Fall Edibles

Fall offers an excellent opportunity to grow edible crops again. This spring, there was a renewed interest in vegetable growing, composting and fruit/berry production. Why not grow your own food? You can economically grow a fresh crop of veggies organically. Vegetables are one of the easiest groups of plants to grow with only a few essentials to remember. Full sun (six or more hours), good soil and adequate drainage are the keys to a successful garden. When working with fall crops, remember that timing is crucial due to the shorter growing season. Read seed packages carefully to determine the proper time to sow.

One of the benefits of growing your own crops is being able to regulate the soil and fertilizer used. We recommend adding composted cow manure or Leafgro to your garden as this will give the plants a suitable medium to establish quickly. Organic fertilizer such as Plantone or fish emulsion can be added depending on your schedule. Be an attentive gardener and check your plants daily for growth or pest and disease problems. Prompt treatment can include hand removal or the application of a simple soap spray. Use the Safer line of products to remedy most problems and, as always, bring in a leaf for us to help you identify the problem.

Spinach and leaf lettuce are easy to grow for fall/winter harvest. The seeds for these vegetables will germinate well in the late summer heat and grow well in the cool fall temperatures. You could also consider head lettuce such as 'Butter Crunch', although these take a bit longer to mature. These crops are able to grow into December, even when temperatures dip into the high twenties.

Cole crops are fantastic plants for the fall garden. These include vegetables in the mustard family that are varieties in the species Brassica oleracea. Purchase these as started plants: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. This will give you developed plants ready to take off as the weather cools. From seed, look for kale, collards and mustard greens. These are easy and generally trouble free. Kohlrabi is another cole crop. Watch for cabbage looper, though. This pale green insect grows up to two inches and loves to munch on cole crops!

Radishes and flat Italian beans are also acceptable to plant early this fall. Look for short maturity dates, especially on the beans. Sugar and snow peas are also great cool weather crops, but plant them early directly in the soil, as most take seventy days to mature. These can be ready to harvest by mid-October.

Don't forget herbs this autumn! Dill and cilantro will germinate and thrive in the cooler temperatures ahead. You can also grow many herbs inside in a bright, sunny window.

Fall is also an excellent time to plant fruiting trees, shrubs and vines. Apple, cherry and peach are just a few of the selections we offer. Blueberries and raspberries are popular fall shrubs to establish your edible landscape. If you have a strong support system, also consider grapes.

Fall is a bonus season that offers many opportunities to grow your own food. Remember too that many of these plants are also visually pleasing in your yard. Once you have harvested your first crop, you will see just how rewarding an edible garden can be.