Cool, Crisp, Delicious
The summer sun is still smiling on our warm season gardens, though for a few minutes less each day now. The harvest has been bountiful, but some of the crops have begun to fade and there are voids in the garden now, where beans or corn once grew. We can feel fall creeping in like the morning mist. But we gardeners will not go gently in these dark months. We will restage! And plant sage against the dying of the light! Just kidding, now is not the time to plant sage, but parsley doesn’t rhyme with rage.
That’s right! Don’t turn-in those gardens just yet. Instead plant these Cool Season Crops for a delectable fall harvest.
Cole Crops
Members of the cabbage family, Brassicaceae, sometimes referred to as cole crops or crucifers, thrive in cooler temperatures and are able to withstand a light frost. These include cabbage, broccoli, chard, brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower, and kohlrabi.
Root Vegetables
Vegetables that grow nestled in the protection of the still warm ground like carrots, radishes, beets, turnips, rutabagas, parsnips, and onions (not a true root but a bulb) are perfect for growing late in the season. Most of these store nicely into the winter months, providing home grown nutrition even after your garden has stopped producing.
Leafy Greens
Spinach, lettuce, arugula, bok choy, and collards are fast growing and packed with nutrients. The heat of summer causes these plants to hurry up and produce seeds, referred to as bolting. The cool fall days, however, keep these plants flourishing with robust, leafy growth. Many leafy greens can be harvested a few leaves from each plant at a time. This encourages the growth of new leaves and extends your harvest.
Herbs
A number of herbs prefer cooler weather, such as cilantro, parsley, fennel, and dill. Harvest sprigs regularly to encourage new growth and your plants will continue to provide fresh, delicious herbs until first frost.
It’s best to sow most of these varieties before the end of August across much of the US. Dates will vary depending on your Hardiness Zone. Refer to the maturity timeline listed on the seed packet and count back from your estimated first frost date to calculate your latest possible sowing date.
Fall veggies are some of my favorites all year, as the cooler temps trigger the breakdown of starches into sugars, making for even more delicious produce! So play it chill this fall and keep the garden growing with the coolest crops around. Happy Planting!
