By: Rebecca Konopka
Carter County Extension Agent
The end of summer does not have to mean the end of fresh vegetables from the garden. With a little planning, Kentucky gardeners can follow their spring and summer crops with a fall garden and enjoy fresh produce well into autumn and, in some cases, early winter.
Fall gardens can produce some of the season’s best-quality vegetables. Warm days and cool nights help add sweetness to sweet corn and cole crops such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, while also giving carrots added crispness.
Vegetables harvested after early September generally fall into two groups: the final succession plantings of warm-season crops, such as corn and bush beans, and cool-season crops that grow well during fall’s cooler days and can withstand frost.
As with a spring garden, careful planning matters. Group crops according to your planting plan and place taller plants where they will not shade shorter ones. Because seed germination can be more challenging in late summer conditions, be sure the soil is moist before planting. Keep the soil moist, but not overly wet, until seeds have germinated.
Gardeners should also remember that cool nights can slow plant growth. Crops often take longer to mature in the fall than they do during the heat of summer, so allow extra time when checking seed packets or catalogs for average days to maturity. Using succession planting can also help extend the harvest over a longer period.
Good fall garden options include beets, butterhead lettuce, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collards, endive, bush green beans, kale, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, mustard greens, radishes, spinach, turnips and turnip greens. Some crops are best seeded directly, while others may be started from transplants. Planting dates vary by crop, so gardeners should consult local recommendations before planting. In many cases, crops need to be seeded while it is still very warm to have enough time to grow and be harvestable.
By protecting frost-sensitive vegetables during key cold nights, gardeners may be able to extend the harvest season by several weeks. Different thicknesses or weights of row cover can be used to protect crops, keeping them several degrees warmer than the outside air temperature. Once frost-sensitive vegetables are finished for the season, gardeners may be able to plant cool-season crops in their place. Leafy greens like lettuce and spinach may grow into November or December under clear plastic (polyethylene) sheets if outside temperatures do not drop below 20°F. Be sure to allow for ventilation on sunny days to reduce humidity and prevent these crops from overheating.
For more information about planting a fall garden, contact the Carter County Extension office. Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.
Upcoming Events:
- The Olive Hill Farmer’s Market is located in the Save-a-Lot parking lot and is open on Wednesdays & Saturdays from 8:00 AM until sell out. The Grayson Farmer’s Market is open on Saturdays at 9:00 AM and Tuesdays at 2:00 PM until sell out and is located in the shed behind the Extension Office. There will be a pop-up market at the Carter Caves campground on August 20th at 4:00. Customer appreciation days will be held in Grayson on August 25th from 2:00-3:30 and in Olive Hill on August 26th from 8:30-10:00.
- The Extension Office is currently offering free hay testing through the East KY Hay Contest. If you are interested, please call 474-6686 to schedule your appointment. Participants will receive a free nutrient analysis of their hay.
- Hike & Learn – August 20th – Carter Caves State Resort Park Raven Bridge Trail – Meet on the front porch of the lodge at 2:00 PM.
