FALL GARDENING

It's possible to extend the gardening season well into fall by planting crops which mature in cool weather. Second and third plantings of carrots, beets and beans will provide fresh, home-grown vegetables into the fall and are excellent for canning, freezing, or storing.

Many vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, collards, peas, and radish, do better when maturing in the cool weather.  Some vegetables, like kale and turnips, actually taste better after being exposed to frost!

In some areas of the South, gardeners are able to grow second crops of warm weather vegetables, such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, winter squash, pumpkins and melons. Along the southern coastal and Pacific coast areas (Hardiness Zones 9 & 10), it's possible to have vegetables growing in the garden virtually every month of the year.

No matter where you live, late plantings can fill areas of your garden left vacant by crops harvested earlier in the season. This "succession" planting method will increase your garden's total yield and reduce soil moisture loss and weed growth, because the ground is never left bare.

ZONE MAP

Tips for Sowing Seeds in Summer:

For fall harvests, sow seeds or transplant seedlings as indicated in the tables on our web site.  Vegetables that are subject to attack by the same diseases and insects should not follow each other in the garden; instead, plant an unrelated crop.  For example, plant cabbage, carrots, or beets where early peas or beans grew, or turnips and spinach where early corn and potatoes grew.

Soil dries out faster in the summer than in the spring, so keep seeds or seedlings evenly moist until the plants are well established.  Since it's difficult for seedlings to emerge in dry, crusted soil, consider covering furrows of newly planted seeds with a moistened, light layer of sand, vermiculite, or a floating row cover.  Once the plants have emerged, cultivate frequently to control weeds.  An even better way to control weeds, while at the same time conserving moisture, is to mulch with straw and other organic materials, newspaper or plastic mulch.  Don't forget to add additional fertilizer and nutrients, as you'll be working your soil twice as hard planting successive crops.

Heat-sensitive crops like lettuce and spinach need protection from the hot summer sun, so plant  in an area shaded by taller summer crops, or start the seeds inside and transplant into the garden later.

As daylight grows shorter in late summer, crops will take somewhat longer to mature. Therefore, it's important to know the average date of the first fall frost in your area.  If you're not sure of the first fall frost date where you live, check with your local County Agricultural Extension Service (usually found in the blue pages of phone book).  Once you've determined this date, consult the Fall Planting Schedule for the range of safe dates for planting fall crops.

FALL GARDENING SPECIAL
one package each of the following varieties
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1. Bountiful Green Bush Bean - Pkt. - 2 oz.
2. Cherokee Wax Yellow Bush Bean - Pkt. 2 oz.
3. Early Snowball Cauliflower – Pkt. - 200 seeds
4. Early Wonder Beet - Pkt. - 1/4 oz.
5. De Cicco Broccoli - Pkt. - 200 seeds
6. Early Fall Rapini - Pkt. - 200 seeds
7. Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage - Pkt. - 200 seeds
8. Autumn King Carrot - Pkt. - 1200 seeds
9. Tendergreen Burpless Cucumber - Pkt. – 60 seeds
10. Winter Red Kale - Pkt. - 200 seeds
11. Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce - Pkt. - 750 seeds
12. Lolita Lettuce - Pkt. - 200 seeds
13. Arugula - Pkt. – 300 seeds
14. Tendergreen Mustard - Pkt. - 200 seeds
15. Alaska Pea - Pkt. - 2 oz.
16. Black Spanish Radish - Pkt. - 350 seeds
17. China Rose Radish - Pkt. - 350 seeds
18. Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach - Pkt. - 400 seeds
19. Black Zucchini - Pkt. - 20 seeds
20. Early Prolific Straightneck Squash - Pkt. - 20 seeds
21. Ruby Red Swiss Chard - Pkt. - 1/4 oz.
22. White Egg Turnip - Pkt. - 200 seeds
23. Tiny Tim Tomato - Pkt. - 20 seeds
24. Basil, Sweet - Pkt. - 150 seeds
25. Chives - Pkt. - 150 seeds
26. Cilantro - Pkt. - 50 seeds

