Carrot Seedlings

The veggies I planted last month are continuing to grow.  Pictured here are the carrots. They're growing in a large wheeled container, so I can move it into my little greenhouse before the first hard freeze. It's unheated, but even so, these carrots will give me and my bunnies fresh crunchies later this winter.

Fall Vegetables Emerge

 

Lettuce seedlings

Back earlier in September I planted lettuce and carrots in a large planter, so that I'll have fresh veggies on into the winter for myself and my bunnies. Both are plants that can handle cooler temperatures.  Plus, once freezing temperatures come, I'll move the planter into my pop-up greenhouse, which should keep them going quite a while.

Fall Planting Time

Don't forget as temperatures moderate, that fall is the best time to plant not only spring-blooming bulbs, but also shrubs, perennials and most trees.  By planting in the fall, you give the plants three seasons to establish a good root system before summer's heat.  Do go ahead now; it's best not to plant after the end of October.  You want to give the plant time to establish some roots before winter hits.

Late Fall Gardening

Late November harvest of bell peppers

I know the posts have been fewer this month, but I've been busy actually doing all the things I described earlier.  That's a lot to do, and in much shorter days!  It's a real relief as I finish up each task, and can look around to see that I'm getting things buttoned down for the coming winter.

Now that we've had the time change from Daylight Savings Time, it's getting dark by the time I get home, so I have very little garden time except on the weekends.

Fall Garden Update

Sweet and hot peppers picked November 9th

This is a photo of today's harvest.  Even though it's November, and we've had several frosts, the sheet of heavy plastic I put over the pepper plants a few weeks ago has been enough to protect them from frost damage.  I use heavy transparent plastic, generally a painting tarp, and weight it down around the edges with bricks to keep the cold air out.

Fall Planting, Part Two

Fall peas

The peas, lettuce, carrots and green beans I planted last month are coming along well, with warm sunny days, cool nights, and more rain to encourage them.  In a few weeks, as nights get colder, I'll have to consider covering them at night, but so far we've only had one night go below 50 degrees.  My tomatoes, sweet peppers and herbs, that struggled during the worst of the summer heat are perking up and looking better now. 

With the more reliably moderate weather, I have begun planting some of the fall flowers like pansies, asters and mums.  I am careful to get hardy mums, so that I can enjoy them more than one year.

Fall Planting, Part One

Fall planting season is coming up.  Spring is often when folks think of planting, but for many plants, such as most grasses, trees, shrubs, and perennials, fall is actually the best time to plant.  This gives plants time to develop a much better root system before facing the heat and drought of summer. The weather is more moderate in the fall, yet the soil is still warm.  This is ideal for roots to grow without the demands of summer weather.  Then in the spring, the plant gets another moderate season for growth before the summer heat. Anything planted in the spring gets only one season, with cooler soil, to get established.

Planting Fall Crops

Earlier this evening, I was out planting some lettuce and radishes.  In the place of a withering cucumber vine, I put in a row of lettuce that I (and my bunnies) will enjoy later this fall. A couple of weeks ago I'd planted beets and bush beans to replace the sweet corn. Succession planting is where as one crop ends, you plant another, and enjoy fresh vegetables up until winter.