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Emma Nystedt
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It’s time to plan your fall veggie garden! Join expert Dan Alexander, our resident vegetable expert, as he covers how to prepare your beds and which crops to plant for a successful fall harvest. He’ll also share which vegetable combinations work well together, plus troubleshooting tips. A must for gardeners at any level.
Why I Plant Broccoli In August Even Though My Tomatoes Are Still Producing:
The Basic Idea:
Plant now the crops that mature in cooler weather 60-90 days ahead
Crops maturing now, we don’t plant now:
Cool Season Crops to Plant Now:
Think about Fruit Trees that will be available in December, especially deciduous fruits such as Plum, Cherry, Peach, Nectarine, Apricot, Pluot, Persimmon, Apple, Pear. Best selection and best success comes when purchased dormant for planting early in the rainy season.
Soil Preparation: Remove weeds, large rocks, add (as in dig in) compost/manure/fertilizer. Manure should be aged if planting leafy greens or root crops to avoid bacterial contamination (e. coli)
Containers : Start with good quality potting soil plus balanced fertilizer. Refresh with compost/manure/fertilizer. Replace soil after third crop rotation. Old potting soil can be added to in ground garden, whether edibles or ornamental.
Watering: Rain may not come until December, and then may be intermittent. Meanwhile, water 2x/week in the ground and 3-4x/week in containers unless soil is wet. Top few inches should dry out between waterings. There can be big differences in temperature, humidity and rainfall in different microclimates, so check moisture levels and use your judgement! Containers should always be watered thoroughly and should have good drainage holes. Do not put rocks into pots, that does not help the drainage. Always mix different soils materials, never layer them as layering may inhibit water penetration and root development.
Pests and Diseases: There is less insect activity as we move into cooler weather. Cabbage family plants will see cabbage butterfly caterpillar eating leaves. Pick them off or use BT spray. Always plant an array of good insect-attracting Fall-blooming plants with the vegetables, such as Sweet Alyssum, Calendula, Aster, Salvia.
The post Webinar: Plan Your Fall Vegetable Garden first appeared on Sloat Garden Center.
Why I Plant Broccoli In August Even Though My Tomatoes Are Still Producing:
The Basic Idea:
Plant now the crops that mature in cooler weather 60-90 days ahead
Crops maturing now, we don’t plant now:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Eggplant
- Squash
- Melons
- Green Beans
- Basil
Cool Season Crops to Plant Now:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Collards
- Kale
- Choy
- Spinach
- Swiss Chard
- Arugula
- Leaf lettuce
- Peas (edible podded and English)
- Strawberries (to harvest late Spring ’27)
- Hardy Herbs (Parsley, Cilantro, Chervil, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Marjoram)
Think about Fruit Trees that will be available in December, especially deciduous fruits such as Plum, Cherry, Peach, Nectarine, Apricot, Pluot, Persimmon, Apple, Pear. Best selection and best success comes when purchased dormant for planting early in the rainy season.
Soil Preparation: Remove weeds, large rocks, add (as in dig in) compost/manure/fertilizer. Manure should be aged if planting leafy greens or root crops to avoid bacterial contamination (e. coli)
Containers : Start with good quality potting soil plus balanced fertilizer. Refresh with compost/manure/fertilizer. Replace soil after third crop rotation. Old potting soil can be added to in ground garden, whether edibles or ornamental.
Watering: Rain may not come until December, and then may be intermittent. Meanwhile, water 2x/week in the ground and 3-4x/week in containers unless soil is wet. Top few inches should dry out between waterings. There can be big differences in temperature, humidity and rainfall in different microclimates, so check moisture levels and use your judgement! Containers should always be watered thoroughly and should have good drainage holes. Do not put rocks into pots, that does not help the drainage. Always mix different soils materials, never layer them as layering may inhibit water penetration and root development.
Pests and Diseases: There is less insect activity as we move into cooler weather. Cabbage family plants will see cabbage butterfly caterpillar eating leaves. Pick them off or use BT spray. Always plant an array of good insect-attracting Fall-blooming plants with the vegetables, such as Sweet Alyssum, Calendula, Aster, Salvia.
The post Webinar: Plan Your Fall Vegetable Garden first appeared on Sloat Garden Center.