A Southeastern Fall Vegetable Garden
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Summer is (almost) over, so what can I grow in my vegetable garden now?
In the Southeast USA, the summer vegetable garden usually begins to see hard times in late August and early September. The temperatures are hot and the diseases and bugs are having a ball. My garden has certainly suffered. The pattypan squash plants were pulled up last week because some unseen varmint began building a condo in the stem. White flies are using my tomato plants as a sleazy motel. And I am just getting tired of what I planted in the Spring five months ago.
I need a change and a challenge.
So what am I going to plant now that will grow and produce before the first frost (usually in November where I live)?
Image used with creative commons license from flickr user Muffet
First, I need to determine when the First Frost will hit my garden.
Find out how long the growing season is in the fall.
Victory Seeds offers a chart to find the average frost date in your area.
Did that. My first average frost should be in late October. According to Love To Know, I can plant a new crop between July 5 and September 20. That window means that what I plant will produce before the first frost.
In this sample schedule, the earliest planting date would be for eggplant. The latest date is for radishes which do not need as much time to mature. Other vegetables could be planted sometime between the two.
Gardening Know How suggests that: If you live in the more Northern parts of the South, you will want to think about planting a fall garden in early to mid-August. In the warmer parts of the South, you may be able to wait until September to plant fall garden crops. The best way to determine your fall garden planting schedule is to look at how long it takes for the crops you wish to grow to mature and count backwards from you area's first frost date plus a few weeks to allow for harvest.
The Tasteful Garden located in Alabama, has an informative page about what to plant now for a fall vegetable garden in the southeastern USA. I will probably follow their advice about preparing the soil. These folks know what they are doing.
Lettuce is a Favorite in my Southeastern Autumn Garden
I love to grow it. According to Mallory Kelley, an Alabama Regional Extension Agent, (click here and do a search for growing lettuce) (click here and do a search for growing lettuce) lettuce can also be planted as an ornamental in your flower beds or in containers. Two for one: something to eat and a decoration!
I usually put the lettuce in my raised bed garden. Seeds are the most economical way to plant and grow this garden staple. In my area, I have been known to have lettuce all winter long. Southern winters are mild. When the weather gets below 32 degrees, I cover the tender plants with a old bed sheet.
Selections of Vegetables for the Fall Garden
Visit this gardening website (copy and paste: http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Fall_Garden_Planting_Schedule
According to Jane Thomas, the following choices below are the most economical vegetables to grow--in other words, you get your money back in the produce you harvest.
So, I guess that will be a big factor in which of the following fall crops I could plant.
However, I have planted broccoli plants already! That is not on this list. I am always a rebel!
Update: the broccoli was eaten by bugs so that means Ms. Thomas was correct. My best results have been with lettuce seeds! I was picking lettuce in February!
As promised, here is a list of the most economical vegetables to grow in the autumn:
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1Bush Snap Beans
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2Lettuce
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3Peas
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4Carrots
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5Bell Pepper Plants
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6Tomato Plants
My Fall Vegetable Garden:
The long hot summer is over in the southeast.
This photo was taken on 9/22/2009.
It is actually what is left of my 2009 Summer Garden. What you see (left to right in the back): tomato, pepper, basil. The only plants I added were three broccoli seedlings I bought at Home Depot. You can see one peeking up from the middle front of the raised bed. That is a mounding basil in the front right. Pretty, isn't it?
My tomato plants were doing nicely, so I just trimmed them up a bit, pinched some suckers and pulled up the "spent" (southern for "done producing") plants. Checked this morning and saw some new buds on the tomatoes. There are about 10 tomatoes that are green and growing on the plants.
Gardening Books
North, South, MIdwest, West
If you have a favorite gardening book for your area of the country, tell me about it in the "Your Opinion Counts" Guest book below!
Gardening Blogs about growing stuff in the fall:
What are Your Favorite Gardening Sites or Lenses?
Please share with all of us the site you get your best gardening advice from:
You can add your favorite site--please do! I cannot do ALL the work.
Fall Garden Planting Schedule - LoveToKnow Garden
This is the link to the site I mention elsewhere i more...0 points
John Deere Riding Mowers
Find Information about John Deere Riding Mowers He more...0 points
Vegetable Garden Planting
Growing Spinach and Tomato Gardening experts.0 points
Aquaponics System
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Cool Weather Gardens?
Is a cool weather garden worth the time and trouble?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byNo! I prefer to rake leaves and then go inside and have a hot toddy.
mysticmama says:
I live in Minnesota, our summer is barely long enough for summer gardens lol
Posted August 27, 2009
Yes! The cool weather is ideal for spending time in the garden!
Bonnie says:
We grow turnip greens, collards and mustard greens, lettuce and spinach in the fall ... radishes, carrots and beets do well also in southeast Georgia. I also planted a second crop of corn, okra, cucumbers and squash.
Posted September 14, 2011
JaguarJulie says:
Ah, do we actually get enough cool weather to call it cool? Around these parts it surely seems that you get a hint of cool and then BAM! before you know it, it is hot again. Yes, I would be digging a hot toddy too!
Posted June 04, 2010
TylaMac says:
I love fall gardening! Fewer bugs and better weather make it much more pleasant than summer gardening.
Posted September 27, 2009
petersams says:
I love cool weather gardening. This is the great time to spent long hours caring plants in the garden
Posted September 21, 2009
What's in your fall garden?
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Your Opinion Counts!
Tell me how you feel about an autumn garden?
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Fluffymuppet
Oct 29, 2010 @ 11:07 am | delete
- Great lens! Keen gardeners may be able to make use of these coupon codes - you can save $15 off all orders of $75 or more at Garden.com by using the coupon code SAGEmma. A saving of $5 on orders of $50+ is yours if you use the code SAGEmma5 :)
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JaguarJulie
Jun 4, 2010 @ 11:06 am | delete
- Well, to be honest, we have never done an autumn garden as that time of year means football season for hubby and he is glad to scale back on any and all yardwork.
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TylaMac
Sep 27, 2009 @ 3:05 am | delete
- Fall is usually the best season in the garden for me. Pests and diseases aren't as much of a problem so everything just grows better. I like to grow some veggies like broccoli and greens in containers so I can move them around to keep them in the sun. It usually warms up again for a few weeks after the first heavy frost so if I protect the plants by covering them or bringing them in for a few nights I can harvest for a few more weeks until the really cold weather and short days set in.
Congrats on your blue ribbon!
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Mickie_G Sep 23, 2009 @ 2:08 pm | in reply to rms | delete
- I owe my blue ribbon to the readers who voted for it! Thank you very much!
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CherylK
Sep 8, 2009 @ 8:19 pm | delete
- A very nice lens! I tried to contribute on your cool weather poll but it wouldn't take my input...tried twice, in fact. For the record, I was in favor of cool weather gardening! Congratulation on your blue ribbon!
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Not a beautiful site ~ My Southeastern Fall Vegetable Garden:
Click on each photo to read comments and descriptions.
Patio tomato plant that has produced all summer.
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by MickiesBloomingGarden
I am a wife, mother, & grandmother who also happens to be a Baby Boomer. I am also trying to find my place in the world. So who isn't? more »
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Fetching RSS feed... please stand byThe Tasteful Garden Recommends Worm Casings:
Compost for the Fall Vegetable Garden
Uncle Jim's Worm Farm 10-Pound Bag of Black Gold Earthworm Castings
Amazon Price: (as of 02/17/2012)
Worm casings are a good black compost to put in your Southeastern Fall Vegetable Garden to get it ready for the spring.
