Fall Vegetable Gardening

Calvert County Master Gardeners

College ofAgriculture and Natural Resources

Grow Your Own FoodWe Can Show You How

Our Vision:1 Million Maryland food gardeners

producing their own affordable,healthy food.

What do we mean by fall gardening?

Planting crops for harvest before frost and after frost

Planting crops that can overwinter for spring harvesting

Protected gardening in a cold frame, greenhouse or under row covers

Planting cover crops to add organic matter and nitrogen, and minimize weeds in spring

All are cold hardy & some are quick maturing •Cole crops: broccoli, cabbage, collards, cauliflower, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts

•Greens: leaf lettuce, spinach, arugula, Asian greens, mustard, cilantro

•Root crops: Rutabagas, beets, carrots, turnips, parsnips

Select Crops

Half-hardySurvive light frost

– BeetsBeets– CauliflowerCauliflower– ChardChard– Chinese CabbageChinese Cabbage– EndiveEndive– KohlrabiKohlrabi– LettuceLettuce– MustardMustard– PeasPeas– RutabagasRutabagas

HardySurvive heavy frost

– Broccoli– Broccoli Raab– Brussels Sprouts– Cabbage– Collards– Kale– Radishes– Spinach– Turnips

Overwintering Crops

ArugulaBroccoli RaabChicoriesGarlicKaleLeeksMultiplier OnionsSpinach

• LeeksLeeks

Fall Days & TemperaturesCool nights slow plant growth. Vegetables take longer to mature.Days grow shorter, the sun’s angle is lower in

the sky and light is less intense; less sunlight energy for plants.

These environmental conditions add sugar to cole crops.

Lettuce and spinach will not bolt.

Seed Starting DateShort-Day Factor

First frost date for your areaDays to maturity, germination, transplantAdd 14 days for Short Day Factor

Formula: Days to maturity + Days to germinate + Days to

transplant + SDF=Days to plant before frost

Sample Calculation For Sowing Spinach Seeds

• Days to germination: 7 to 10• Days to maturity: 35• Short Day Factor (SDF): __14__ 56 to59

I can sow seeds between 56 and 59 days before the first frost – about Oct. 19-26 for Huntingtown.

Counting back from Oct. 19-26 the dates to sow are about Aug. 22 to Sept. 1.

Preparing the Site

Remove waste from previous crop.If ground is dry, give it a thorough soaking.Work compost into top few inches of soil.

Transplants

Start transplants or purchase for:

Broccoli Brussels sproutsCabbageCauliflowerCollards

Weather Considerations

• High heat and humidity in August – Start cool weather crops

in a protected spot– Indoors under lights,

under shade cloth or in a shady part of the garden

Putting out Transplants

Seedlings need gradual exposure to direct sunlight.

Will benefit from light shading for the first few days.

Keep them soaked.

Row Cover Protection

Throw a bed sheet over row cover for a few days to provide shade.

Row covers deter insects and larger critters.

Row covers can extend season.

Seeds to SowDirect seed: Beets Broccoli raabChinese cabbageCilantroCollardsEndiveKaleKohlrabiLettuceMustard greensSpinachTurnips

Getting Seeds to Germinate and Grow

Soil is hot and dry.Clay soil forms hard crust.Seeds need cooler temperatures and

moisture to germinate and grow. Slow growing beets and carrots will suffer

setbacks if soil is dry.

Seeds Become Dormant at High Temperatures.

The maximum soil temperature for germinating lettuce and spinach is 70 degrees F. The optimum temperature for germinating peas is 70. For many other vegetables it is 80 degrees F.

Sowing Seeds

Water soil before sowing. Sow in the late afternoon so germination

will begin overnight.

Direct Sow

Plant seeds slightly deeper. Depth may be 1 ½ to 2 times deeper than spring.

Can cover seeds in furrow with potting soil or vermiculite.

Keep soil cool and moist. Cover seeded area with burlap, newspapers, or boards.

Can shade soil, or use light mulch.

Germinating Seeds

Another tip is to pre-germinate seeds. Soak seeds overnight in a moistened paper

towel enclosed in a plastic bag. Do not soak longer or delicate seedling parts will be damaged in planting.

Interplant

Use shade from existing plants.

Sow lettuce, carrots, arugula, beets, collards.

Mustard greens on north side of tomatoes

Planting Schedule (late July)Last plantings of fast growing warm season

vegetables-snap beans.Order garlic. Start cabbage family seedlings indoors.Sow lettuce, cilantro, rutabagas, radishes.Soak or pre-germinate parsley seeds for

sowing.

