Fall is here, even though it might not feel like it, and it’s time to get your garden ready for some delicious autumn and winter vegetables. Some of the most nutritious vegetables are grown when the weather starts to cool down.
You don’t even need a large garden because most of them can be grown in containers.
Before you start planting, make sure to prep your beds for the new vegetables. Clear any debris, roots or leftover fruit from summer. Leftover debris is a safe haven for insects and you definitely don’t want to start out with an insect infestation.
Next, you’ll need to freshen up the soil by adding new garden soil to your containers or beds. In general, most fall vegetables need a lot of nitrogen. Therefore, it’s best to add fertilizer to the soil.
Most leafy green vegetables are planted in the fall. Leafy greens include lettuce, collards, kale and spinach. Other vegetables that grow well in the fall are: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green onions, turnips, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, beets and radishes.
All of these vegetables can be grown by seed. When the seedlings start to sprout, be sure to thin them out. This is especially important for root crops. For instance, when too many carrots are planted and grow close together, they’ll twist and turn and grow around each other.
Follow the seed packet information to harvest the veggies at the appropriate times. Lettuce, spinach and kale will continue to grow throughout the season. They’re the vegetables that keep on giving.
There’s nothing better than stepping outside to your garden and snipping a few leaves for a fresh salad or sandwich. Happy gardening!