Fall gardening

[Ruthiegirl]

We are just getting home after being abroad for much of 2011.  My garden is an unsightly mess, but I am setting aside an hour every morning to weed, weed, weed in the cool morning hours.  Should take me another week.  

So, when all the hard labor is done, I want to plant out some Fall greens.  I usually put up a hoop house in the Fall, but it looks like mice have eaten through my plastic sheeting and I am pregnant and just not up for the task.  I think I'll just do some cool weather crops and let the garden rest while I am birthing and resting up with our new babe.  

So far, I have beets, swiss chard, spinach, several types of kale, carrots, and a salad mix.  I was thinking of broccoli, but it gets hit hard by cabbage moths without the hoop house protection.  Maybe turnips...not sure if I actually like them though. 

What else?  Does anyone else do a Fall garden?  What are your favs?  I am in Zone 7, Mid-Atlantic, so we still have many weeks of warm temps and sunshine.  

[RosieL]

Sounds good to me. I planted some kohlrabi yesterday to see how it grows up (I'm in the same area). I have some beets and new carrots in the ground, sprouting this week. I'm trying out brussels just because I have room to play in a fall planting, and I have kale and broccoli going strong. I swear by BT (organic worm killer) for the cabbage moths now. I sprayed just ONCE this season and never saw a worm after. 

[Owen'nZoe]

Another solution for the cabbage moths - if you don't have too large of an area - is just buying a sheet of row cover fabric, draping it over the plants, and weighting down the edges with a few rocks. It works well, and isn't difficult to set up.

I actually like turnips, but I pick them small. I love them chopped small and sauted in butter (roots and tops) with dried cranberries and onions and tossed with pasta - yumm! And you can also use them to make the pink pickles you get in a Middle Eastern restaurant - very easy to do.

Other ideas - what about snap peas? radishes?

[_ktg_]

  Oooh I've never thought about fall gardening, but this sounds inspiring.

[Chicky2]

I'm planning a Fall garden, too.  NOTHING grew here this year, the drought is so awful and it is so, so hot.  Just awful.  I'm planting squash, kale, swiss chard, radishes, beets, carrots, I don't know what else.  Maybe cabbage and some lettuces.  I could probably replant tomatoes and have a late crop.

[FarmerBeth]

I'm planting the same as the OP.  I'm in zone 6b, so pretty similar.  I could not do tomatoes like the PP.  I think I might put in some fall garlic bulbs, too.

[Ruthiegirl]

Okay, so I think have a decent plan mapped out.  I found some brussel sprout seeds and will add those to the list.  Also found some cilantro and I think I could get a quick crop of that as well as bush beans.

So, Fall gardening is off to a good start.  I made some good progress this morning and I have 3 beds that are ready for seeds.  I'l get them planted tomorrow and start the other seeds in flats.  

And then more weeding.  The garden really got out of control this summer.  The heat was terrible. I pulled out 5 of my 12 blueberry bushes.  Poor things just up and died.  The others do not look good, but with some extra TLC I think they can make it.  The fig tree is going bonkers though -- silly, old thing survives on heat and neglect.  

[Ruthiegirl]

Originally Posted by Owen'nZoe 

Another solution for the cabbage moths - if you don't have too large of an area - is just buying a sheet of row cover fabric, draping it over the plants, and weighting down the edges with a few rocks. It works well, and isn't difficult to set up.

I actually like turnips, but I pick them small. I love them chopped small and sauted in butter (roots and tops) with dried cranberries and onions and tossed with pasta - yumm! And you can also use them to make the pink pickles you get in a Middle Eastern restaurant - very easy to do.

Row covers are a great idea.  In fact, I think I might have some of the fabric stored away.  I look around next time I am out in the shed.  

And I should give turnips another try.  Your way of preparing them sounds delicious.  I think I just have lingering memories of my grandmother's turnip mash -- bitter, horrible stuff.  But she probably used woody, old turnips.