Planning the Fall Garden

I have the hardest time every year planning the fall garden and knowing when to start it. This year I also have to decide what to start under the row cover and what to start in the open bed since bugs are still a problem at the height of the summer (and I swear the bugs are more aggressive in the community garden).  Luckily I found this really great guide from simplebites that I used to make a schedule for us (below). According to it, we need to get busy this week with our first fall sowing!

When the first frost approaches in earnest we will switch out the row cover for plastic sheeting so that we can keep growing for a bit.

Here is the plan right now:

Planting List:

Brassicas:           

Brussels Sprouts- Baker Creek-OP 

Kohlrabi, Early White Vienna – Baker Creek - OP

Choko Baby Pakchoi – John Scheepers – 45 – 55 days

Onions:

Onions, Yellow Granex Sweet – John Scheepers – 150 days

Shallots, Ambition – 100 days

Root Vegetables:

Beets, Burpee Golden – SSE – 55-60 days
Beets, Cylindra - Burpee - 60 days
Carrot, Nantes Half Long - Burpee - 70 days (sow for fall)
Carrot, Short n' Sweet Chantenay - Burpee - 68 days (sow for fall)
Parsnip, Hollow Crown- Burpee – OP- 105 days
Radish, French Breakfast – SSE – OP – 30 days       
Radish, Asian Watermelon - Burpee - 35 days 
Radish, Gourmet Rainbow Mix - John Scheeper- 23-30 days 

Turnip, Purple Top White Globe – SSE -  45-65 days 
Turnip, Golden Globe - Baker Creek 

Salad:

Lettuce, Burpee Bib (butterhead)- Burpee 75 days

Lettuce, Parris Island Romaine – Ferry Morse – OP-68 days

Lettuce, Tennis Ball (butterhead)- SSE
Lettuce Mix, Lovely Lettuce Mesclun Blend (Little Gem baby romaine, curly Tango, cheeky red Lolla Rossa, crispy Summertime, Brunia red oakleaf, buttery Rouge Grenobloise and Merveille des Quatre Saisons) - John Scheepers - OP-30-40 days

Mustard Greens – Baker Creek
Japanese Giant Red Mustard Greens - Baker Creek

Planting Schedule:

For our zone (7a) first frost date is tentatively Oct 15th.

12 to 14 weeks before your first frost (Plant July 1-14th)

• Direct-sow beans, parsnips, brassicas and begin planting lettuce and radishes.

10 to 12 weeks before your first frost (Plant July 14-28th)

• Direct-sow beets, carrots, leeks and scallions, along with more lettuce and radishes.

8 to 10 weeks before your killing frost (Plant July 28th-Aug 11th)

• Direct-sow lettuce, turnips, spinach, mustard, pakchoi and other Asian greens.
• Sow more radishes

6 to 8 weeks before first frost (Plant Aug 11th- 25th)

• Make a final sowing of lettuce beneath a protective tunnel or frame.

On or around your first killing frost date ( Plant in September)

• Every fall garden should include garlic and shallots to be harvested in the Summer of the next year