Summer is coming to its end and for those who participate in gardening, it can start to feel monotonous. Not to worry, there is still time to clean your summer harvest and continue to work in your garden with second season crop tending and fast growing fall vegetables!
Every gardener has a similar but different situation, depending on the climate and the nature of the garden's layout. Here is a quick guide for any last minute vegetable gardening endeavors you want to take on.
1. Clean Out Your Summer Garden Bed
First things first, you’ll want to re-prepare your garden and transition into fall lawn care. Proper fall gardening will always depend on your climate zone. According to LawnStarter, “grass leaves growth slows down as the weather cools, but the root system and rhizomes continue to grow quickly.” Making it important to maintain your lawn and soil prior to working on your garden for a second season.
Once you’ve taken care of your lawn, clean out your garden bed of any spent plants, trim down perennials, and tend to any second season plants as needed. If you do have perennials, make sure to take note on the layout of your garden bed for future use. Break up and fluff the soil and replenish it by mixing in compost.
Now you’re all ready to begin your garden that will be ready in two months or less!
2. Tend to Second-season Crops
The most common type of second season crop is going to be the cucurbit crops. Classic imagery appears when you think about the fall season – assuming you mostly picture pumpkins growing off a vine. Cucurbit crops are typically planted earlier in the mid to late spring as they require lots of sunshine, well-drained soil, and between 3.5 to 5 months to mature.
Cucurbit crops include:
- Pumpkins
- Cucumbers
- Squash
- Zucchini
- Melons
For proper maintenance, make sure to keep the soil dry in the final stages of maturity and make note when they ripe. The best way to tell if they are fully mature is by recognizing the shell fullness and evaluating the visible health of the vine. Meaning, if the vine is deteriorating or turning brown.
3. Growing Leafy Greens
One of the easiest and fast growing vegetables in the fall time is going to be your leafy greens. These varieties typically mature between 30 and 60 days, depending on the exact species. They thrive on cool temperatures, which makes them more conducive for growth in the fall time. If temperatures at summer’s end are still warm, make sure to keep the seeds hydrated or pre sprout indoors until the weather cools down.
Leafy green vegetables include:
- Arugula
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Swiss Chard
For proper maintenance, tend to the leafy greens based on your desired leaf maturity. Most leafy green crops are ready for harvesting once their baby leaves appear, but can maintain growth to more intensified tasting leaves.
4. Growing Root Crops
Root vegetables grow the best in cooler and moist environments, and can withstand frost longer than most vegetables. Similar to leafy greens, they mature rather quickly too so they’ll be ready in time for you to make some tasty autumn dishes before transitioning into the winter. They are also considered second-season crops; some of the varieties can grow summer through fall, and some can grow fall through winter.
Root crop vegetables include:
- Carrots
- Turnips
- Parsnips
- Celeriac
- Beets
- Green Onions
- Sweet Potatoes
For proper maintenance, thin the seedlings so they have adequate spacing to grow. A consistently moist soil is required since the vegetable grows below the surface of the ground. There are a couple ways to tell when the root mature, and this primarily depends on the type. Use the suggested time frame on the seed packaging or look into the length of the stems. The stem length can be a good indicator as to how mature the root vegetable is.
Gardening isn’t easy, but it is certainly worth the accomplishing feeling of having farm to table freshness right in your backyard. Get outside today, and take advantage of the cooler weather about to roll in!
