There are a multitude of vegetables that prefer cool autumn temperatures. Grow an autumn vegetable garden and preserve your harvest to enjoy tasty food through the harsh winter months.
Gardening Enthusiasm
Most people, myself included, start gardening in the spring. We are full of enthusiasm and have great plans. Then, before we realize it, it’s August and our dream garden is an overgrown weed patch. Don’t despair; plant an autumn vegetable garden. It is a good way to make up for the neglected flower garden.
Vegetables
There are a multitude of vegetables that prefer cool autumn temperatures. These include brussel sprouts, kale and cabbage. These vegetables need a good nip from Jack Frost to bring out their fabulous flavor. Specific varieties that do particularly well in an autumn garden are Red Ball cabbage, Winderbor kale and Jade Cross brussel sprouts. If you are unable to find these varieties at your local garden center or nursery, ask the staff which varieties will do well in your area. They will be happy to recommend vegetables that will make your autumn garden a success.
A Splash of Color
Once you have the vegetables planted in your garden, transplant yellow, orange and rust chrysanthemums, along with orange/red marigolds and purple salvia along the ends of the rows. Reserve a spot to add shallots and garlic later. These will be harvested next year.
Advantages of an Autumn Garden
An autumn garden has a positive twist. The seeds are planted in soil that has been warmed by the sun throughout the summer months. This hastens germination and the seeds don’t rot as often as they do in the wet conditions of spring. To be certain that many plants will grow, sow twice as many as what you usually would. It is easier to thin an abundance of plants than it is to replant later because birds, squirrels and other wildlife have eaten seeds or collected them for winter storage.
Where to Plant an Autumn Garden
Always plant an autumn garden in raised beds. Rake soil onto beds and make paths between the plants for easy access when harvesting or weeding. The raised beds should be approximately eight to twelve inches high and three to four feet wide. Length may vary, depending on the yield you wish to harvest. Soil in raised beds stays loose and allows good drainage because you are only walking on the paths.
Soil Preparation
Prepare the soil by mowing the weeds in your flower garden. Then, cover the area with twelve to fifteen inches of natural compost. Deep layers of compose allow very few weeds to spring up and an autumn garden will require less maintenance. There’s no need to dig or till the soil.
Compost
Use compost that is at least a year old. Any weeds that have germinated in that time will have died in the compost heap and they won’t make their way into your garden. Fresh compost will bring invited guests in the form of weeds. If you don’t have access to weed-less compost, weed the old fashioned way; on hands and knees or by using a hoe. Another alternative is to add a layer of mulch, straw or grass clippings.
Water
Don’t forget to water your autumn vegetable garden. Autumn gardens need more water than gardens planted in spring. You must be sure to give them at least one inch of water per week.
Mmm! Delicious
When you transform your mid-August garden into an autumn vegetable garden you are able to treat yourself to nutritious vegetables that have been organically grown. Enjoy kohlrabi, mesclun, radishes and turnips, which can all be eaten either cooked or raw. Fennel provides ferny greens that are fabulous when used to enhance the flavor of fish. Mustard tops and turnip greens are also eatable and can be grown in your autumn garden.
Spinach is a welcome addition and will give a second harvest in the spring when friends and neighbors are planting their first crop. In June, garlic and shallow that you planted the previous fall will be ready to eat.
The vegetables mentioned in this article can take a few light frosts without damage. You can also add lettuce, mustard greens and chard to your autumn garden by covering the plants to moderate the cold and wind above the ground. Also apply heavy mulch, such as straw. This retains heat that is still in the ground.
Protecting your Plants against Frost
There are various ways to protect your plants against frost. Stack bales of straw or hay on the north side of the rows. These act as a windbreak. Build a cold frame of cement blocks by stacking them high on the north sides of rows and low on the south side. Another alternative is to build a cement block cold frame and cover the top with old storm windows. You can also make an A-frame of these windows over the top of your plants. This creates a green house effect. Old storm windows can often be picked for a reasonable price from garage sales or a demolition contractor.
Cover small plants with bottomless milk jugs, large jars or glass cloches. You may also cut the tops and bottoms out of cardboard or wooden boxes and place them over your plants.
The Key to Success
The key to having a successful autumn garden in your growing zone is by being aware of the first frost date. Then, ask your local garden center personnel how long it takes the vegetables you wish to grow to reach maturity. In autumn, days are short and temperatures are cool. Allow at least two to three weeks longer than normal for your vegetables to mature. Count the total number of days from planting time to maturity. Use your calendar to count back from the first expected frost date to determine the date that your seeds must be planted. If you plant by this date and follow the tips in this article, you will enjoy tasty, nutritious vegetables long after everyone else has harvested their crops.
Preserve
Visit your local bookstore, library or search online for delicious recipes that will allow you to preserve your harvest. This will allow you to reap the benefits of your autumn garden throughout the long, winter months. Enjoy!