Fall Garden Special (click to order)
#FGS - $29.99

FALL GARDENING ORGANIC SPECIAL
One package each of the following Certified Organic varieties

1. Blue Lake Bush Green Bean - Pkt. - 2 oz.
2. Early Wonder Beet - Pkt. - 1/4 oz.
3. De Cicco Broccoli - Pkt. - 200 seeds
4. Little Finger Carrot - Pkt. - 1200 seeds
5. Early Snowball Cauliflower - Pkt. – 200 seeds
6. Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce - Pkt. - 750 seeds
7. Arugula - Pkt. – 300 seeds
8. Tom Thumb Pea - Pkt. – 50 seeds
9. French Breakfast Radish - Pkt. - 350 seeds
10. Winter Red Kale - Pkt. - 200 seeds
11. Tendergreen Mustard - Pkt. - 200 seeds
12. Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach - Pkt. - 400 seeds
13. Ruby Red Swiss Chard  - Pkt. - 1/4 oz.
14. Black Beauty Summer Squash - Pkt. - 20 seeds
15. Early Prolific Straightneck Summer Squash - Pkt. – 20 seeds
16. Basil, Sweet - Pkt. - 150 seeds
17. Chives - Pkt. - 150 seeds

Fall Garden Organic Special (click to order)
#OFGS - $29.99

FALL PLANTING SCHEDULE

FR 25 - FLOATING ROW COVER - Made of light-weight, spun-bonded Polypropylene fabric. Drape the cover loosely over your plants, and secure the edges into the soil using fabric pegs or dirt. As the plants grow, the lightweight fabric is gently lifted by the crops. Water and sunlight can penetrate the cover easily, but insects can't get through the cover at your growing crops!  Floating row covers also offer frost protection down to 28 degrees F.  Wonderful for spinach, beets, cabbage, lettuce, radish or chard!  For vegetables that need insect pollination, such as cucumbers, peppers, or squash, simply remove the cover when your vegetables are beginning to flower. Never let the insects get the best of your crops again!    
FR 25 - $10.99 (60 inches x 25 feet)
FR 50 - $19.99 (60 incehs x 50 feet)

FROST PROTEK  - Gardeners love the protection these lightweight, breathable, polypropylene covers provide from a light frost (down to 28° F).  Will not crush plants like blankets or plastic might, and the handy drawstrings make it a cinch to securely hold the covers in place.  The two convenient sizes will help provide warm insulation to your potted plants and garden crops, enabling you to harvest longer.

The benefits of using Frost Protek™ covers are many, and here are just a few:


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 FROSTPROTEK COVER - LARGE ROUND
The large, 84" across cover is perfect for large pots, barrels, in-ground plants, or groupings.
FPTL - $14.99
 
 
 


 FROSTPROTEK COVER - LONG BAG
The large, long bag (55" x 48") is a good choice for hanging baskets, tomato cages and other upright plants.
FPTH - $15.99

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picture of fabric pegs
 

FP 10 - FABRIC PEGS - The perfect solution for anchoring the edges of floating row covers into the soil!  These economical and reusable pegs are also great for anchoring plastic mulches and landscape fabrics!    Pkt of ten.
FP 10 - $3.50
 

PLASTIC POT LABELS - High quality, blank plastic stakes are used to label transplants inside. Just use a fine point permanent marker to easily write down information on the stakes.  Plastic is white and writing remains legible despite the action of weather, water or fertilizer.  20 mil thick plastic wears better than wood stakes, costs less than metal stakes.  Large size may also be used outside in the garden.
PL 24 - 25 stakes (4 in. by ½ in.) - $2.25                     PL 26 - 25 stakes (6 in. by ½ in.) - $2.75

JF 7 - JIFFY 7 SEED STARTING PELLETS - Just add water to the compressed peat pellets and you’re ready to start seeds indoors!  Pellets expand to 1¾"  in diameter to 1¾" in height.  Encased in netting , they retain their shape and get plants off to a good start.  No more plastic trays, no more broken roots.  The simplest and easiest way to start all your transplants!  Instructions included.
JF 7  -  12 pack - $1.89
JF 25 - 25 pack - $3.50

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