GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD IN FALL
Vegetables to Grow in August
Most of us, when we think of vegetable gardening, we think tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and peppers. These are the most popular crops the home gardener grows and they are planted in late spring and grown in the heat of summer. And when the cucumber plant starts to die back and the peppers are falling over and the tomatoes have yellow leaves what do we do? We pull the plants and walk away from the garden and don't think about again until spring the next year. There is a huge opportunity being missed in that scenario. The cold hardy vegetables of spring (which in Southern Ontario is about 2 weeks) can often be better grown in late summer and fall. The space between the plants you currently have in your garden can be interplanted with plant starts in early to mid August for a fall harvest. As the summer crops finish it gives way for the fall crops to grow and flourish. As I start to plant my fall crop I will document it over on FB to hopefully inspire you to grow more food. Below is a list of vegetables you can grow in the late summer and fall to help feed your family.
SWISS CHARD, KALE AND SPINACH
These guys are great sown in August and grown throughout the later part of summer into fall. They may grow a little slower but they are worth the wait. They are cold hardy, in our area they can go until about mid - late October in the garden with no covering. Cover them, and they may die back in the cold of winter but will re-grow in the warm of spring. Last year I planted my kale and left it over the winter and this spring it popped back up and I got several cuts from it before the heat sent it to seed. Both are much sweeter when grown in the hot weather. A great option for salad, smoothies and sautés.
ZUCCHINI AND CUCUMBER (say what?)
Yes, these quick growers can give a second harvest in the fall. Zucchini and cucumbers don't appreciate the ridiculous heat and humidity of the summer. When the temps reach the 30° mark fruit production shuts down and with the high humidity powdery mildew takes over the leaves. They like it warm for sure and the late summer fall is a great time to grow them. For cucumbers think pickling because they grow a little quicker.
BUNCHING ONION
A great option for the late summer/fall garden. Plant starts in mid August and harvest throughout September into October.
PEAS
Think peas are only for the spring? Think again. These guys love to be planted in the warm soil of August and grow into the cool weather of fall. Often you can get a bigger, sweeter and more tender harvest when grown in the fall. Sow peas seeds directly into the soil.
BEANS
Whether it's a bush or pole beans they will grow quick. Like the peas, beans can be planted in the warm summer soil and will grow throughout the cooler weather for a great fall harvest for fresh eating or canning or freezing for the winter.
LETTUCE
Planting lettuce in late August for fresh eating throughout fall is so easy. Lettuce can take temperatures that are quite cool. (I had snow on my lettuce back on Mother's Day weekend and used it until early June). It typically can't take even the warm temps of early August, but late August should be no problem and it will keep going until a hard frost. Want to plant earlier? Try putting it in planters that can be moved into the shade during the hottest part of the day and moved back into the sun later in the day for some sun. Or if you are hard core and plant in the garden, try shade cloth over the lettuce and keeping it well watered.
BEETS
Beets are great for succession planting during late summer into fall. Planting in early August and every 2 weeks is a great way to have a constant supply of fresh beets throughout the fall.
DILL AND CILANTRO
Herbs for fall anyone? Dill and cilantro are great cool weather herbs. Dill typically goes to flower in the heat of summer and if not taken care of those seeds will go everywhere in your garden for years to come. Dill is grown for its leaves not flowers and in summer it goes quickly to flower. Cilantro is another great cool weather herbs for fall.
CABBAGE AND BROCCOLI
Many people are discouraged growing broccoli and cabbage. Wether its small heads, plants going to flower before the head forms or plants being eaten by pests, planting these guys in the spring is difficult. But the fall - perfect! Pest pressure is much lower and though they are started when the weather is warm, as it grows the temperature typically goes down reducing the chance they will go to flower before the heads forms.
I hope this gives you the inspiration to plant some food for your family when many people are walking away from the potential that is fall. Whether you are eating fresh or canning or freezing to eat later, growing it yourself is rewarding and economical. If you have any questions please reach out here and we will do our best to help.
