fall vegetable gardening calvert county master gardeners
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Fall Vegetable Gardening
Calvert County Master Gardeners
College ofAgriculture and Natural Resources
Grow Your Own FoodWe Can Show You How
Our Vision:1 Million Maryland food gardeners
producing their own affordable,healthy food.
What do we mean by fall gardening?
Planting crops for harvest before frost and after frost
Planting crops that can overwinter for spring harvesting
Protected gardening in a cold frame, greenhouse or under row covers
Planting cover crops to add organic matter and nitrogen, and minimize weeds in spring
All are cold hardy & some are quick maturing •Cole crops: broccoli, cabbage, collards, cauliflower, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts
•Greens: leaf lettuce, spinach, arugula, Asian greens, mustard, cilantro
•Root crops: Rutabagas, beets, carrots, turnips, parsnips
Select Crops
Half-hardySurvive light frost
– BeetsBeets– CauliflowerCauliflower– ChardChard– Chinese CabbageChinese Cabbage– EndiveEndive– KohlrabiKohlrabi– LettuceLettuce– MustardMustard– PeasPeas– RutabagasRutabagas
HardySurvive heavy frost
– Broccoli– Broccoli Raab– Brussels Sprouts– Cabbage– Collards– Kale– Radishes– Spinach– Turnips
Overwintering Crops
ArugulaBroccoli RaabChicoriesGarlicKaleLeeksMultiplier OnionsSpinach
• LeeksLeeks
Fall Days & TemperaturesCool nights slow plant growth. Vegetables take longer to mature.Days grow shorter, the sun’s angle is lower in
the sky and light is less intense; less sunlight energy for plants.
These environmental conditions add sugar to cole crops.
Lettuce and spinach will not bolt.
Seed Starting DateShort-Day Factor
First frost date for your areaDays to maturity, germination, transplantAdd 14 days for Short Day Factor
Formula: Days to maturity + Days to germinate + Days to
transplant + SDF=Days to plant before frost
Sample Calculation For Sowing Spinach Seeds
• Days to germination: 7 to 10• Days to maturity: 35• Short Day Factor (SDF): __14__ 56 to59
I can sow seeds between 56 and 59 days before the first frost – about Oct. 19-26 for Huntingtown.
Counting back from Oct. 19-26 the dates to sow are about Aug. 22 to Sept. 1.
Preparing the Site
Remove waste from previous crop.If ground is dry, give it a thorough soaking.Work compost into top few inches of soil.
Transplants
Start transplants or purchase for:
Broccoli Brussels sproutsCabbageCauliflowerCollards
Weather Considerations
• High heat and humidity in August – Start cool weather crops
in a protected spot– Indoors under lights,
under shade cloth or in a shady part of the garden
Putting out Transplants
Seedlings need gradual exposure to direct sunlight.
Will benefit from light shading for the first few days.
Keep them soaked.
Row Cover Protection
Throw a bed sheet over row cover for a few days to provide shade.
Row covers deter insects and larger critters.
Row covers can extend season.
Seeds to SowDirect seed: Beets Broccoli raabChinese cabbageCilantroCollardsEndiveKaleKohlrabiLettuceMustard greensSpinachTurnips
Getting Seeds to Germinate and Grow
Soil is hot and dry.Clay soil forms hard crust.Seeds need cooler temperatures and
moisture to germinate and grow. Slow growing beets and carrots will suffer
setbacks if soil is dry.
Seeds Become Dormant at High Temperatures.
The maximum soil temperature for germinating lettuce and spinach is 70 degrees F. The optimum temperature for germinating peas is 70. For many other vegetables it is 80 degrees F.
Sowing Seeds
Water soil before sowing. Sow in the late afternoon so germination
will begin overnight.
Direct Sow
Plant seeds slightly deeper. Depth may be 1 ½ to 2 times deeper than spring.
Can cover seeds in furrow with potting soil or vermiculite.
Keep soil cool and moist. Cover seeded area with burlap, newspapers, or boards.
Can shade soil, or use light mulch.
Germinating Seeds
Another tip is to pre-germinate seeds. Soak seeds overnight in a moistened paper
towel enclosed in a plastic bag. Do not soak longer or delicate seedling parts will be damaged in planting.
Interplant
Use shade from existing plants.
Sow lettuce, carrots, arugula, beets, collards.
Mustard greens on north side of tomatoes
Planting Schedule (late July)Last plantings of fast growing warm season
vegetables-snap beans.Order garlic. Start cabbage family seedlings indoors.Sow lettuce, cilantro, rutabagas, radishes.Soak or pre-germinate parsley seeds for
sowing.
