Planting a Cool Season Vegetable Garden

Vegetable gardening does not have to end with summer, planting a cool season vegetable garden extends the growing season into early to mid fall. Cool season vegetables thrive in cool temperatures and shorter days; seed to harvest time is only a few weeks for the vegetables.

An extra harvest is not the only reason to plant a cool season vegetable garden, there are several other benefits. Bare spots in the garden where long growing season plants, such as peppers and tomatoes, once grew can be filled in once again. Several varieties of cool season vegetables that are used as ornamental plants can be grown around the garden to add color in the fall. Additionally, since the cool weather plants that you will be growing are the same ones that would be planted in a spring garden, you get the chance to use the seeds left over from the spring before they are no longer good.

What Vegetables To Grow

As I said earlier, the vegetables that can be grown and harvested in the fall are the same ones you sowed in early spring. Greens and root vegetables, started from seeds in late summer will make up the bulk of your cool weather garden.

When deciding what vegetables to include in your garden check the growing requirements and the days to harvest information on the seed packet to make sure you can meet the plants requirements. Find out what the average last day of frost is and decide if you will have enough time to grow and harvest what you plant.

Cool season root vegetables that you can grow include turnips, Spring radishes, several varieties of carrots, beets, and chard. Turnips, carrots, beets and chard all require slightly longer growing seasons than greens that would be included in a cool season vegetable garden.

Greens that grow well in a fall garden include leaf lettuce, spinach, kale, collards, and mustard greens. Kale and collards need to be planted a little earlier than leaf lettuce, spinach, and mustard greens.

How To Plant Your Cool Season Vegetables