Most of us, when we think of vegetable gardening, we think tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and peppers. These are the most popular crops the home gardener grows and they are planted in late spring and grown in the heat of summer. And when the cucumber plant starts to die back and the peppers are falling over and the tomatoes have yellow leaves what do we do? We pull the plants and walk away from the garden and don't think about again until spring the next year. There is a huge opportunity being missed in that scenario. The cold hardy vegetables of spring (which in Southern Ontario is about 2 weeks) can often be better grown in late summer and fall. The space between the plants you currently have in your garden can be interplanted with plant starts in early to mid August for a fall harvest. As the summer crops finish it gives way for the fall crops to grow and flourish. As I start to plant my fall crop I will document it over on FB to hopefully inspire you to grow more food. Below is a list of vegetables you can grow in the late summer and fall to help feed your family.
SWISS CHARD, KALE AND SPINACH
These guys are great sown in August and grown throughout the later part of summer into fall. They may grow a little slower but they are worth the wait. They are cold hardy, in our area they can go until about mid - late October in the garden with no covering. Cover them, and they may die back in the cold of winter but will re-grow in the warm of spring. Last year I planted my kale and left it over the winter and this spring it popped back up and I got several cuts from it before the heat sent it to seed. Both are much sweeter when grown in the hot weather. A great option for salad, smoothies and sautés.
ZUCCHINI AND CUCUMBER (say what?)
Yes, these quick growers can give a second harvest in the fall. Zucchini and cucumbers don't appreciate the ridiculous heat and humidity of the summer. When the temps reach the 30° mark fruit production shuts down and with the high humidity powdery mildew takes over the leaves. They like it warm for sure and the late summer fall is a great time to grow them. For cucumbers think pickling because they grow a little quicker.
BUNCHING ONION
A great option for the late summer/fall garden. Plant starts in mid August and harvest throughout September into October.
PEAS
Think peas are only for the spring? Think again. These guys love to be planted in the warm soil of August and grow into the cool weather of fall. Often you can get a bigger, sweeter and more tender harvest when grown in the fall. Sow peas seeds directly into the soil.
BEANS
Whether it's a bush or pole beans they will grow quick. Like the peas, beans can be planted in the warm summer soil and will grow throughout the cooler weather for a great fall harvest for fresh eating or canning or freezing for the winter.
LETTUCE
Planting lettuce in late August for fresh eating throughout fall is so easy. Lettuce can take temperatures that are quite cool. (I had snow on my lettuce back on Mother's Day weekend and used it until early June). It typically can't take even the warm temps of early August, but late August should be no problem and it will keep going until a hard frost. Want to plant earlier? Try putting it in planters that can be moved into the shade during the hottest part of the day and moved back into the sun later in the day for some sun. Or if you are hard core and plant in the garden, try shade cloth over the lettuce and keeping it well watered.
BEETS
Beets are great for succession planting during late summer into fall. Planting in early August and every 2 weeks is a great way to have a constant supply of fresh beets throughout the fall.
DILL AND CILANTRO
Herbs for fall anyone? Dill and cilantro are great cool weather herbs. Dill typically goes to flower in the heat of summer and if not taken care of those seeds will go everywhere in your garden for years to come. Dill is grown for its leaves not flowers and in summer it goes quickly to flower. Cilantro is another great cool weather herbs for fall.
CABBAGE AND BROCCOLI
Many people are discouraged growing broccoli and cabbage. Wether its small heads, plants going to flower before the head forms or plants being eaten by pests, planting these guys in the spring is difficult. But the fall - perfect! Pest pressure is much lower and though they are started when the weather is warm, as it grows the temperature typically goes down reducing the chance they will go to flower before the heads forms.
I hope this gives you the inspiration to plant some food for your family when many people are walking away from the potential that is fall. Whether you are eating fresh or canning or freezing to eat later, growing it yourself is rewarding and economical. If you have any questions please reach out here and we will do our best to help.