Planting Schedule
10-12 weeks before hard frost:
Set out transplantsDirect sow beets,
carrots, collards & more lettuce, radishes
Planting Schedule
8 to 10 weeks before hard frost:
Sow Asian greens, arugula, turnips, spinach, mustard
More lettuce, radishes, beets, collards
Planting Schedule
6 to 8 weeks before hard frost:Sow spinach.Plant garlic, shallots, multiplying onions.Sow half-hardy vegetables under protective
cover.
Protected Gardening:Moving a Zone South
• Floating Row Cover– Provides 4-10 degrees
of protection
• Cold Frame• Hoop House• Greenhouse
Herbs for the Cold Frame
• Chives• Oregano• Sage • Thyme
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Planting Fall Crops: Garlic!
• Purchase bulbs to plant in October from a seed/plant company; not from grocery store!
• Choose full sun location• Weed area and amend soil with compost• Separate cloves and plant them pointed end
up, 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart
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• Top dress with compost or mulch to deter weeds• In Spring add fresh layer of compost or mulch• Remove any flower stalks to insure large bulbs• Harvest when foliage yellows and falls over. Usually in July
here.• Store in dry cool location
ReferencesArticlesGrisak, Amy, “Second Acts.” Organic Gardening, Aug/Oct 2009, pp 58-63.
Pleasant, Barbara, “Grow Your Best Fall Garden.” Mother Earth News, August/September 2009, pp 31-35.
BooksThe Maryland Master Gardener Handbook. University of Maryland College of
Agriculture and Natural Resources. September 2008.Bubel, Nancy. The New Seed Starters Handbook. Emmaus, Pa: Rodale Press, 1988.InternetWilson, Carl, “Front Range Food Gardener Blog,” staff Horticulturist with the
Colorado State University Extension office in Denver, CSU Extension web site.
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Fall Chores For a Healthy Garden
• Clean up and remove plant debris from garden. – Leave vegetable roots in place– Dig in or remove summer mulch
• Add and mix in farm manure or compost.• Plant a cover crop in September on bare ground or
cover soil with tree leaves.
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Caring for Perennials• Asparagus -Cut to 2 inch stubs after frost, Add 4 to 6
inches mulch• Rhubarb - Top dress with composted manure • Strawberries - Mulch with straw or organic materials
4” deep after soil freezes• Raspberries/blackberries - In winter, remove
floricanes which have borne fruit• Blueberries - Protect with pine bark mulch, rotted
sawdust, or compost around the base of the bush
Protect all perennial vegetables from freezing weather with mulch around the base of plants.
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Reminders for “Putting the Garden to Bed”
• Remove all rotten fruit from the ground around trees; insect infestations last through winter.
• Leave vegetable roots in place but remove diseased tomato, potato, and squash foliage to prevent disease. Do not toss these plants in the compost. Bag and discard.
• Remove dead branches from roses and fruit trees (no pruning yet).
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• Leave dried flowers, ornamental grasses, and seed heads that look good and provide food for birds.
• Protect perennials from frost heaving by mulching after the ground freezes.
• Protect ornamentals such as azaleas and berry bushes from bud-eating deer with deer netting.
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• Build a simple compost bin or add to your present one all Winter long.
• Plant spring bulbs. Including garlic• Plant cover crops after harvest to correct soil
compaction. • Clean and sharpen tools blades• Plan next year’s garden!
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How to Store the Harvest
• In-ground growing• Unheated attic- onions• Unheated basement – Winter squash and
pumpkin (stems on)• Root cellar• Pits with containers• Specialized treatments (tomatoes)
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How to Store the Harvest
• Drying • Freezing• Canning• Preserving• Pickling
UME Master Gardeners’Mission
Our mission is to educate Maryland residents about safe, effective and sustainable
horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.
Resources
• Grow It! Eat It!http://www.extension.umd.edu/growit
– We have all types of practical food gardening tips and information. Check out our popular blog!
• Home and Garden Information Centerhttp://www.extension.umd.edu/hgic
– Here you will find factsheets, photos, and videos. You can also subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter.
– We answer gardening questions 24/7…just click “Ask Maryland’s Garden Experts”
• Maryland Master Gardener Programhttp://www.extension.umd.edu/mg
– Consider becoming a trained MG volunteer!
This program was brought to you by the
Maryland Master Gardener Program
Calvert County
University of Maryland Extension