I recently received a comment from One Hundred Dollar a Month reader, Rebekah, asking about fall gardening.
She wrote:
I love your blog! I am writing because this year I am going to try a fall garden for the first time. Do I start my seeds outdoors? Should I start them inside with lights like I do in spring? Any advice would be awesome!
Rebekah
Because I am a sucker for anyone trying to extend their growing season, I decided not to just answer her directly, but in a post–you know, in case any of you peeps want to join in on the fun.
First, off: Starting seeds. It really depends on what you are growing as to whether you will start them indoors or out. Some cooler weather crops, like lettuce germinates best if the soil is between 50 to 75 degrees {though, it will germinate at lower temperatures}. Any hotter, and the lettuce just won’t germinate. So, I always start that indoors. Starting them indoors this time of year is pretty easy, I have done a full post on it HERE.
Personally, I like to plant carrots, beets, turnips, lettuce, bok choy, cabbage and broccoli right about now. Root crops for Thanksgiving is always my goal, and most years, the weather is mild enough and everything works out as planned.
For shorter weather crops {just look on your seed packets to see how long they take to produce}, then go back at least that far from your predicted average first frost date. That’s when you know to plant them outdoors. Because I typically use succession planting, I will plant carrots and beans directly outdoors this way. Carrots, spinach, and a couple of others actually taste better after a light freeze, so don’t give up on them if you don’t harvest in time. Parsnips and beets can actually be left in the ground and used as you need them pretty much all the way up to the holidays {in these parts at least}.
If you really want to get the more out of the growing season, you can try a basic hoop house. I know people who are able to grow spinach, kale, lettuce, etc. pretty much all year round that way. The growth slows down significantly, though, so don’t expect crazy bountiful harvests.
The only other bit of advice I would give is to water early in the day. That way, any fall daytime heat will help so that your plants roots aren’t sitting in completely soggy and potentially cold dirt all night.
Feel free to add any other bits of advice YOU might have in the comments below…
~Mavis
Karen says
I live in west Texas and can garden all year. I went to the Lowes Home Improvement store yesterday looking for seeds, when I couldn’t find them I asked an employee and was told….. we don’t have seeds anymore it’s out of season. WHAT????
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s weird how they pull the seeds so early. It’s nuts!
Margo says
I live in San Diego, so I don’t typically start planting fall vegies until around October. Last year had lots of collards, planted garlic and lots of lettuce. Going to expand the selection this year, but it stays hot here almost until November sometimes.
Carrie says
I wanted to try fingerling potatoes this fall but I can’t find and seed potatoes locally. I may have to buy online. I’m also planning on radish, carrots, turnips, and I may stick another quick growing cucumber in the ground this weekend.
Mavis Butterfield says
I totally forgot radishes! Thank you.
sharon says
So excited about this post because I want to do a fall garden. It would be mu 1st time! If it is still in 90’s sometimes 100’s do I need to start seeds inside because it is too hot? Or would they like the heat?
Deborah says
I was wondering the same thing. I’m in central Florida.
Kristina Z says
How much does starting root veggie seeds indoors shave off your time to harvest once you’ve got them in? I usually direct sow those fairly late in the fall, as it’s too hot here to put them in any earlier, or risk them bolting. But if I could get them started indoors (ironically, where it’s cooler), I might manage to harvest some by Thanksgiving — maybe, depending on how late the 90+ degree weather holds on where I am (typically, into mid-September or later). I take it they transplant OK?
Wynne says
Have you thought of a shade row cover if you want to direct-sow when it’s hotter?
I would definitely add a couple weeks to the time needed to mature. I haven’t figured out how much time yet, but I’m always a little late. There just isn’t as much daylight and plants grow more slowly. After a certain point in November around here (Virginia/7b), the plants are living but not growing. The garden is actually its own little refrigerator. It’s great for winter storage as long as I protect them from drying winds and icy weather.
If you do plant a little late, you can protect undersized plants through the winter and be rewarded in spring. I had a great spring crop of October-planted carrots this past year. I use a few inches of straw mulch and hoops/row cover for winter protection. During a mild winter five years ago, I didn’t even need the row cover, and had some chard and lettuce all winter and rebounding in the spring, Other overwintering favorites: garlic, kale, cilantro, chervil.
For inspiration, I highly recommend Eliot Coleman’s _Four Season Harvest_, which showcases what one can do in the fall and winter … even in Maine, where he farms.
LAURA C. says
We keep our house at 79 degrees. Outside it’s almost 100. Will seedlings still do ok inside?
Mavis Butterfield says
You should be fine Laura.
Patricia Watt says
Hi Mavis,
Thank you for posting Fall garden starts. This will be my first year at trying this. I have a very very small yard to try to place a raised planter box. I live near you and have been reading a book on Winter Gardening in the Northwest Maritime. Since I am reading about our climate for growing fall and winter veggies, I wanted to ask if you plant in a hooped house or directly outdoors without a cold frame?
Thanks again…happy planting 🙂
Patty
Rebekah says
Thanks so much Mavis!!! I’m super excited and can’t wait to get my seeds in the dirt! I’ll let you know how things go.
Ellen in Clackamas says
Mavis, I am going to try a fall planting this year and ordered carrots, beet and rutabaga seeds from Territorial Seed Company (they are little father south in Oregon). We had some wonderful refreshing rain here over the weekend but I see we are supposed to get back up around 100 degrees later this week. Will that hinder the seed germination? Think I should wait till later in the summer? Weather is so weird this year!!!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes. I would wait a bit Ellen. And I agree, the weather has been weird this summer.
Erin says
Hi Mavis! Just wanted to pop in and say I love reading how you grow things in the opposite corner of the country (I’m in central FL). Down here I just started a second planting of field peas, okra, butternut squash, cukes and sweet potatoes. It’s too hot here to plant my next round of mild “summer veggies” like tomatoes and eggplant. I’m still in the hot summer season. Won’t get to plant my “winter crops” till late October. It never did get cold enough last year for my spinach, not even one light frost here. If we get a frost this year it will not be until late January. So I’ll mail you some fresh cukes and tomatoes for a thanksgiving salad 🙂
Happy Gardening!
Erin