Midwest Suggestion Box..

This can be a little suggestion box if you all want. I will try and answer midwest questions first to show the love inside the region.

Bear in mind we have fall topics coming and I plan to talk hoops and season extension in a couple months.

That said, what do you feel you need to know more about? What topics do you want detailed better or expanded on or even covered at all?

I'd like to know more about what types of things to plant when.... growing up we would plant the garden in late may and be done in august and that was that. While I know the growing season is tricky in northern Wisconsin, I'm excited that it's possible to plant into late summer, etc.

I'm just not sure WHAT to plant.

edit: just saw your designing a fall garden post!! - funny you mentioned eau claire - that's just 40 miles south of me. will take a closer look at that post and watch for your posts about fall planting.

laurakay60 wrote:I'd like to know more about what types of things to plant when.... growing up we would plant the garden in late may and be done in august and that was that. While I know the growing season is tricky in northern Wisconsin, I'm excited that it's possible to plant into late summer, etc.

I'm just not sure WHAT to plant.

Thanks for asking the question.

First thing first. Do you have a copy of the book in the banner? It has a great section on planning/planting with charts to help you time things based on your frost date. That would be the best starting point.

Second, follow the Fall Garden Design thread I have going. I am transitioning my garden slowly towards fall. But, I am still keeping some quicker to harvest summer things in since I have a long ways to go yet in summer.

Third, do you know your fall frost date? Up there, it's likely mid to late September? You can start thinking of cool season plants again. But, you likely have enough warm weather left to get summer things in, too.

For summer things, you have until frost to harvest them. Probably too late to do tomatoes now, but bush and pole beans come to mind. But, you can also still get crops of beets, carrots, swiss chard, chinese cabbage, cucumbers, kohlrabi, and early harvesting corn.

But, start thinking of longer harvesting cooler crops like potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and maybe even celery. I will be putting some potatoes in the groud soon, and starting some broccoli and cauliflower indoors in the next 2 or 3 weeks all the way down here in St. Louis. And, I know your summer will cool off before mine.