TIPS FOR PLANTING 

FALL VEGETABLES

 

The end of summer does not have to mean the end of your vegetable garden. There are several vegetables that actually grow better in the fall. There are less problems with insects, plenty of rain and little worry that your plants will bolt to seed. You'll enjoy the cool air as much as your plants.  Some vegetables that grow well in fall in our area are:  leafy greens, root vegetables, cabbages, broccoli and kale.

SOME GREAT REASONS TO PLANT A FALL VEGETABLE GARDEN...

* Fall is a great time to add some compost to rejuvenate your garden.

*  Fall is extremely favorable for crops that prefer cooler temperatures or wetter conditions.

*  The weather is milder.

*  Many insects are getting ready to hide for the winter.

*  The breeze helps keep away flying insects.

*  Many vegetables will grow and mature well into fall, but they need to be started before the nights turn cold.

To prep your garden for fall planting, clear the space, add compost and start planting.  It doesn't have to be perfect, but try to get out as many of the old plants as you can.  Leave your tomatoes and peppers to ripen, but discard other plants like beans, cucumbers and lettuce that are pretty much done for the season.  Leaving them in the garden will harbor disease and insects. 

PREPARING YOUR GARDEN

If you've been tending to your vegetables all summer, you may have your fall garden already 

growing. Most likely your veggies are looking pretty ragged and some cleaning up is in order. 

If you've been slow to clean up small fruits that have dropped during the summer, get them out of their now. Rotting fruits attract pests.

Straw makes an excellent mulch for vegetable gardens because it is easily scattered and moved about. It also makes a wonderful home for spiders, who will assist in controlling your pest population.

Another good choice for mulching in the fall is shredded leaves. If you have a supply of fallen leaves, either run them through a shredder, pill them up and mow them or corral them and run a string weeder through them like a blender. Wet them down well, after you spread them, or they will blow away. A light top dusting with compost will also help control them. Unshredded leaves tend to form a mat that doesn't let water through to the soil.

Loosen the Soil.  If your soil has gotten compacted during the course of the summer, fluff it up with a garden fork just enough to allow the new plant roots to move around and for water to get through.

At the very least, replenish the soil by working in some compost. You can top dress with it or work it in while you are loosening the soil. You can also add some fertilizer at this point.

When you're done adjusting your soil, rake it out. Raking evens out the surface, breaks up any remaining clumps and creates furrows to catch water.