4/3/2013

Fall Vegetable Gardening

Kirsten Conrad Buhls, Extension Agent

Arlington VA

Virginia Cooperative Extension and

Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia
Helping residents of Arlington and
Alexandria producing their own
affordable, healthy food.

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What Do We Mean By
Fall Gardening?

Planting crops for harvesting before

frost

Planting crops that can overwinter for
spring harvesting

Planting cover crops to add nitrogen and
minimize weeds in spring

Protected gardening in a cold frame,
greenhouse or under row covers

Why Plant in the Fall?

Fewer harmful
insects

Fewer weeds

Extended use of
garden space

Fresh crops for a
longer time

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Select Crops
All are cold hardy & some are
quick maturing
Cole crops: broccoli, cabbage, collards,
cauliflower, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts
Greens: leaf lettuce, spinach, arugula,
Asian greens, mustard, herbs
Root crops: Rutabagas, beets, carrots,
turnips, parsnips

Half-hardy
Survive light frost
Beets
Cauliflower
Chard
Chinese Cabbage
Endive
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mustard
Peas
Rutabagas

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Hardy
Survive heavy frost
Broccoli
Broccoli Raab
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Collards
Kale
Radishes
Spinach
Turnips

Overwintering Crops

Broccoli Raab

Chicories

Garlic

Kale

Leeks

Multiplier Onions

Spinach
Leeks

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Fall Days & Temperatures

Cool nights slow plant growth.

Vegetables take longer to mature.

Days grow shorter, less sunlight energy
for plants.

These environmental conditions add
sugar to cole crops.

Lettuce and spinach will not bolt.

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Seed Starting Date

Short-Day Factor

First frost date for your area

Days to maturity, germination, transplant

Add 14 days for Short Day Factor
Formula:

Days to maturity + Days to germinate +

Days to transplant + SDF=Days to plant
before frost

Sample Calculation For

Sowing Spinach Seeds
Days to germination:
Days to maturity:
Short Day Factor (SDF):

7 to 10
35
__14__
56 to59

I can sow seeds between 56 and 59 days before the

first frost about Oct. 19-26 for Arlington
Counting back from Oct. 19-26 the dates to sow are
about Aug. 22 to Sept. 1 if you want to use
transplants.

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Preparing the Site

Remove waste from previous crop.

If ground is dry, give it a thorough soaking.

Work compost into top few inches of soil.

Transplants
Start transplants or
purchase for:

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Collards

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Putting out Transplants

Seedlings need
gradual exposure
to direct sunlight.

Will benefit from
light shading for
the first few days.

Keep them soaked.

Row Cover Protection

Throw a bed sheet
over row cover for
a few days to
provide shade.

Row covers deter
insects and larger
critters.

Row covers can
extend season.

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Keep soil moist for

young transplants. Water
lightly and frequently at
first, and.

.then,
1 inches of water
Per
1 weeks

Seeds to Sow
Direct seed:

Beets

Broccoli raab

Chinese cabbage

Cilantro

Collards

Endive

Kale

Kohlrabi

Lettuce

Mustard greens

Spinach

Turnips

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Getting Seeds to Germinate

and Grow

Soil is hot and dry.

Clay soil forms hard crust.

Seeds need cooler temperatures and
moisture to germinate and grow.

Slow growing beets and carrots will suffer
setbacks if soil is dry.

Seeds Become Dormant at

High Temperatures.

The maximum soil temperature for
germinating lettuce and spinach is 70
degrees F. The optimum temperature for
germinating peas is 70. For many other
vegetables it is 80 degrees F.

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Sowing Seeds

Water soil before sowing.

Sow in the late afternoon so
germination will begin overnight.

Direct Sow

Plant seeds slightly deeper. Depth may be 1
to 2 times deeper than spring.

Can cover seeds in furrow with potting soil or
vermiculite.

Keep soil cool and moist. Cover seeded area
with burlap, newspapers, or boards.

Can shade soil, or use light mulch.

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Germinating Seeds

Another tip is to pre-germinate seeds.

Soak seeds overnight in a moistened
paper towel enclosed in a plastic bag. Do
not soak longer or delicate seedling
parts will be damaged in planting.

Interplant

Use shade from
existing plants.

Sow lettuce,
carrots, arugula,
beets, collards.

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Mustard greens on north side

of tomatoes

Planting Schedule

Last plantings of fast growing warm
season vegetables-snap beans.

Order garlic.

Start cabbage family seedlings
indoors.

Sow lettuce, cilantro, rutabagas,
radishes.

Soak or pre-germinate parsley seeds
for sowing.

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Planting Schedule
10-12 weeks before
hard frost:

Set out
transplants

Direct sow beets,
carrots, collards
& more lettuce,
radishes,

Planting Schedule
8 to 10 weeks before hard frost:

Sow Asian greens, arugula, turnips,
spinach, mustard

More lettuce, radishes, beets,
collards

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Planting Schedule
6 to 8 weeks before hard frost:

Sow spinach.

Plant garlic, shallots, multiplying onions.

Sow half-hardy vegetables under
protective cover.

Protected Gardening
Moving a zone South
Floating Row Cover
Provides 4-10
degrees of
protection

Cold Frame
Hoop House
Greenhouse

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Herbs for the Cold Frame

Chives
Oregano
Sage
Thyme

References and Help

Articles
Grisak, Amy, Second Acts. Organic Gardening, Aug/Oct 2009, pp 5863.
Pleasant, Barbara, Grow Your Best Fall Garden. Mother Earth News,
August/September 2009, pp 31-35.
Books.
Bubel, Nancy. The New Seed Starters Handbook. Emmaus, Pa: Rodale
Press, 1988.
Internet
Wilson, Carl, Front Range Food Gardener Blog, staff Horticulturist

with the Colorado State University Extension office in

Denver, CSU Extension web site.
Diane Relf, Fall Vegetable Gardening,
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-334/426-334.html
Straw, Allen, Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended
Planting Dates http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-331/426331.html

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