Planting
a Fall Vegetable Garden
Get
your garden ready for fall vegetables with planning and preparation
Fall is a great time of year to plant a vegetable garden.
The weather is cool, the pests stay away and fall vegetables are nutritious and
comforting. Keeping a healthy garden takes planning and the right conditions;
fall is no exception. With these simple tips, planting fall vegetables can be
enjoyable and your garden will flourish season after season.
Prep the soil for planting
fall vegetables
The first step in planting a fall vegetable garden is to
prep the soil. Survey your garden and make sure you clear away any debris,
rocks or fallen vegetables and plants. You will also want to take care in
removing weeds from the soil. There are several methods for removing weeds. For
fall preparation for a vegetable garden, try to stay away from using chemicals
and sprays and seek organic methods for removal.
With the heat of the summer months, your will find most
soil has become compacted and dry. When planting a fall vegetable garden, you
will need to spend some time breaking up the soil so that new roots have plenty
of room to flourish. Depending on the size of your garden, you might need
different tools to get the job done. Smaller gardens can be moved around with a
pitchfork or cultivator, while a bigger space, or one that’s especially compact,
might require a garden tiller. If you are going to use a garden tiller, make sure you
consult the operator’s manual before you begin and observe all safety
suggestions. Once the soil is broken up, you can till in compost or manure to
add valuable nutrients back to the soil.
Choose what crops you’ll be
planting in your fall vegetable garden
When you are considering what crops to use when planting a
fall vegetable garden, consider those that do best in cooler weather and can
survive the first frost. Timing is everything in a fall garden as you must
plant in time for the vegetables to mature before the cold weather. Depending
on where you live, these temperatures will vary so consult a Farmer’s Almanac
for dates that make sense for you. For the most part, root vegetables such as
beets, radishes and carrots are a staple for fall gardens. Greens also do well
in fall gardens so consider adding lettuce, cabbage and collards to your fall
vegetable list. Some fall greens, such as spinach and kale, can grow early into
the winter so you can eat them year-round. And don’t forget fall favorites like
pumpkins and squash that are perfect for making pies and soups to warm up
winter days.
If you are planting a fall vegetable garden, crop rotation
is a great way to keep the nutrients in the soil balanced. The easiest way to
do this is to avoid planting the same crop (or a crop that needs similar
nutrients) in the same space in your garden season after season. While the
science behind crop rotation can be a little mysterious, the concept is simple.
Each crop in your garden interacts with the soil and the elements a little
differently. Some vegetables are calcium hogs and others always attract pests,
while some are great for suppressing weeds and don’t take as much nutrients
from the soil. When you are in the middle of fall preparation for a vegetable
garden, it is best to create a plan to help you rotate your plants from one
season to the next.
Monitor temperature levels
and frost warnings
Remember, as the temperature starts to drop, you might
need to monitor your garden more closely to protect your crops from frost. You
can cover your garden with burlap or plastic to take added precaution. With the
correct planning and frost protection you can enjoy a long harvest and even
have fall vegetables available into the early winter months. Now that you have
these preparation tips, you are ready to start planting fall vegetables!
*no compensastion was received for this post*
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