October 2014
www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com
Keep Growing With Season- Extending Gardening Tips For Fall
BY JOAN CASANOVA
Warm weather, continued care and robust plants have yielded a bounty of beautiful, fresh vegetables – and personal satisfaction – from your garden this season. As the weather cools and fall approaches, it is not time to hang up your hat, gloves and trowel for the year. Autumn provides optimum weather and ample opportunity to keep growing and harvesting delicious, healthy produce well into the season.
Some gardeners assume that when
fall arrives and kids return to school, they’ll have less time to garden, and may experience less success from their garden plots. But cooler temperatures and fall conditions can actually make gardening easier and more enjoyable. Many
of fall’s best-producing
vegetables are also colorful, making them great additions to flower beds and containers.
If you loved summer gardening, you can keep your garden growing right through fall. Here’s how to make the most of fall season gardening:
Size up the soil - Most vegetable plants require full sun for six or more hours a day, and because fall provides a bit less sunlight than summer, you may need to relocate your plot to make the most of shorter days. If moving your garden isn’t an option, you can still take full advantage of sunshine by planting veggies in containers or by creating a raised bed in a sunny spot.
The Hampton Roads Messenger 15 Producers provide garden retailers
with transplants intended to grow well during the specific growing season and are suited for your geographic region. Seasonally appropriate
transplants
ensure you’ll have greater success in your garden. An added bonus of fall planting is that many cool crops are also packed with nutrition and are among the healthiest vegetables you can eat.
Choose hardy crops that can
withstand light frost and temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Hardy favorites for fall include:
garden
If you’ll be reusing your summer plot,
debris. Don’t
remove forget
any leftover to
pull with up
weeds before they go to seed. Fluff any compacted soil
a garden
fork. Next, test the soil to see if any amendments are needed. Even if your soil is in good shape, adding a 2-inch layer of bagged compost or a balanced, natural boost.
fertilizer can give plants a Be prepared for frost. Keep
materials on hand to protect plants when frost threatens, such as floating row cover, a cold frame or a cloche. On frosty, cold nights, move container plants to a protected spot.
Pick your plants - While crops like strawberries and tomatoes have faded
many plants thrive in fall. To ensure a successful
to sweet summer memories, harvest, it’s important to
pick the right plants and give yourself a jump start by using transplants, rather than starting off with seeds. Planting six-week-old
transplants ensures
you’ll have the best opportunity to take advantage of fall’s shorter, and you’ll harvest sooner than if you plant from seed.
* Broccoli – This versatile veggie is packed with vitamins K, C and A, and is a good source of folate.
* Cabbage – A staple of Oktoberfest
celebrations across the country, cabbage comes in several varieties, all of which are high in beta-carotene, vitamins C and K and fiber.
* Kale – Some varieties of kale, like Winterbor Kale, actually
taste better when kissed by frost. A prolific
producer, kale thrives in fall gardens and is a good source of vitamins A, C, K and B6, as well as manganese.
* Leeks – Prized by gourmets
for their milder flavor, leeks are frost-tolerant in all but the coldest planting zones. The health benefits of all onions are well documented, and leeks also add a pop of bright color to culinary dishes.
* Spinach – This nutrient-rich green does as well in fall’s cooler temperatures as it does in summer heat. Spinach will continue to produce throughout the season, providing a tasty source of vitamins A, C, K and E, as well as the minerals iron, potassium and magnesium.
The end of summer doesn’t have to herald the end of your garden harvest and enjoyment, or a return to the grocery store produce aisle. With the right fall crops, you can achieve a satisfying, healthful throughout the fall.
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