Planting Schedule

10-12 weeks before hard frost:

Set out transplantsDirect sow beets,

carrots, collards & more lettuce, radishes

Planting Schedule

8 to 10 weeks before hard frost:

Sow Asian greens, arugula, turnips, spinach, mustard

More lettuce, radishes, beets, collards

Planting Schedule

6 to 8 weeks before hard frost:Sow spinach.Plant garlic, shallots, multiplying onions.Sow half-hardy vegetables under protective

cover.

Protected Gardening:Moving a Zone South

• Floating Row Cover– Provides 4-10 degrees

of protection

• Cold Frame• Hoop House• Greenhouse

Herbs for the Cold Frame

• Chives• Oregano• Sage • Thyme

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Planting Fall Crops: Garlic!

• Purchase bulbs to plant in October from a seed/plant company; not from grocery store!

• Choose full sun location• Weed area and amend soil with compost• Separate cloves and plant them pointed end

up, 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart

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• Top dress with compost or mulch to deter weeds• In Spring add fresh layer of compost or mulch• Remove any flower stalks to insure large bulbs• Harvest when foliage yellows and falls over. Usually in July

here.• Store in dry cool location

ReferencesArticlesGrisak, Amy, “Second Acts.” Organic Gardening, Aug/Oct 2009, pp 58-63.

Pleasant, Barbara, “Grow Your Best Fall Garden.” Mother Earth News, August/September 2009, pp 31-35.

BooksThe Maryland Master Gardener Handbook. University of Maryland College of

Agriculture and Natural Resources. September 2008.Bubel, Nancy. The New Seed Starters Handbook. Emmaus, Pa: Rodale Press, 1988.InternetWilson, Carl, “Front Range Food Gardener Blog,” staff Horticulturist with the

Colorado State University Extension office in Denver, CSU Extension web site.

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Fall Chores For a Healthy Garden

• Clean up and remove plant debris from garden. – Leave vegetable roots in place– Dig in or remove summer mulch

• Add and mix in farm manure or compost.• Plant a cover crop in September on bare ground or

cover soil with tree leaves.

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Caring for Perennials• Asparagus -Cut to 2 inch stubs after frost, Add 4 to 6

inches mulch• Rhubarb - Top dress with composted manure • Strawberries - Mulch with straw or organic materials

4” deep after soil freezes• Raspberries/blackberries - In winter, remove

floricanes which have borne fruit• Blueberries - Protect with pine bark mulch, rotted

sawdust, or compost around the base of the bush

Protect all perennial vegetables from freezing weather with mulch around the base of plants.

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Reminders for “Putting the Garden to Bed”

• Remove all rotten fruit from the ground around trees; insect infestations last through winter.

• Leave vegetable roots in place but remove diseased tomato, potato, and squash foliage to prevent disease. Do not toss these plants in the compost. Bag and discard.

• Remove dead branches from roses and fruit trees (no pruning yet).

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• Leave dried flowers, ornamental grasses, and seed heads that look good and provide food for birds.

• Protect perennials from frost heaving by mulching after the ground freezes.

• Protect ornamentals such as azaleas and berry bushes from bud-eating deer with deer netting.

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• Build a simple compost bin or add to your present one all Winter long.

• Plant spring bulbs. Including garlic• Plant cover crops after harvest to correct soil

compaction. • Clean and sharpen tools blades• Plan next year’s garden!

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How to Store the Harvest

• In-ground growing• Unheated attic- onions• Unheated basement – Winter squash and

pumpkin (stems on)• Root cellar• Pits with containers• Specialized treatments (tomatoes)

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How to Store the Harvest

• Drying • Freezing• Canning• Preserving• Pickling

UME Master Gardeners’Mission

Our mission is to educate Maryland residents about safe, effective and sustainable

horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.

Resources

• Grow It! Eat It!http://www.extension.umd.edu/growit

– We have all types of practical food gardening tips and information. Check out our popular blog!

• Home and Garden Information Centerhttp://www.extension.umd.edu/hgic

– Here you will find factsheets, photos, and videos. You can also subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter.

– We answer gardening questions 24/7…just click “Ask Maryland’s Garden Experts”

• Maryland Master Gardener Programhttp://www.extension.umd.edu/mg

– Consider becoming a trained MG volunteer!

This program was brought to you by the

Maryland Master Gardener Program

Calvert County

University of Maryland Extension