Fall vegetable gardening is certainly just as much fun for some people as harvesting the benefits of early summer and spring gardening. You can enjoy the harvest right after you plant your vegetables garden. It is truly the height of vegetable gardening to be able to enjoy your crops up to harvest time. This is a wonderful way to spend the last days of summer preparing for winter. Here are a few suggestions for planting vegetables during the fall:
There are several fall vegetable seeds that can be planted in a raised bed. Be sure that you plant these seeds in early spring so that they will have enough time to sprout. Many people choose to plant their seedlings in a raised bed plan so that they can enjoy eating fresh vegetables all year long. This is also a good way to save space in a small apartment or home. A raised bed plan is also easier on the soil.
In most cases it is best to plant vegetables in pots rather than in raised bed garden soil. Pots have the advantage of being able to be transferred from one location to another easily. The soil in raised beds tends to be more compact and soil structure is less. With a small amount of effort, it is usually possible to transfer your seedlings and transplants to an area that is warmer and drier. However, there are some disadvantages with this type of gardening.
Planting vegetables in pots may take more time than if you were planting them in a raised bed garden soil. This is because seeds need to be sowed deeply and then spread out over a large area before they have a chance to germinate. This is especially true for seeds of larger fruits like squash or turnips. Vegetables that are smaller in stature need to be sowed out more closely together in order to give them room to grow and develop roots. If you don’t do this correctly, your Swiss Chard, carrots or red peppers may not come up as expected.
It is very important to prepare the soil prior to planting. This includes removing all weeds and using an herbicide to prevent any disease. Most herbicides work by repressing the root system. They also kill plants nearby. A simple mixture of three tablespoons of your chosen herbicide and six cups of warm water will control most common weed species. Be sure to follow any irrigation instructions on your seeds packages to avoid excessive watering.
After you have removed weeds, the next step is to place your Swiss Chard, carrots or red peppers in a row at the end of the garden bed. Then, apply three to six inches of your chosen herbicide. Be sure to follow any soil temperature guidelines given by your seed germination guide, and be sure to water the seeds thoroughly after they have been planted.
In early spring it is time to re-pot your seeds. Place them in the holes they are in and cover with additional soil. The vegetables will need good drainage during the winter season. The best method is to dig a hole about one foot deeper than the seeds and place them in the hole with the seed at the bottom.
In early September you can re-pot your garden vegetables and get them into production. The vegetables should be harvested when the first frost has occurred. Harvest on the second day, the third day and the fourth day. Make sure to keep the produce fresh until the first frost sets in. This will ensure that your vegetables are in peak condition when you have the opportunity to harvest them for the winter.