As soon as the frigid temperatures roll in and the crystalline smell of snow fills the air, all we want to eat is hearty stews with root veggies and cabbage. For a winter harvest like this, a savvy gardener will start to plan a fall garden as early as mid-summer. Because the fall season typically brings about different environmental conditions from springtime, these tips will help you get started on creating your ideal autumn vegetable garden.
Prepare the Garden Site
No matter what kind of living situation you have, you can always find room for gardening. An autumn garden can work well outside in the yard, raised beds, or containers placed on a balcony or windowsill. The main concern is to find a spot that affords at least six hours of sunlight per day. The autumn sun sits lower in the sky in the northern hemisphere, which means your springtime gardening site may not be ideal for your autumn site. Once you have chosen a location for your garden, prepare the soil with fresh organic compost, especially if you were using that soil to grow plants all summer long.
Decide Whether to Scrap or Save
Did you have a summer garden this year? If not, or if your autumn garden will be in a separate location, feel free to skip this step. If you did, you’ll have to decide whether to scrap or save your summer plantings. Weed out any plants that are dying or no longer producing. On the other hand, some plants, like tomatoes, squash, and peppers, may continue growing and producing well into the fall season. Research the plants you already have to get an idea of their specific time to maturity and length of harvest.
Choose Your New Plants
Is broccoli your favorite green vegetable? Do you love making homemade borscht soup with beets and turnips in the winter? Or do you have an endless list of recipes that use large leafy vegetables like cabbage and kale? There are countless vegetables to choose from for your autumn garden, so it really comes down to your personal preference and regional climate. Every plant will differ according to time to maturity, cold resistance, frost resistance, and ideal soil temperature. Make sure you know these stats about your choice of fall veggies before committing and buying seeds.
Know Your Plants & Plan Early
Even though we’re here to talk about autumn gardening, the reality is that you will probably need to start planning in the summertime. By the time fall rolls around, it may be too late to start, especially for slow-growing veggies like carrots, cabbages, and broccoli. If time is of the essence or you’re getting a late start, consider growing veggies like spinach and lettuce, which grow much faster.
No matter what you choose to grow, make sure you know how many days it will take for it to reach maturity. Count that number back from the time you expect to have the first frost of the season, and that’s when you should plant your seeds. If in doubt, start planting earlier than you think you will need to. That said, some veggies are hardier than others and may still grow and produce even during and after the first frost.
In Conclusion
Gardening is a fun and fulfilling hobby that can be done nearly year-round, not just in the spring and summer. As soon as your summer garden starts producing its autumn harvest, it’s time to start planning ahead for your winter harvest. An autumn vegetable garden keeps your hands busy in the dirt and your kitchen stocked with fresh, healthy veggies well into winter!
