Getting ready for fall

Hubby and I went out today for our second batch of miracle compost to top off settled beds. I've finally pulled the damaged squash and burnt cucumber remains, and discarded, due to bacteria and possible remaining larvae. Also pulled dried out bean plants, laid them down into the bed and covered completely with the fresh compost. Mel's mix on top, and voila! we are ready for fall planting. The only thing that's still going in the garden is tomatoes - they are going through the hornworm phase, but still fighting.
I've acquired a few varieties of fall-worthy fancy lettuces and arugula. Also planning for long pole beans (japanese and chinese varieties), maybe still for pumpkins, though with the number of squash bugs we saw this summer, I think it may not have a chance.
I also want to try half-long carrots. Certainly radishes, beets, and maybe some herbs.
Hoping to get second batch of cukes. What do you think?

What do you think?

I would be impressed to get beans in the fall that were planted now.
But you are in a much warmer climate, I have just planted fall spinach and peas, that are starting to come up.
You sound like you are settling in to your new home well, and new climate (or is the climate the same?) I always think of pumpkins as a very long season plant.
But then again you may very well get it growing in time.

Too bad to hear about your cucumber and squash problems...
Janet

Fall is coming all to quick isn't it? Good luck with your fall crops!

I have never planted a Fall crop before and for about a week I have been wanting to get out there and plant some seeds! It looks so bare out there! But Life and family keep me too busy and I can only do so much in a day. Some days barely anything. I am still having problems with ferrel cats burying little goodies in some of my nice soft beds. So far I have trapped 8 that keep getting into my fenced garden. There are 1-2 more at least. Animal Control comes and picks them up and relocates them. The next door neighbor and another one feeds them and it brings the cats from other areas of the neighborhood also. It's hard to plant seeds and then try to rig up something to keep them from digging up the seeds. I may try plastic forks with the prongs up in the air. How far do you think a cat will fly if it goes to squat and gets an good unexpected poke in its behind? Another funny thing to visualize, me carrying a cat in a rectangle cage. Cat running back and forth trying to find a way to escape and tipping the cage from one end to the other. It feels like my arm is being flung back and forth! I'm getting off topic, oops!

Weedless sounds like you will have a great Fall crop, good luck!

RoOsTeR wrote:Fall is coming all to quick isn't it? Good luck with your fall crops!

Never grow fall crops either but planted some brocolli and cauliflower so see how it goes. But spinach would have been nice but the germination temperture is very low so how do people get it to sprout in the summer?

It's very strange reading all these posts regarding fall planting. I read them and think I want to do that; what should I plant. My mind goes wild with ideas of lettuce and spinach, etc. And then reality hits. I can't do any kind of Fall planting not even indoors until September! It's still hot here well into October. Our first frost date is the end of December and sometimes not til January. So this is a blessing because I get a second chance at some of my failed attempts and plants that have given up because of the heat. I never done more than one summer crop before so this is great! Hopefully my zeal will last til it's time for Fall planting.

tricias garden
Have you tried the scare crow. I have one for deer and it is a motion sensor sprinkler, it sends out a strong spray.
Keeps deer out of my garden, and me sometimes
songstriss, Where I am is not as hot as where you are, but it is still too hot here to grow peas or spinach, however my way of thinking is that most seeds have higher optimal germination temps than their optimal growth temp.
So I am banking on them taking a few weeks to get going and by then it might be beginning to cool off some.
From Janet who just got hit by the motion sensor sprinkler trying to sneak a strawberry

songstriss wrote:It's very strange reading all these posts regarding fall planting. I read them and think I want to do that; what should I plant. My mind goes wild with ideas of lettuce and spinach, etc. And then reality hits. I can't do any kind of Fall planting not even indoors until September! It's still hot here well into October. Our first frost date is the end of December and sometimes not til January. So this is a blessing because I get a second chance at some of my failed attempts and plants that have given up because of the heat. I never done more than one summer crop before so this is great! Hopefully my zeal will last til it's time for Fall planting.

We're hot here until October, too, and our frost window is mid Dec through mid Feb, although last winter we didn't have a single freeze. But looking at local sources I've found that my fall planting dates start in July. Until this year I've waited until October for it to cool off, but then seen local friends with great produce in Nov and Dec, having followed recommended dates. So this year I'm going to brave the heat and get out there and plant in the heat.

songstriss wrote:It's very strange reading all these posts regarding fall planting. I read them and think I want to do that; what should I plant. My mind goes wild with ideas of lettuce and spinach, etc. And then reality hits. I can't do any kind of Fall planting not even indoors until September! It's still hot here well into October. Our first frost date is the end of December and sometimes not til January. So this is a blessing because I get a second chance at some of my failed attempts and plants that have given up because of the heat. I never done more than one summer crop before so this is great! Hopefully my zeal will last til it's time for Fall planting.

