Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

**walshevak** 7/21/2013, 9:38 am

It is early in our region to start fall crops, but I'm starting this thread to get ready.

Since I'm on the very upper northern edge of the region (only parts of Hampton Rhodes area of VA beat me out) I decided to start my progressive planting. So here it is, a broccoli planted last week. Next week I may plant 2.

Getting the lower south garden ready for fall Dscn1547

Getting the lower south garden ready for fall Dscn1547

The first bed getting cleared for fall. Still has some basil and pole bean in it.

Getting the lower south garden ready for fall Dscn1548

Kay

bnoles 7/21/2013, 9:53 am

Hi Kay,

I too am anxious to get my Fall planting going as my Summer crops have all but played out. Your thread has added fuel to my fire, but I know I must wait a little longer. Oh well, there is always pencil and paper to do my planning stages.

Marc Iverson 7/21/2013, 1:58 pm

Wow, those cross-boards are thick in your garden. Why did you use such a sturdy grid? Do you think you might be leaning on them?

**walshevak** 7/21/2013, 7:46 pm

Marc Iverson wrote:Wow, those cross-boards are thick in your garden. Why did you use such a sturdy grid? Do you think you might be leaning on them?

They were originally bought for holding tulle and plastic against the beds at the bottom. Screwed into the sides of the beds. I usually use mason's string for my grids, but I'm taking the teachers course and needed a more permanent looking grid for my example bed. Very Happy

Kay

Millenia 7/29/2013, 4:10 pm

I'm just getting started good on my garden so have been planning for fall all along. I'm getting a late start or a restart on my beans and zuchini but have tons of stuff for a fall garden. I just hope I haven't over extended myself. Ignorance is bliss I'm thinking. cheers

littlejo 7/29/2013, 5:27 pm

I'm near the southern end of the lower South. First, we had a normal short spring, then it got very hot, so summer veggies did pretty well, then came June! We have had 4 days without rain. We are 20 inches ahead. I didn't have to water my garden til last week and it is thundering now! Zucchini and yellow squash gave us a couple messes, then bit the dust from too much rain. I have some more started, so maybe can put some up for winter.
The coolness/wetness of Spring came again in June. I've put up 4 gal. of blueberries, and 5 Gal. of strawberries, and the strawberries are still blooming! Okra is just now bearing, for it's been too cool at night and too wet. I got perturbed about the squash so planted lima beans. They are all blooming and will bear if we get some heat!
Tomatoes got Septora leaf spot and dropped their leaves, but, still put on lots of tomatoes.
The best crop for this yr. has been corn. 1 bed, 4 x 8, did not pollenate because it rained so hard for a whole week. 1 bed, Silver Queen, planted the end of Mar, gave us 250 ears, 4 bushel in a 4 x 8 bed.
1 3 x 8 bed of Merit, a yellow corn, gave us 2 bushel. Don't know yet if it tastes good. 1 3 x 8 bed of bi-licious hybrid (Burpee) gave us about 1 bushel, it didn't pollenate well in the rain, and does not have any flavor, may be due to too much rain.
Will plan to have a fall garden. I'm still trying to grow broccoli, so will start some each week, so maybe I'll get some this yr.
Jo

**walshevak** 7/29/2013, 5:47 pm

Any lower south folks from our sections of TX, LA, MS have any plans for a fall garden.

Kay

southern gardener 7/29/2013, 6:54 pm

littlejo wrote:I'm near the southern end of the lower South. First, we had a normal short spring, then it got very hot, so summer veggies did pretty well, then came June! We have had 4 days without rain. We are 20 inches ahead. I didn't have to water my garden til last week and it is thundering now! Zucchini and yellow squash gave us a couple messes, then bit the dust from too much rain. I have some more started, so maybe can put some up for winter.
The coolness/wetness of Spring came again in June. I've put up 4 gal. of blueberries, and 5 Gal. of strawberries, and the strawberries are still blooming! Okra is just now bearing, for it's been too cool at night and too wet. I got perturbed about the squash so planted lima beans. They are all blooming and will bear if we get some heat!
Tomatoes got Septora leaf spot and dropped their leaves, but, still put on lots of tomatoes.
The best crop for this yr. has been corn. 1 bed, 4 x 8, did not pollenate because it rained so hard for a whole week. 1 bed, Silver Queen, planted the end of Mar, gave us 250 ears, 4 bushel in a 4 x 8 bed.

wow! your silver queen is doing well! We have one stalk that put out 11 ears! Some were on the main stalk and some on the "tillers". They were delicious! Sounds like you got about 4 per stalk?? That's an amazing average? or does Silver Queen normally produce heavily?
1 3 x 8 bed of Merit, a yellow corn, gave us 2 bushel. Don't know yet if it tastes good. 1 3 x 8 bed of bi-licious hybrid (Burpee) gave us about 1 bushel, it didn't pollenate well in the rain, and does not have any flavor, may be due to too much rain.
Will plan to have a fall garden. I'm still trying to grow broccoli, so will start some each week, so maybe I'll get some this yr.
Jo

littlejo 7/29/2013, 7:41 pm

I really like the Silver Queen, for it is a little sweet, but, it doesn't taste like you added sugar to the pot.

bed: 4 x 8 = 32sq

4 seed per sq =128 stalks

128 x 2 ears per stalk =256 ears

60 ears per bushel = 4 bushel

boffer 7/29/2013, 8:35 pm

littlejo wrote:...1 bed, Silver Queen, planted the end of Mar, gave us 250 ears, 4 bushel in a 4 x 8 bed...

