Autumn in Zone 8 offers gardeners a respite from the summer heat, but it doesn’t mean putting the trowel and gloves away. As leaves turn and days shorten, a new gardening chapter begins. As summer bids adieu, it’s time to harvest the bounties of the warm season. Fresh vegetables like beans, peas, squash, cucumbers, and okra reach their flavorful peak. Regularly picking these treats not only ensures you’re getting them at their best but also encourages plants to keep producing. But be vigilant! If you notice some plants have stopped yielding, it’s a good idea to remove them. This not only makes space for new plants but also minimizes hideouts for pests and potential disease carriers.
We enjoy a prolonged growing period here. By early August, it’s time to start your broccoli and cabbage journey. As you move deeper into August, say around the mid-month mark, consider introducing beets, cauliflower, carrots, kale, and lettuce to your garden beds. If peas and spinach catch your fancy, early September is ideal for them. The key is to have all these vegetables comfortably settled outdoors by September’s end. Meanwhile, indoors, initiate seeds for Fall favorites like Brussels sprouts and other hearty brassicas. Consider adding potatoes to your fall lineup. Aim for them to be in the ground by the second week of September to reap the best rewards, before it gets too cool. As autumn deepens, there’s scope for a late harvest of leafy delights. Think leaf lettuce, mustard greens, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, kale, collards, and spinach. A clever trick here is to nestle them in the partial shade of taller companions, ensuring they aren’t overwhelmed by the sun.
And while it might seem a tad early, prepping for the next season is always a prudent move. If you’re a fan of the cover crop method, fall is the time to sow. It not only enhances soil fertility but preempts weed issues too. Speaking of which, weeds are sneaky little things. They tend to proliferate when unnoticed. So, ensure you’re regularly on weed patrol. Remember, each weed left unchecked now could mean a bigger headache next year. With a little planning and effort, the fall garden can be just as rewarding as its spring and summer counterparts.
If you want to see a Fall Garden in action and learn more, feel free to swing by The Gathering Garden in Mount Gilead at the corner of W Allenton St and School St, if you want to discuss gardening with us, you can find out more about or workdays on our facebook page.
In these weekly columns, I will share the science of gardening and so many more interesting tidbits. Check back here every week for tailored Montgomery County garden advice, sharing our garden updates, and more.
Let’s grow together!
This article was originally published in the Montgomery Herald and is reused here with permission by Mary Poplin.