Fall showed up this week on the calendar in the Eastern Panhandle, but not in the weather. We did get rain, which is essential, after a long, dry August and most of September. It’ll be a while till sweater season. The nighttime temps are still warm, which has encouraged my fall crops that I planted in August. So that is a good thing.
Bush peas, dwarf peas, and bok choy. The other side of the bed has kale and swiss chard growing.
But what do you need to be planning now? What seeds do you need? Fall gets busy, so you need to plan before September is done.
The first “average” frost date for grow zone 7a is October 29th, but where I live in 25442, it is October 19th.
You want crops to have time to get established before there is a risk of frost. Garlic should be planted three to four weeks before the first frost, which is very soon.
The other is tomorrow, we slip to 12 hours of light. Plants need as much light as possible. Even if it is warm, without enough hours of sunlight, they don’t grow well.
What To Plant In The Next Two Months:
Seeds (plant as soon as possible):
- Dwarf bok choy
- Dwarf kale
- Radishes
- Dwarf lettuces
- Arugula
- Small carrot varieties – this is the time for the tiny finger ones, not the arm-length ones.
- Beets – look for fast-growing types, but you can always eat the greens
- Spinach
- Green Onions
You will notice I use “dwarf” often. Why? They are smaller plants and grow to maturity faster. Will you get as big a crop? No, but that is ok! You will enjoy fall greens and crisp vegetables. And that is always better than not planting anything.
Other:
Potatoes. I learned a lesson this first year here – you can grow spring potatoes. But not summer ones, unless they are in the ground. I literally cooked my potatoes this summer, trying for a second crop. I was used to that working back in the PNW. I planted a crop in mid-September, and we shall see how it goes. Sometimes fall crops are ready for harvest; if not, they emerge in very early spring, for an early harvest.
Bulbs:
Elephant Garlic – It can go into the ground at any point from now. Give each bulb 8″ between and a wide row, so it has room to grow. It will grow tall, so plan accordingly to avoid shading lower crops. As the first frost approaches, mulch to protect.
Garlic – plant in the ground 3 to 4 weeks before the first frost, allowing it time to develop roots. You can buy garlic at farmers’ markets, garden centers, online, or, if not easily available, you can buy garlic from the grocery store to plant. However, only buy certified organic so it isn’t sprayed with growth retardants. Before first frost mulch well to protect over winter.
Shallots – pick up bulbs to plant; usually, you can divide them into two separate bulbs. A trick is to buy at the grocery store. Like garlic, make sure it is US-grown and certified organic to avoid the use of growth retardants. Not all varieties can be grown from true seed, so using the bulbs is far easier (especially for fall planting). Plant just below the surface, let it sprout, then mulch to protect it in winter.
Protect Against Frost:
It’s also time to consider protecting late summer/fall crops if necessary. Last year, I had picked up this set of grow tunnel hoops for spring, but then I didn’t open them due to the move. I got them assembled quickly and into a finished bed. Now I can put on frost fabric or plastic quickly. To keep certain things warm.
In action:
Enjoy the time outside before the cold weather arrives. And get the work done as soon as you can.
~Sarah
