with information about cold hardiness for frost:
60 to 80 Day Grow Time Cauliflower Green Onions Cabbage 50 to 60 Days Beets Broccoli Kohlrabi Turnips 40 to 60/65 Days Bush Beans Collard Greens Kale Leaf Lettuce Swiss Chard 30 to 60 Days Basil Mustard Greens Radishes Spinach | Cold Hardiness Survives light frost only Survives to 25 to 30 degrees Survives to 20 to 25 degrees Survives 25 to 30 degrees Survives light frost Survives light frost Survives light frost Killed by frost Survives 20 to 25 degrees Survives 20 to 25 degrees Survives light frost Survives light frost Killed by frost Survives light frost Good till soil freezes Survives light frost, maybe colder |
I have found that certain veggies fair better when started indoors where the temperature and other germination conditions are better. I usually start broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale indoors in seedling trays indoors where I let them grow for 2 to three weeks, and I plant them outside while it is still hot. Seedlings grow much better in the heat. 4 or 5 days before you plant to plant them in the ground, you need to start bringing your trays outdoors for a few hours a day so they can get used to direct sunlight. I still try to plant them in the ground on a cloudy day, to give them a last bit of protection.
Other vegetables can be planted directly in the ground and the most important thing to remember is that the soil must be kept moist at all times until the plants appear above the soil. Even then, regular watering is a must for fall gardens. Even a few days of too dry ground can set back or even ruin fall vegetables. The best way to keep the ground moist is through the use of a layer of newspaper with mulch on top of it, between the rows of seeds. This will help keep the moisture in and keep the sunlight from drying out the soil.
You are losing a great opportunity for a big crop of vegetables, if you don't plant for fall. I love having fresh vegetables to eat into autumn, and I still have many to dehydrate, and freeze for use when the snow flies!
Let's do this! Jade :) Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eljay/4592839085/sizes/n/ |
|