Yes, you heard us correctly. We know it’s late July or early August, and it’s hot. But it’s also time to start thinking about your fall garden and preparing your beds.
First, take a look at your beds. Pull out the summer plants that are done producing and look for weeds. Take the time now to remove all weeds and grass that may have invaded your beds. Every time you prepare the soil to plant a new crop, always mix in compost. Add fertilizer and work into the soil.
First up are tomatoes and peppers. They should be planted soon – by the first of August – if they are going to make a good crop before first frost. Timing is key for a fall garden. To be successful heat tolerant and cold sensitive crops should be planted in time to mature before the cold weather arrives. The cooler weather slows and stops growth. Cool season, heat sensitive crops should be planted late enough to avoid the heat, but early enough to survive the first few frosts.
Consider fast maturing tomatoes for the fall harvest. Varieties with less than 75 days to maturity are ‘Merced’, ‘Bingo’, ‘Celebrity’, ‘Whirlaway’, and ‘Carnival’.
The following are optimal “windows of time” for planting fall vegetables:
| Beans – 8/1 – 9/1 (lima beans 7/15 – 8/15) | Muskmelon (Cantaloupe) – 7/15 – 8/1 |
| Beets – 9/1 – 10/15 | Mustard – 9/15 – 10/15 |
| Broccoli plants – 8/1 – 9/15 | Parsley – 8/15 – 10/1 |
| Brussels sprouts – 8/1 – 10/1 | Parsley – 8/15 – 10/1 |
| Brussels sprouts – 8/1 – 10/1 | Peas, English – 8/15 – 9/15 |
| Cabbage plants – 8/15 – 9/15 | Peas, Southern – 7/1 – 8/1 |
| Carrots – 8/15 – 10/15 | Pepper plants – 7/1 – 8/1 |
| Cauliflower plants – 8/15 – 9/15 | Potatoes, Irish – 8/15 – 9/15 |
| Chard, Swiss – 8/1 – 10/15 | Pumpkin – 7/1 – 8/1 |
| Collard/Kale – 8/15 – 10/1 | Radish – 9/15 – 10/15 |
| Corn, Sweet – 8/1 – 8/15 | Spinach – 9/1 – 10/15 |
| Cucumber – 8/1 – 9/1 | Squash, Summer – 7/15 – 8/15 |
| Eggplant plants – 7/15 – 8/1 | Squash, Winter – 7/1 – 7/15 |
| Squash, Winter – 7/1 – 7/15 | Tomato plants – 7/15 – 8/1 |
| Kohlrabi – 8/15 – 9/15 | Turnips – 10/1 – 11/1 |
| Lettuce (leaf) – 9/15 – 10/15 | Watermelon – 7/1 – 8/1 |
Stop by Russell Feed & Supply locations for all your gardening needs.