Summertime may still be with us, but very soon it will be time to prepare to plant the fall vegetable garden. Gardeners can take advantage of cooler temperatures and more plentiful moisture to produce a bountiful supply of many vegetables at this time of year. Fall gardening helps extend our gardening season so harvesting will continue, even after the first frost if some protection is given to some plants. Other plants are not affected by frost, and in fact, they produce their best quality and flavor during the cooler days of autumn.
Now is the time to prepare your garden for fall planting. First, check to see if you have seeds on hand to plant. If not, there is still a little time to check with local nurseries or to order from seed catalogues. Many vegetables are well adapted to planting in late summer for a fall harvest. Use fast-maturing cultivars whenever possible to ensure a harvest before killing frosts occur (which in our area is around the middle of October). An average time for maturity of vegetables mentioned later in this article is six to eight weeks, but it is best to check individual seed packets to determine time to plant before first frost date. A general rule of thumb, though, is to plant seed the first week of August in our area.
Next, you will want to prepare your garden for the fall planting by removing all previous crop residues and any weed growth. Rototill or spade at least 6-8 inches deep and work in a good general fertilizer, such as 12-12-12, applying one to two pounds per 100 square feet of area, being sure to mix the fertilizer thoroughly with the soil.
Now, you are ready to plant. Since the ground may be dry at this time of year, it will be necessary to see that the growing area has been thoroughly watered. Because seedbeds will rapidly dry out forming hard crusts over the planted seeds, try using a light mulch of vermiculite, compost or peat moss over the seed row to help keep the temperature more favorable for germination. Also, plant seeds slightly deeper than in the spring, and if necessary shade the seed rows with boards or weighted down newspapers to hold down temperatures and to retain moisture. Be sure, however, to remove any cover at the first sign of germination.
Do not allow seedlings and transplants to dry out. Apply one inch of water in a single application each week to thoroughly moisten the soil, if there is no rainfall. Young seedlings may require more frequent watering during the first week or two of growth, and young transplants will benefit from light shade for the first few days while their roots are developing.
What are some vegetables suitable for the fall vegetable garden? There are many, but some more common ones are radishes, lettuce, spinach, turnips, beets, carrots, green beans and mustard. Also kohlrabi, radicchio, arugula, garden cress and mesclun are some good, but less known, vegetables that thrive during cooler weather.
If they can be located, plants of broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower can be planted and will produce prolifically because of cooler weather.
For further information on planting the fall vegetable garden, Missouri University
Extension Agriculture Bulletin No. G6201 is an excellent source, giving names of varieties and descriptions of vegetables best suited for planting. This bulletin can be obtained at the Jasper County Extension Office, Carthage.If you have never tried growing a fall vegetable garden, you may be very pleasantly surprised at the results, because the cooler weather and fall rains make for better growing conditions. Getting started involves a little more work, but when you are harvesting the results you will agree it was well worth the effort.