Are you planning to grow up fall garden, and if yes? Get on board! There are foods that drive in cooler weather, especially those super-hardy species that can take advantage of the still-warm soil. It is primarily due to falling air temperatures, and the soil still remains warm after the period of the summer sun. Moreover, the taste of some foods is even improved by a frosty chill. Overall, planting seeds for fruits or vegetables in warm soil conditions ultimately encourage seeds to germinate excellently. Here’s the complete guide of 9 foods to plant now for fall harvest. Keep reading!
Importance of planning and preparing for a fall harvest
Having a fall garden filled with healthy veggies and delicious fresh fruits is a dream come true for many people. It’s all about effective planning and preparation if you want to grow a fall-season garden and keep it going through winter.
Choose the right fall crops
It is recommended to look for varieties that can be harvested during thaws or grown for winter storage. Because these varieties have been bred to store well in winter, for instance, you can harvest tomatoes green and allow them to ripen steadily in cardboard boxes, whereas radishes and beetroots grow extensively and keep well in the ground.
Space
The location of your garden is of utmost importance. Almost all the fruits or vegetables you want to grow need at least 6 to 8 hours of complete sunlight. Moreover, and sure that your garden spot is not overshadowed by trees as well
Calculating duration to sow or plant
You can easily determine when to plant fall crops by calculating back from your average first fall frost date. The falling effect of shorter days and cooler temperatures should be accounted for by adding 14 days to your variety’s listed days to maturity. Consider the harvest period of plants with long harvest periods, such as broccoli, that will produce side shoots for 3 weeks after the central crown is removed. However, if you are starting transplants from seed, you should add 14 to 28 additional days to allow for transplant shock and delayed germination.
Soil
When you grow two or three crops at the same time in the same area, maintaining the soil is even more important. Ensure your fall crops beds are generously amended with compost and other necessary amendments. Also, with this, plants grow faster and are less likely to contract the disease.
How to get a head start on fall planting
- Know when the first frost typically occurs in your area in autumn or winter. It is possible to get this date from a local cooperative extension or garden center.
- When harvesting a fall crop, choose the varieties that mature fastest.
- For seed starting, the soil temperature should be 80°F (26°C).
- In the late summer and fall, crops usually mature more slowly because of the shorter daylight hours and the lower air and soil temperatures. Count on 10 to 14 additional days to complete the maturation process.
- Seeds of cabbage-family plants are typically started indoors and transplanted into the garden once they reach about 4 inches (10 cm). The cabbage family includes Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers, broccolis, and collard greens.
- As frost approaches, remove mulch from around plants so that radiant solar heat can be absorbed by the soil and released back into the garden.
- When the frost is imminent, cover frost-sensitive crops with horticultural blankets.
- During freezing weather or after the first heavy frost, autumn crops can be grown as long as they are protected from the elements. Cover the crop with a simple plastic tunnel.
9 foods to plant now for fall harvest
Broccoli
Scientific name: Brassica oleracea
Planting and harvesting instructions:
It is best to grow broccoli in a sunny, partially shaded spot. So pick a spot that receives 5-7 hours of sunlight. Ensure your broccoli seeds are planted in fertile, moist, well-draining soil. Also, before planting your seeds, ensure to cover the seeds with a thin layer (2-4 inches) of manure.
Beetroot
Scientific name: Beta vulgaris
Planting and harvesting instructions:
Beetroot seeds should be sown 2cm (3/4’-1′) deep. You should keep seeds or seedlings apart by at least ten centimetres (four inches). Planting them in rows will be easier. The best way to ensure continuous harvesting is to successively plant beetroot every 14 days.
Cabbage
Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Planting and harvesting instructions:
Mix potting soil and compost in a 2:3 ratio. Before planting, cover the seeds very lightly with soil and sprinkle them on the grow bed. Water the cabbage regularly. It will be best to use a sprinkler system or a watering can to water your cabbage plants.
Collard Green
Scientific name: Brassica oleracae var. acephala
Planting and harvesting instructions:
Collard green should be planted in spring 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost. You should plant collards 18 to 24 inches apart in a sunny area in soil with a pH between 6.5 and 6.8 in fertile and well-drained soil. Moreover, adding compost or rich organic matter will improve the quality of your native soil
Radish
Scientific name: Raphanus sativus
Planting and harvesting instructions:
To grow radish seeds, plant them one inch apart in a row half an inch deep. Within 4 to 6 days, the plants will emerge. Also, make sure seeds are planted 8 to 10 days apart when growing radish from seed.
Spinach
Scientific name: Spinacia oleracea L
Planting and harvesting instructions:
The seeds should be sown 1/2 inch deep and 2 inches apart, then covered with soil, mulched, and watered thoroughly. The spinach should be watered 1-2 times per week and covered with shade cloth if the temperature exceeds 80 °F. Leaves should be harvested when they are between 3 and 4 inches long.
Pear
Scientific name: Pyrus communis L
Planting and harvesting instructions:
A pear tree should be grown in a location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day. Planning will make this tree maintenance easier. First, put plenty of fertilizer in the soil and dig a deep hole. Pear trees typically thrive in cold climates with a cold summer and a cold winter.
Apple
Scientific name: Malus domestica
Planting and harvesting instructions:
Ideally, apple trees should be planted in well-drained loam soils with a depth of 45 cm and a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Ensure that the soil does not have hard surfaces or water logging problems. Moreover, you should avoid soils that are heavy in clay or have compacted subsoils.
Persimmon
Scientific name: Diospyros kaki
Planting and harvesting instructions:
Persimmon shows good results in fertile medium, textured, well-drained soils. But they perform their best in heavy clay soils. It is recommended to plant these trees in soils that have a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Remember, extreme salinity or boron greatly impacts the growth of persimmons trees.
Tips on how to extend the harvest season
- Make sure you keep up with the pickings
- Water as much as you can!
- Feed your crops now instead of scrimping!
- Top up mulches
- Reduce the amount of shade.
- To extend your harvest through the fall, keep your plants warm
- Don’t stop planting!
- Get rid of rotting plants and debris
- Save seeds and plan ahead
How to store the harvest?
Keeping fruits and vegetables in the right conditions can prolong their shelf life for months. Selecting unblemished specimens is the key to success, and checking them regularly is also necessary. For instance, the whole batch can be ruined by one rotten apple. So refer below examples to learn how to store them.
- Fruits such as apples and pears can be stored for a long time. You should wrap the fruits in newspaper and place them in a single layer at the bottom of the container.
- In addition, root vegetables like carrots, radishes, and beets store well. Cut the leaves off the beets and carrots, and arrange them in a single layer without wrapping them. A layer of sand prevents both from becoming rubbery when they are covered with it.
Conclusion
Having plants planted in the fall gives them a head start on the growing season and will result in bigger, healthier plants in the spring. The winter gives them time to establish themselves in their new homes before spring growth rushes in.
The winter season allows plants to concentrate all of their energy on developing strong roots. By doing so, the plants have a much better foundation from which to grow next spring. By the time spring arrives, they are already well-established, so drought and pests will not stunt them.
Get a head start on your spring garden by planting in the fall, so you’ll have the best look come spring.
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