants are now going out of season, its time to look at what other gardening possibilities you can do for the rest of the growing season before cold, ice, and snow make their way into our everyday lives.
So for those of you who think that you are out of time to start or continue growing in your gardens, here are a few last minute crops that you can grow this August into the next few Fall months. Of course, you should be leery of where you live and when the first frost can be expected to hit your area. If you are unsure,The Farmer's Almanac is a great source that can be utilized to see when the first frost might happen in your area. Of course, you can always look at the back of any seed packets to see when it is the best time to plant and harvest them.
So here are some different plants you can start planting now and harvest later in the fall:
1. Carrots
Carrots are an excellent fall crop to harvest. Some gardeners say that they sweeten after a few frosts. If you live in an area that does not get extreme winters, you can even keep them stored under a thick later of mulch to prevent the ground from freezing. Make sure to keep them to keep the soil moist until they germinate.
2. Beets
Like Carrots, Beets are a hardy vegetable that can withstand frosts and cooler temperatures. They can be kept in the ground and covered by a layer of mulch or compost in order to keep them from freezing. Beets can take at least two months to harvest and can withstand temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
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3. Cabbage
Like beets, cabbage can take up to two months to harvest and can withstand temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It is best to plant this using seedlings.
4. Greens (Kale, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Spinach, and Collard Greens)
Greens are hardy plants that can easily withstand the cooler temperatures brought by fall and early winter. They are also fast growing so you should be able yield a significant amount of these plants before winter. Most of these plants having a growing time of about 40 days.
Lettuce: Depending on the variety of lettuce you pick to grow, lettuce can have a growing period as short as 3 weeks.
Kale: It is a super easy plant to grow and harvest. You sow it by seed on the top of the soil either in rows or by scattering it for a cover crop. Along with Collard Greens, Kale will continue to grow even after the colder weather settles in.
Swiss Chard: It is a very hardy plant that can withstand frost and cooler temperatures. Most types of this plant can be harvested within 25 days for baby leaves and 50 days for full size plants. Make sure to shear it, leaving at least 2 inches to regrow, after harvest.
Spinach: It can take as little as one month to mature once planted. It can also survive a light frost as well. Some varieties can even survive into the winter. Make sure to not plant this when you still have warmer weather because hot days can cause the plant to flower instead. Baby Spinach can be harvested in as little as 4 weeks and larger leaves within 6 weeks. Make sure to keep the soil well watered through the end of the summer to improve germination in warmer weather.
5. Turnips
This plant is perfect for planting in the fall. It has fewer pests and grow much sweeter in the fall. They can tolerate a light frost.
6. Broccoli
It takes about 2 months to mature but it is able to survive light frosts. It is best to grow this plant in warmer areas.
7. Brussel Sprouts
It can take about 3 months until it can be harvested but it is a hardy plant that can withstand temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Cauliflower
It usually takes about 40 to 60 days to grow and be harvested, It is able to survive light frosts as well.
9. Green Onions
They take about 60 to 70 days to grow and become able to harvest. But they are able to survive into temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
10. Peas
They usually take about 70 to 80 days to fully mature and are able to survive into temperatures as low as the high 20's.
So let us know if you have any other fall crops that you like to plant!