How are you preparing for the fall? These vegetables are a great and easy choice for every gardener!
August is a great month to grow a wide range of vegetables, from savory roots to leafy greens and cabbage. While some crops will be available at the end of winter or the beginning of spring, several veggies grow quickly and will provide you with an abundant harvest in the fall. Just in time to stock up for your pantry!
The list of fall vegetables includes several resilient and low-maintenance options, and later in the growing season, there are fewer pests. So, without further ado, let’s grab our tools because preparing for the fall is our main purpose now.
Green beans
If you’re preparing for the fall and you want to have a flourishing garden full of tasty veggies I’d suggest you begin with planting green beans. Why do specialists recommend planting veggies this month? Well, they grow very fast, and being super versatile and easy to cook too wouldn’t hurt to have a lot in the pantry.
Select a variety that grows quickly, such as Kentucky Wonder, Contender, Provider, or Top Crop, which may be picked in as little as seven weeks.
As soon as the pods feel full, begin collecting beans every day while they are still young and sensitive. This will ensure that the plant produces well until the first frost.
Plant seeds in nutrient-rich soil in a sunny position about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep, and give them regular watering. Staking is required for pole varieties as they mature.
Carrots
Everybody loves munching on carrots as a snack or as a side dish with a high-protein meal. So, why not grow them in your garden instead of buying them from the store?
Carrots, whether roasted or glazed, are a great side dish for Thanksgiving and can be consumed basically all year long with succession growth. For an autumn crop, start planting in August since they require at least three months to mature from seed.
Plant in full sun on sandy, well-drained loamy soil that is devoid of pebbles or other stones. Keep the soil damp but not wet, and pull any weeds that come up.
When carrots are finger-sized for young, sensitive veggies, you may start picking them. You can also overwinter carrots in the ground, so plant plenty of seeds.
Turnips
Turnips are one of the heartiest veggies you can use in a fall stew. Still, there are many ways to enjoy the sweet, peppery roots: sautéed as a side dish, roasted alongside other root vegetables, stacked lightly in a gratin, or even replaced for the rice in risotto.
The green tops of turnips are also quite tasty. They may be picked as cut and come again, and they have a flavor akin to mustard greens. Plant seeds in a sunny place (or in some shade if the climate is warmer) and give them regular watering during dry spells.
Turnips should be harvested when their diameter is no more than 2 inches (5 cm). Their maturation takes around two months.
Do you need a heavy-duty set of gardening tools? I will recommend you the one I bought at the beginning of this spring. The set contains a garden fork, hoe, and cultivator; a hand hoe; a hand rake; a trowel; and a pair of garden gloves with claws and a garden bag. It’s available on Amazon at the price of just $25.49.
Spinach
On your journey to preparing for the fall, it’s important to also grow spinach in your veggie garden. Jam-packed with proteins, this leafy veggie is not only tasty and nutritious but also pretty easy to grow too.
If you are following a healthy diet, spinach is a highly recommended veggie, but in the past year its price skyrocketed in the supermarkets, so I decided to grow it in my garden.
Spinach may be sown in late summer and harvested in the fall and winter, up to a few weeks before the first snow falls. Since spinach is a strong feeder, that’s why, before planting, modify the soil with compost or fertilizer. Water the soil frequently enough to keep it damp but not wet.
Spinach may be harvested as a cut-and-come-again crop by starting with the outside leaves and working your way within. Alternatively, chop off the entire plant at the base; it could resprout for another harvest.
Lettuce
Lettuce is a cool-season crop that thrives in the fall, even though its fresh flavor brings to mind summertime. Plant seeds for a continuous crop till the end of the season every two weeks until September. Lettuce may even be grown outside throughout the winter in warmer climates.
Because lettuce tastes best when it grows fast, treat the soil with a high-nitrogen feed before planting to encourage green development. It prefers mild shade when planted in hot areas, but it still needs a sunny site.
Since the seed is small, it should be scattered over fine soil and then gently covered with either sieved soil or seed starting mix. When the plants are crisp in the morning, cut them whole. Alternatively, pick the leaves as cut-and-come again, but don’t cut the plant at the heart.
Beets
This veggie screams autumn! Literally! I mean, I can’t even imagine what a Thanksgiving dinner would look like without a beet salad. But let’s get back to our gardening.
Direct seed into well-draining, light soil in August and maintain wet. Because beets don’t enjoy hot weather, you might want to sow your seeds a little later if you reside in areas with higher temperatures. Beets may be grown all winter long by gardeners in several southern areas.
Beets can be harvested two to three months after sowing, depending on your preference for small or medium-sized crops. The shoulders of the beets will emerge from the ground as they grow.
Bonus tip: If you want to have your beets fresh for a longer time, it’s crucial to know how to store them properly. I usually refrigerate them in plastic bags, and they can last up to 6 months from the harvesting.
Scallions
Now that I am thinking, I am up for a salad with scallions. Yummy! One of the greatest crops to fill up spaces on the vegetable plot is scallions, often known as spring onions. They grow quite quickly and taste great in salads and stir-fries. They make a great companion plant for other crops since their aroma deters some pests.
For an autumn crop, plant in early August; for a harvest around New Year’s, start sowing overwintering types in October. Harvesting takes around 8 weeks.
They grow very fast in sunny, well-drained soil. Same as other veggies on the list, they need little maintenance, save for pulling weeds that crowd them out and watering in dry periods.
Arugula
Arugula is an acquired taste for sure, yet it’s among the healthiest vegetables recommended by nutritionists. If you decide to grow it in your garden, you must know a few things about it first.
It is relatively year-round to harvest and is rather simple to plant. Plant the seeds in August and September and savor their flavor all fall long.
While it may tolerate some shade, arugula prefers free-draining soil in a sunny location to flourish. Before planting, mix in some compost and make sure the soil is damp but not wet.
Gather and use as a garnish, or chop entire plants to make a delicious pesto. I don’t know about you, but I am definitely on my way to the kitchen after this!
Which veggies are your favorites? Tell me in the comments.
Related article: Top Brilliant 10 Tips for Keeping Your Garden Green While Away.
