Before winter came, and it was still autumn, many people were able to eat another batch of autumn vegetables at this time of year.The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
But when should you put your plants in the ground and how long will they take to flower?
I'm sure you're thinking that there are more questions about fall gardening:
Which fall crops do well in the colder months of the year, and how can you incorporate these into your growing habits?
Do you want to plant from seed, or do you want to plant seedlings?
How do you prepare your fall garden to ensure that these plants survive pests and diseases to bring you another harvest?
If you're wondering about any of the above, then wonder no more, because I've got the solution for you. We'll be looking at all that and more.
Timing: How do you know when to plant?
What's your frost date?
They say timing is everything - but when you're thinking about autumn planting, timing really matters. Almost every place has estimated dates for frost's fall, and while they may not be 100% accurate every year, it's enough for you to plan your upcoming garden.
Of course, not all frost dates are created equal. Before you start, you need to research your estimated frost date. Remember, these are estimates, based on previous cool weather patterns, so if you have unusually light frosts outside the normal pattern, you may have to rush out to protect seedlings in the cold. While there are a variety of maps that can provide a good overview, I personally like this frost date calculator because it gives a good estimate of when there will be a cold.
When does your crop mature?
Once you've set a frost date, it's time to look at what you're planting. When are your crops ripe? For example, if your first frost usually comes in late November and your plants take 60 days to mature, then you want to plant in late August or early September.
Count backwards from the estimated frost date and add at least an extra week to account for any variables. This is when the plant should be buried in the ground.
Of course, if you're planting seeds, you need a little extra time. After all, germination is slow - it can take up to two weeks for your fall vegetables to germinate and form a pair of real leaves, and for some, it can take much longer. And most don't like to plant seeds directly in the hot summer.
Add the estimated germination time to your ripening time, plus a week or two in case the frost comes early, and count back from your estimated frost date, that's when you should plant!
What to plant in autumn
So you decide to plant a crop this year, but you may ask what to plant in the fall. Allow me to give you a list of popular vegetables to grow in autumn!
Edible leaf plants: These plants are usually bitter or will flower in late summer. Examples include lettuce, kale, mustard greens, arugula, spinach, beets, or kale. Some varieties are particularly hardy, so you may want to consider varieties that do well in cooler months.
Head vegetables: This is a good time of year to grow vegetables that can have their heads shaved, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, napa cabbage, bok choy, or chicory. Brussels sprouts are also a great choice for a fall garden. In some areas, you will have a good autumn harvest. In other places, these plants can be grown in winter for early winter or even early spring harvest.
Allium: Now is your chance to grow Onions, scallions, leeks, and garlic. You can also plant Onions in areas that are unlikely to freeze or snow because with a good cover, they can continue to grow throughout the winter.
Root vegetables: All types of root vegetables grow well in the fall, including carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, turnips, kale, and rutabagas.
Other vegetables: Peas love the cool weather in fall, so they are perfect for planting in the fall. Some varieties of bush beans also grow extremely well at this time of year, with a late fall harvest just in time for your Thanksgiving dinner. In climates where frost is almost non-existent, you can also secretly grow a frost-tolerant cucumber.
Pests and diseases to watch out for in autumn
Surprisingly, many pests can continue to survive and thrive in the fall. Some of them can easily devour your fall garden plants that were planted next to wandering summer crops before they reached maturity, so be careful!
Cabbage ringworms and cabbage worms are just as likely to occur in the fall as they are in mid-summer to late summer. They have been developing throughout the summer and now is the time for them to prepare for hiding in the colder months.
Autumn armyworms also appear at this time of year, and they can be just as destructive as other caterpillars. You can easily cover your plants with a layer of floating row mulch, which will keep them away. Just be sure to securely secure the sides and ends of the lid so that it doesn't blow away in the autumn wind.
This is the time of year when cyberbugs strike in autumn. These caterpillars form at the tips of branches or on existing plants, weaving webs in which they happily grow their colonies. If you find it, remove any webbed growth from the branches or plants altogether and dispose of it carefully. Don't compost this waste, just throw it out so the bugs don't have a chance to overwinter in your garden. Even before they start using a float cover, they can be repelled.
There are also knife worms in the autumn caterpillar family. These moth caterpillars wrap themselves around the stems of plants, engulfing them and causing the plants to die. You can use floating covers to keep them out, but you can also place toothpicks next to the stems of the seedlings to help keep them away. Placing two or three toothpicks on the stems will prevent any stray animals under your cover from damaging your plants.
Aphids are still a major problem in autumn gardens and can be repelled by spraying dust such as neem oil or diatomaceous earth. However, if there is rain in your area, you may need to be more vigilant when handling them. You can wipe off the excess aphids with a paper towel and dispose of them, then spray the plant with neem oil, but it won't survive a downpour. A lot of water will also knock them off your plants.
From late summer to early fall, yellow jackets become extremely active. However, these insects have unexpected benefits for you at this time of year, as they like to devour a lot of caterpillars, which are the pollinators of your plants. If you don't bother them, they won't bother you, and they will also help protect your plants.
