Fall Garden?

Has anyone started thinking about a Fall Garden? Ok! I know it's not even Summer yet but all of my peas and greens are gone now and it's getting hot down here I just checked 4" down I got a reading of 77* under shade cloth and 2" of straw, so I'm making out my seed order and drawing out the layout of my fall garden.

When I plan in the winter, my map has both spring and fall on it. That way I know what fall transplants I have to start before the spring plant is harvested. But you've reminded me I only have a short time left on a free shipping offer, and there were at least some fall kohlrabi seeds I wanted.

My succession planting schedule goes through the whole season, from early spring through fall.  No thinking to be done except varieties.

herblover wrote:My succession planting schedule goes through the whole season, from early spring through fall.  No thinking to be done except varieties.

You folks are so well organized. I'm struggling with decisions as to what to plant and where for my Spring planting period. For succession planting I'm trying to figure out what to put in the empty garlic squares after the garlic is harvested.

trolleydriver wrote:

herblover wrote:My succession planting schedule goes through the whole season, from early spring through fall.  No thinking to be done except varieties.

You folks are so well organized. I'm struggling with decisions as to what to plant and where for my Spring planting period. For succession planting I'm trying to figure out what to put in the empty garlic squares after the garlic is harvested.

After my garlic I have planned, variously: Rocket, last round of bush Beans, Lettuce, Mustard, an Asian brassica, and my second attempt at (short) fall peas (last year wasn't successful, but I'm not ready to give up quite yet.)

newbeone wrote:Has anyone started thinking about a Fall Garden? Ok! I know it's not even Summer yet but all of my peas and greens are gone now and it's getting hot down here I just checked 4" down I got a reading of 77* under shade cloth and 2" of straw, so I'm making out my seed order and drawing out the layout of my fall garden.

Absolutely! My fall/winter garden is far superior to my summer garden, so I'm always on the lookout for more things to plant for over-wintering.

Potatoes are the first item on my new list for planting this fall.

countrynaturals wrote:

newbeone wrote:Has anyone started thinking about a Fall Garden? Ok! I know it's not even Summer yet but all of my peas and greens are gone now and it's getting hot down here I just checked 4" down I got a reading of 77* under shade cloth and 2" of straw, so I'm making out my seed order and drawing out the layout of my fall garden.

Absolutely! My fall/winter garden is far superior to my summer garden, so I'm always on the lookout for more things to plant for over-wintering.

CN... If you like cabbage, you may want to check out "January King" cabbage. It is said to withstand 18 degree weather.  I grew some last fall for the first time in the hoop house and it did really well.  You'll have to watch your spacing though. They grow really BIG.

MrBooker wrote:

countrynaturals wrote:

newbeone wrote:Has anyone started thinking about a Fall Garden? Ok! I know it's not even Summer yet but all of my peas and greens are gone now and it's getting hot down here I just checked 4" down I got a reading of 77* under shade cloth and 2" of straw, so I'm making out my seed order and drawing out the layout of my fall garden.

Absolutely! My fall/winter garden is far superior to my summer garden, so I'm always on the lookout for more things to plant for over-wintering.

CN... If you like cabbage, you may want to check out "January King" cabbage. It is said to withstand 18 degree weather.  I grew some last fall for the first time in the hoop house and it did really well.  You'll have to watch your spacing though. They grow really BIG.

Love cabbage. I will put January King as the next item on my fall seed list.

I've ordered these varieties for fall:
Zentaur Fodder Beet, Superschmelz Kohlrabi, Brune D'Hiver Lettuce, Landis Winter Lettuce, Petrowski Turnip, Saffron, Pusa Jamuni Radish, and Oxheart Carrot.

I already have seeds for Joan Rutabega, half a dozen other cold-tolerant lettuces, Evans’ Star Winter Arugula, Winter Bloomsdale and Butterflay Spinach, and 4 other fall radishes.

Like others have mention I just wing it. Since I am never too sure how long I will be in one place, love being a military, I just go by what I have on hand at the time. When I make my seed order I normally order everything I want for my garden weather spring/ fall or summer. But now you guys have me thinking about what to start for a fall garden and figuring out when to start the seeds inside.

I haven't even ordered all seeds for summer much less fall.

Lettuce, lettuce and more lettuce.  Garlic on Halloween. Also I'm waiting on the spring pac choi to bolt & go to seed so I can plant them for fall. And maybe I'll give spinach another try.  I like to plant daikon for the roots in the fall whereas in the spring I plant it for the pods and seeds.  I'm giving up on fall sugar snap peas...there just isn't enough time in my neck of the woods.

Other than that, most of my spring and summer crops will still be growing well in to fall.
CC

What difference a day makes I remember when I lived up in zone 4 summer was the time you garden, Winter what ever you planted either died or went hibernation here I can garden through most of the winter with a little protection, I started my seeds in January, But summer everything dies or goes into hibernation and I go for the A/C.

