How to Plant a Fall and Winter Vegetable Garden

Turnips, carrots and spinach fall crops grow well in cooler weather.

Midsummer, when your garden is flourishing and you're harvesting vegetables left and right, is the best time to think about a fall garden. Mark your calendar to start seeds now so you'll be ready to set out plants as your summer bounty comes to an end and spots open up in the vegetable garden for new, cool-weather crops. Most gardeners don't grow vegetables in the fall for winter consumption, but it's easy to do. There won't be any seedlings available at the garden center then, though, which is why you have to remember to sow seeds in summer.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• spot for your garden
• fall vegetables

1. Find out the first average killing frost date for your area. Contact your county extension agent or search online for the information. You'll count backwards from this date when deciding which crops to plant. Look for cool weather crops with short growing seasons. The information can be found in seed catalogs and on the back of seed packages. In general, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, radish and root crops grow well in cool weather and are suitable for a fall and winter harvest.

2. Record the best planting dates on your calendar for the vegetables you choose. Potatoes and cabbage take long periods to grow and mature, so start them in mid summer for a fall harvest. Other vegetables such as radishes and lettuce can be planted as late as September.

3. Plant seeds in a prepared garden bed. After the seeds emerge and reach about one-half inch in height, thin them out according to the spacing recommended on the back of the seed packages. If you plan to plant beets and carrots, remember they are root vegetables and the soil must be kept loose around them to allow room to expand and grow, otherwise you'll have only a top with a small bottom. Seeds need lots of moisture until they emerge.

4. To ensure good growth and plenty of vegetables, fertilize every two weeks along the sides of the rows during the growing season. Plants need sufficient water to develop and thrive so water well after planting and fertilizing. Nothing will grow well without moisture.

5. Watch the weather report. If you anticipate a possible frost, cover the plants with a floating row cover. It holds in some heat and gives some wind protection. Although most of the plants mentioned here tolerate cool weather, they will die in a hard freeze.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember not to do any heavy tilling when you are preparing your garden site.

• Don't try to grow warm weather crops in the fall. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and okra won't flourish without the warmth they love.

• Average frost dates are just that -- averages. Add an extra week to the time you anticipate to the first frost to be safe.

References

• MotherEarthNews: Grow Your Best Fall Garden: What, When and How
• Ed Hume Seeds: Fall & Winter Vegetable Planting Guide