Let’s Talk Fall Food

And it’s August already. Time for the kids to get ready for back to school, new clothes, new shoes and maybe, just maybe, new plants and seeds going in for a fall garden.

Just so you can plan accordingly, first frost date for our area is Oct. 22. Check the back of your seed packets for how many days until maturity and subtract from the 84 days left until first frost. You can extend that growing time with pop-up greenhouses and row covers.

If, like me, half your yard goes back to shade as fall comes in, you need to map out your shade areas. For instance, my north side yard where I grow kale, basil, nasturtiums and other herbs, only gets full sun May through August. The rest of the time is in partial to full shade. And you have to know what plants will grow in those kinds of conditions. I can grow kale, lettuce and basil all summer because I plant them in the mostly shaded part of the yard closest to the house.

As the sun starts to shift in July and August, I can plant more lettuces, radishes, beets, onions and any other less than 90 days to maturity crops by planting in front of the shade shift. The seeds get plenty of sun to start growing, but the growing amount of shade keeps them from burning up in the September heat. Other good growers that are first frost friendly are any brassicas (think kale, cabbage and broccolis) and root crops, fennel and herbs like parsley, dill and sage.

It already may be too late to plant any squashes from seed, as they take 100 plus days to mature. If you have some pumpkins or sweet potatoes slips started, you may just have enough time to get a few harvested before that first frost.

Another tip for fall is planting things that will add nutrients back into the soil. If you planted (and hopefully harvested) a lot of potatoes this year, plant some sugar snap peas or beans where the potatoes were to add nitrogen. Up to you whether you pick the beans or peas. To plant as a cover crop for added nutrients, make sure to mow them down before pods/beans put on or you will have beans/peas there forever. Remind me to recount the hairy vetch cover crop from 2000 that just keeps coming back every year. Pretty purple flowers though.

Favorite Things to Grow for Fall

Radishes

Even though most of us grow things we don’t eat, I like radishes and love growing them in the fall. Radishes are great to ferment or quick pickle for a tasty relish. From seed to harvest is 60 days or less and if you grate them, they are just a little peppery when added to salads.

Beets

This underrated red root veggie is also another good one pickled. Beets also make some great “ketchup” and can be grated into a salad. Cut up beets with sweet potatoes and baby or fingerling potatoes and roast them. Great for snacks or cut up in a salad.

All the Greens

Lettuces, kales and cabbages, but especially tender greens like baby bok choy. There are fewer garden pests to fight off in the fall so the produce is prettier. And the cooler nights really add a nice punch of sweetness to any of the fall greens.

Carrots

Who doesn’t love a carrot? Fall is a great time to get carrots into the ground and let them overwinter. Carrots get sweeter the colder it is while they finish maturing. Lowe’s carries a “straw blanket” that can be used to insulate your carrot patch. It also helps mark where your carrots are planted when all the green and plant markers are gone. And of course, you will have a few early spring carrots as well.

If you don’t think you have time for a garden, no worries. Just throw some seeds out there and try to remember to water once in a while. You might just be surprised with some fall produce. This is what we call “Happy Gardening.”

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