The Best Fall Vegetables to Plant This Year
As a first time gardener, it’s important to know the best vegetables to plant each season. The best planting seasons are spring and fall. Vegetables are the most planted varieties among other crops. Fall gardening usually starts around late summer and here are the best fall vegetables to plant this year.
Broccoli
Plant broccoli seeds at least 10 days before the first frosting day depending on each locality. The seeds should be planted during the last days of summer when it’s too hot for mulching to provide enough moist and cool temperatures. After the seeds are transplanted into the garden, the feeding stage is the next process. It’s important to use a fertilizer that contains low nitrogen levels for the best results. Once planted, broccoli takes around 70 days to mature when it’s ready for harvesting.
Brussels Sprouts
These have become the most favorite fall vegetables since they have an ideal taste after maturing in the cool fall weather. The seeds should be planted in mid-summer after which they require 90 days to mature. When they become firm and green, it’s time to harvest.
Cabbages
8 weeks prior to the first frost, the cabbage seedlings should be planted in the garden. If the last days of summer are too hot, the plants should be thoroughly protected and covered from the sun to prevent early death from dehydration. For successful growth, cabbages require organic manure and frequent watering. They take about 70 days to mature after which they are ready for harvest.
Cauliflower
Just like cabbages, cauliflower seedlings should be planted 8 weeks prior to frosting. They are very trick vegetables to grow but with frequent watering and composting, the plants will mature successfully. To prevent any abnormal growths such as small sized heads, it important to keep the temperature constant, keep the plants watered to allow absorption of moisture and also they should be protected from the sun. The plants take about 60 days to mature when they are harvested.
Lettuce
This is one of the perfect vegetables for both spring and fall. Gardeners planning plant this vegetable during fall should plant the seeds during the last days of summer. The seedlings should be watered frequently to provide them with enough moisture for growth and survival. If the summer sun is too harsh, the seedlings should be covered to provide protection. Depending on the type or variety planted, lettuce plants can mature between 1.5 -2 months.
Spinach
The spinach seeds should be planted 5 weeks before frosting occurs. Spinach crops thrive during fall when the weather is cool and moist. If the crop is well established it can survive even through winter regardless of how low the temperatures become. For rapid growth, it’s imperative to fertilize the soil using manure or compost. After one and half months, the leaves should become tender signaling maturity and harvest time.
Note that, most of the vegetables planted during fall don’t survive well when winter sets in. Therefore, they should be properly fed and taken care of to guarantee rapid growth.