Supposedly out first frost is in early October but with this odd weather it is hard to tell for sure as the last spring frost was MUCH earlier than predicted so one never know for sure

GWN wrote:
Where I am is not as hot as where you are, but it is still too hot here to grow peas or spinach, however my way of thinking is that most seeds have higher optimal germination temps than their optimal growth temp.
So I am banking on them taking a few weeks to get going and by then it might be beginning to cool off some.

I've been planting seeds in the shade of other things. So far my peas, kale, broccoli, lettuce & mung beans have come up. Can't get the spinach to sprout to save my soul, and that's one I really want. I also planted turnips, kohlrabi & broccolini but they haven't sprouted yet either.

I really don't know what I'm doing, but I'm sure I'm doing it too early.

CC

I really don't know what I'm doing, but I'm sure I'm doing it too early.

Well just keep doing it, it will eventually be right

@CC

Now I am pretty sure that spinach does not germinate in warm soil. I know goes against the grain, but I checked the seed packed and they do best in cooler soil.

If I have room it won't be till September at least. Could be way off here but seems better suited for spring growing.........

Do you think the spinach might sprout if started inside; maybe even chill the soil first. Just kidding about chilling, serious about trying to start them inside.

All that I planted last week has come up no problem

I think I remember somebody starting lettuce inside during the summer because it will not germinate in hot soil. Give it a try, "it's only seeds".

Kay

I've never done a fall planting either! This group inspired me and I've already planted some kale and spinach in a couple pots that currently are in the shade. I'm anxious to plant LOTS of greens though but it's still 90 here during the day - and I'm zone 4a! I pulled out an overgrown perennial bed and plan to fill it with lettuce, spinach, kale, and arugula this fall and add in herbs next spring. Seed packets are selling for 10 cents! Can't go wrong...right? We drink green smoothies daily so need a lot of leaves!

It's coming along! My first ever Fall garden is showing promise!

looking good for sure! We drink green smoothies every day too. Hoping our SFG performs this fall, and gives us lotsa stuff! Congrats on a nice looking start

Hi Darci, the garden looks promising. You did intrigue me with the mention of a green smoothie. Can you share the recipe? Always looking for a way to use some green vegs...

I've become a green smoothie fan thebarley7 and have lots of combinations. If you drink them every day it's important to mix what type of greens you use so the alkaloids from one type don't build up. That's why I plant a mix of greens. If you don't drink them often you don't need to worry about that. In general I mix:

1 banana
1 cup of a berry (or mix of berries - I like to freeze them)
2 cups of a green leaf (like spinach, kale, or leaf lettuce)
1 cup of ice
1.5 cup of water - or more to make it to your liking
Throw it in the blender in that order and work your way to the highest speed as it gets crunched up, then leave it at high for a minute or so to get it smooth.

Some mornings I throw an orange in to pep me up more. There are a lot of free recipes online and there's even free apps for your phone!

CapeCoddess wrote:

I've been planting seeds in the shade of other things. So far my peas, kale, broccoli, lettuce & mung beans have come up. Can't get the spinach to sprout to save my soul, and that's one I really want. I also planted turnips, kohlrabi & broccolini but they haven't sprouted yet either.


CC

I, too, have had a problem with spinach (the crop I really want) germinating. However, I planted some a few days ago and they are sprouting. They are shaded a little by the growing green beans two squares away! Maybe now is the time (as I tried three earlier plantings without germination).

walshevak wrote:I think I remember somebody starting lettuce inside during the summer because it will not germinate in hot soil. Give it a try, "it's only seeds".

Kay

I tried starting inside, then I hardened off outside for a week. Looked good. Put it in a pot and the heat took them. So no luck with that method for me.

Darci
Your garden area looks great. To further your growing season (when it gets cold)you can put a heavy 6 mil clear plastic cover/frame over your garden and you should be able to grow well into Dec., if not longer.
Remember that if it gets hot inside your frame you will need to uncover your crops so they don't burn up. (It will get very warm under the plastic).
The colder it gets the slower the growth.
I started a fall garden last year and was picking veggies on Dec 31st in Maryland. GREAT!!
Page 71-74 in the ANSFG book discuss how to build a protetive cover. You will need to modify the process to fit your garden area but it should be easy.
Happy Fall Gardening and enjoy those smoothies!
Mike

I bought a cloth cover to put over the side garden if I need it, but decided to take your advise Mike and create a fall/winter box by building a frame. It will be interesting to see how long I can garden up here in the great-white-north. At the very least it gives the folk walking down our street something interesting to look at. The local garden shop didn't have clear plastic sheeting. Can I use painter's sheeting? Where do you get yours??

I am having a lot of fun experimenting this year!

I planned on making a hoop cover just like yours, darci. I'm using clear plastic painters drop cloths. Don't know where they came from. The PVC is just stuck into the corners, right? If so, since I live is such a windy area, I'm wondering what's to keep the wind from catching underneath and lifting the whole thing right off? I guess lots of rocks and a prayer.

CC