That is an impressive harvest! I haven't had the nerve to plant my long season corn so densely. I might have to reconsider. Did you use MM, straight compost, or amendments?

southern gardener 7/29/2013, 8:50 pm

littlejo wrote:I really like the Silver Queen, for it is a little sweet, but, it doesn't taste like you added sugar to the pot.

bed: 4 x 8 = 32sq

4 seed per sq =128 stalks

128 x 2 ears per stalk =256 ears

60 ears per bushel = 4 bushel

oh...duh!! I forgot it was a 4x8 bed...i was thinking 4x4 for some reason, you even stated that!! sorry 'bout that! Still a GREAT harvest!!

littlejo 7/29/2013, 9:06 pm

I used MM, added compost when I planted seed, then when the corn was about 10 inches tall, I added some more compost. Corn is a heavy feeder..

The farm store said to add fertilizer when 10 in. tall, so I added home made compost instead.

Jo

yolos 7/29/2013, 9:15 pm

I have a 4 ft x 16 ft bed of silver queen corn. I planted the first 6 ft on 6/9/13, the second 6 ft on 6/16 and the last 4 ft on 6/23. I planted 2 per square. The first batch planted is about 5 ft tall, starting to tassle, but no signs of any ears. Getting the lower south garden ready for fall 671790

Getting the lower south garden ready for fall 671790

. The ears better hurry up and come before the tassles mature and start dropping pollen.

The corn is pretty and healthy looking.

GloriaG 7/30/2013, 1:50 am

In our area of Texas fall tomatoes, peppers and eggplants traditionally are planted on the "4th of July". So I've got those in already.

I also have some mid-season squash planted. Inside I've started broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts and celery to be planted around the first of September.

In August, I'll glue my carrot seeds to paper towels and put them in the freezer for 6-7 weeks before planting them outside. I'll also direct sew some fall potatoes, squash, cucumbers, melons and swiss chard.

This year, I'm also experimenting with an aeroponic tower garden for lettuce since we never seem to have enough and it burns out in the heat in the SFG.

**sanderson** 7/30/2013, 2:31 am

I have asked this before, but no one replied. Where can I buy Silver Queen? I definitely want to try it. Thanks

TxGramma 7/30/2013, 3:31 am

@Sanderson Territorial, Johnny Seeds, Victory, Fedco, Park seed, Burpee or google it and I'm sure you will find even more options.

**sanderson** 7/30/2013, 3:43 am

TxGramma, Thank you for the suggestions. I was looking at Territorial today when I wanted to order Amish tomato and dragon tongue beans. The shipping price stopped me from completing the order. I will look at the others tomorrow.

TxGramma 7/30/2013, 3:51 am

I can understand that. I'm working on getting an order together and shipping will definitely play a factor in where I end up ordering from. If I find one with good shipping that has Silver Queen while I'm finding a place to order my seeds I'll let you know.

**sanderson** 7/30/2013, 4:19 am

Thank you. Baker Creek Rare Seeds has a good shipping price but they didn't have Silver Queen.

littlejo 7/30/2013, 9:06 am

sanderson wrote:I have asked this before, but no one replied. Where can I buy Silver Queen? I definitely want to try it. Thanks

It's a hybrid, and I buy mine at the farm store, where they sell the big bags of chicken/horse feed. It's quite expensive, about 9 dollars per lb but it is well worth it. I guess you have farm stores?
Jo

yolos 7/30/2013, 9:44 am

sanderson wrote:I have asked this before, but no one replied. Where can I buy Silver Queen? I definitely want to try it. Thanks

I bought mine at either Lowes or Home Depot

iiiigardener 7/30/2013, 9:51 am

GloriaG - why do you freeze the carrot mats?

TexasTracy 7/30/2013, 10:13 am

I just planted my tomatoes, Honey Rock melons, small sugar pumpkins, gourds and some herbs (to fill in squares).

GloriaG 7/30/2013, 12:06 pm

Hi iiiigardener,

Freezing the seeds for 6-7 weeks improves germination in our warm temperatures. I use Elmers school glue to fasten them to single layer (split) paper towels because I find it a lot easier to position those tiny seeds while I'm sitting at my kitchen table instead of on my knees in the garden.

I also plant them very close together - 25 per square (5 rows x 5 columns). It gives a spacing of approximately 2". If needed, I thin them by using the small ones for salads.

**walshevak** 8/21/2013, 12:31 pm

ALERT TO LOWER SOUTH GARDENERS! Stopped by my local nursery this morning. The fall brassica plant are in.

My broccoli, cauliflower and some spinach have germinated. Lettuce is a no show but I still have plenty of seed. I am only planting what my house-sitters say they will eat and are willing to care for. I'm going to be in the Philippines from early Oct to late Mar. Taking my 2011 seeds with me to see if any will germinate and grow there.

I've got a lot to do to get my garden ready to leave. Strawberry plants need to be thinned/replanted and the summer stuff will have to be pulled earlier than I would normally do. Can you imagine, HSs don't like tomatoes, but they said they will continue to pull ripe ones and freeze them for me. I broke down and plugged in the double door restaurant freezer this year which will make it easier for them. Already have peaches, blueberries and some tomatoes in it. I will have to depend on transplants next spring for a lot of things as I will not be back until after early planting time and I'm leaving too early for winter seeding of spring crops. Will pull the sweet potatoes after 15 Sep and take them to my son. That way I can get the tubs ready for the house-sitters to plant my garlic. All this pre-planning is giving me a headache.

Kay

Sponsored content

Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall

Re: Getting the lower south garden ready for fall


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.