Plant vegetables for fall and winter harvest
Vegetables planted early this spring, such as kale, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, radish, beets, peas, beans, and carrots have likely reached their mature stage by now and may be starting to go to seed. Broccoli is one cabbage family vegetable which will continue to produce harvestable flower buds if picked regularly before the flowers open. Even cabbage plants will produce additional heads after harvest if only one or two sprouts are allowed to regrow.
Rapidly maturing vegetables such as beans, green onions, spinach, lettuce, radish, beets, kale and collards can be planted now for harvest in September and October. All of these except beans are hardy to winter temperatures (although growth slows to a stop in December), and can be planted in September for harvest early next spring. Cauliflower, turnip, and carrot seed can be planted now for late fall or winter harvest.
I have found it helpful to cover seed with vermiculite, peat moss, or bark dust when planting during hot weather. Seed should be watered every day for the first 2 weeks. The mulch keeps the soil from crusting and also holds additional moisture near the germinating seeds.
Territorial Seed Company has a catalog especially for fall and winter vegetables. You can view the catalog or have a printed copy sent to you from www.territorialseed.com. There is also a winter planting chart showing which vegetables to plant when.
Allen Wilson
Allen has been writing about gardening for over 30 years. He is a retired professor of Horticulture.