Home Grown Notions: Planting A Fall Vegetable Garden 8/12/16

by Beth Cook, Mammoth Cave Transplants
Why plant a Fall Garden? Some people think that fall cole crops taste better than spring crops. Cole crops seem to do best if they're planted in warm weather and mature when the nights are cool and the days are crisp and sunny.

Many of our summer gardens have come and gone or you may still be harvesting some of those fresh goodies. So a Fall garden is a bonus! It gives you more vegetables after your Summer garden is gone. Now is the time to get your fall garden planted.
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Many vegetables prefer and do their best in cooler temperatures and tolerate light frost. Most of these are the same ones you planted in early Spring but played out when hot weather arrived. Cole crop plant like Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussel Sprouts can be transplanted now. Many actually produce better in the fall than Spring. There are also many that can be directly sowed into your garden by seed. These would include:

• Lettuce
• Kale
• Mustard
• Spinach
• Collards
• Swiss Chard
• Radishes
• Turnips
• Beets
• Green Peas
• Kohlrabi

For your Fall garden you may decide to use a new location but, if you decide to use your current garden be sure to remove all of the dead plants that are no longer producing fruit. Most can go into the compost pile but any plant material that had diseases or insect problems should be disposed of to avoid carry over to the next season.

Before you plant anything new, you should do a simple soil test to make sure the pH is at proper level for growing. You can contact the Extension office on getting a sample tested. Hydrated lime will work quickly to correct the pH for fall vegetables.    

​Once you have your fall garden planted, remember to keep your transplants sprayed for insects on a regular basis. Also keep them watered. Late summer and early Fall can tend to be dry. So keep them watered and enjoy your Fall Garden! We offer a variety of Fall Garden vegetables here at Mammoth Cave Transplants! Happy Planting!

~~Lettuce Turnip the Beet and get Gardening~~