Yes, hot summers can be brutal on man, beast and our gardens in hot, dry climates. Sun shade, thick mulch, water needed until fall when the bumper crops come in. Then before we know, it's time for the winter garden! Jan and Feb are the only restful months, only having to harvest for dinner! Then, March, it's time to start indoor seedlings, and blanch and freeze all those bumper cole crops.

reynajrainwater wrote:" />The beginning of my fall garden. Beans, summer squash, cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, & tomatoes. I've been keeping it under shade cloth for the last 2 months.

Nice!

newbeone wrote:What difference a day makes I remember when I lived up in zone 4 summer was the time you garden, Winter what ever you planted either died or went hibernation here I can garden through most of the winter with a little protection, I started my seeds in January, But summer everything dies or goes into hibernation and I go for the A/C.

That's me exactly. 

Here are a few of mine, but they're all for next year. I hope that's okay for this thread, since I'm planting in the fall.

First batch of carrots off to a great start. I'm planting a different variety every week and trying to keep track of how they do. This one is "Short & Sweet."


Daikon Radishes. Thanks to TD? for the plastic cup idea. I never got a single one last planting, thanks to my herd of rollie pollies and slugs.


Kale!  I've doubled my space in the Salad Bar for this wonderful Dwarf Curly Russian? kale. It grows for me all year long. We use it in all of our soups, as a side dish, and as a treat for our rabbit.


Sweet 100 tomato. For the next few weeks I'll bring it in and take it out so it can benefit from our perfect days but not be subjected to our cold nights. After daylight savings time go off, It will come in the house and have grow lights and a southern exposure window for the winter. (I'm doing the same with Sun Gold -- wish me luck ).


Here are the rest of my fall starts, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, & Pak Choy (from bottom to top).


I will probably replant all of the above right on through til the end of October, then move all operations inside for the winter.

countrynaturals wrote:Here are a few of mine, but they're all for next year. I hope that's okay for this thread, since I'm planting in the fall.

First batch of carrots off to a great start. I'm planting a different variety every week and trying to keep track of how they do. This one is "Short & Sweet."


Daikon Radishes. Thanks to TD? for the plastic cup idea. I never got a single one last planting, thanks to my herd of rollie pollies and slugs.


Kale!  I've doubled my space in the Salad Bar for this wonderful Dwarf Curly Russian? kale. It grows for me all year long. We use it in all of our soups, as a side dish, and as a treat for our rabbit.


Sweet 100 tomato. For the next few weeks I'll bring it in and take it out so it can benefit from our perfect days but not be subjected to our cold nights. After daylight savings time go off, It will come in the house and have grow lights and a southern exposure window for the winter. (I'm doing the same with Sun Gold -- wish me luck ).


Here are the rest of my fall starts, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, & Pak Choy (from bottom to top).


I will probably replant all of the above right on through til the end of October, then move all operations inside for the winter.

I'm very interested in your indoor tomato idea.  Do you know where I can find information on here or good information elsewhere about this?  Sweet 100 are cherry tomatoes correct??

brianj555 wrote:

I'm very interested in your indoor tomato idea.  Do you know where I can find information on here or good information elsewhere about this?  Sweet 100 are cherry tomatoes correct??

"Good information" is scarce because it isn't easy to actually grow veggies inside in the winter.  I have only been successful with cherry tomatoes, which these are, and then only when they were started and already producing outside before I brought them in. I have a nice, big south facing window where I garden in the winter. I use grow lights. This year I'm going to try those full-spectrum LED grow lights, but I have yet to find any testimonials from successful gardeners -- only sales pitches from companies selling them.

We had a great thread going on this subject, which I will try to find for you. I am determined to grow veggies in the house and greenhouse over the winter, but the odds are definitely against me.

Here's one thread, but I think there's another. I'll keep looking.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t18101-grow-lights

Here's the other one.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t18576-led-grow-lights-any-advice

Looking good, Reyna and CN!!!!!

Fall gardening for me is setting out plants for the winter/spring garden. I am so behind due to life getting in the way, that I haven't even started them, much less have them ready for transplanting by October 1st.

sanderson wrote:Fall gardening for me is setting out plants for the winter/spring garden.  I am so behind due to life getting in the way, that I haven't even started them, much less have them ready for transplanting by October 1st.

I hate it when life gets in the way of gardening.  The great part about living where we do is that we still have plenty of time left to get it all done and enjoy our beautiful fall (2nd spring) weather.

The great thing about California is that we can garden year around.   Summer and winter gardens.  

The bad thing about California is that we can garden year around.  No break.    I have my seed trays outdoors, hoping they sprout.  Finally some glorious weather, and I am well enough to gently start the summer clean up.