Is it too late to plant a fall garden? (This questions was asked during the second week in September)
Late summer and early fall is the best time to plant many cool-season vegetables in Alabama. Days are getting shorter and cooler, an ideal time for leafy vegetables that tend to bolt or send up flower stalks during the warm months of late spring and early summer.
Cool-season vegetables, such as turnips, rutabagas, collards, kale, mustard, spinach, Swiss chard, cabbage and kohlrabi can be planted from mid-August through September. In areas of the state where fall and early winter do not receive early killing frost, leafy greens will continue to grow. In fact, some leafy greens are sweeter tasting and tenderer after they have had some frost on the leaves.
Plant broccoli and cauliflower from seed in August. Transplants can be set out in the garden in September.
Fast growing, cool-season vegetables, such as leaf lettuces and radishes, can be planted every two weeks to extend the harvest period in the fall.
Fall is also a good time to plant onion seed. They are slow growing and won't be ready to harvest this fall, but by planting seed in warm soil, they will continue to grow. Onions overwinter in the soil when temperatures do not get extremely cold. Remember to plant short-day varieties, such as Granex 33 or Texas Grano 502. Onion seed should be planted in mid-October. Start onion seed in an open flat using a soilless growing media.
If you prefer to plant onion transplants, or white, yellow or red sets, plant them in late December or January. However, prepare the soil in the fall when soil moisture is just right (not too wet or too dry).
Fall gardens may need more attention than spring gardens. Water the garden to compensate for unusually dry periods in the fall. Control weeds with the help of mulches. Scout your garden weekly, or even daily, for insect pests. After the summer growing season, some pest numbers may be high in or around your garden.
The same pests that feed on cabbage leaves, cabbageworms and cabbage loopers, also enjoy feeding on other members of the Brassica family (broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and collards). The caterpillars are so well camouflaged, the same color of leaves, they are hard to see. But you won't miss the feeding they have done on your leaves or the grass they leave behind. Start early when you first detect their feeding by using Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), a naturally derived insecticide that is safe to you, but makes caterpillars sick. Plant members of the brassica family in an area where a vegetable in a different family was planted for the last few seasons. This will reduce chances of some soil-borne diseases and root maggots.
Use fertilizer prior to planting according to soil test recommendations.
