Fall Gardens...

[peteyfoozer]

Who plants a fall garden, what and when? I am in zone 5, SE Oregon high desert. Wonderin if it is too late or ???

 

[baymule]

I plant a fall garden, it generally produces better than the summer garden. I plant cauliflower, broccoli, mustard greens, onions, lettuce, turnips, cabbage, carrots and this year I will plant beets. The spring garden is all burnt now, except for the green beans, butter beans, bell peppers (although the peppers get sunburned and rot) and sweet potatoes which will be ready to dig in the fall.

 

[thistlebloom]

It might be a bit late for us Petey. When is your average first frost date?
There is a variety of carrot that overwinters, and maybe kale would work....
Sorry, I'm no help. I'm feeling pretty good when I get a summer garden successfully harvested.

 

[peteyfoozer]

Usually the end of october is our first freeze

 

[thistlebloom]

Oh, hey, you have way more time than me, we always get our first freeze in September, but the bad killing freeze happens early in October. Don't listen to me then! I don't know nuthin'!

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I usually do not plant much, but this year I planned ahead. I started cabbage, broccoli, kale and cauliflower back in June. I just planted some of them yesterday in the ground. I will get the rest planted in the next couple of days. I also started beets the other day. I have another row of beets I will plant in the next couple of days. I thought I was not going to have enough squash, but that has changed, but I had planned to put in a couple of early yellow crooked neck squash. I am going to plant spinach, lettuce, collards and mustard in the next few days. I was going to plant peas, but changed my mind. Here is something I found to help go by. I might plant carrots. The link has other parts of the country. The second link is more helpful because it gives the dates. I put the cabbage and broccoli out with a nail next to them. I put half finished compost all around the area and plants and then cut sage and lavender around them. I read slugs do not like dry compost and do not like sage and lavender. If I can beat the slugs I might get some fall cabbage.

Pacific Northwest

Arugula
Beets
Broccoli(Transplants)
Brussels Sprouts (Transplants)
Cabbage (Transplants)
Carrots
Cauliflower (Transplants)
Cilantro
Collard greens

Kale (Transplants)
Lettuce
Mache
Mustard greens
Radishes
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnips


http://organicgardening.about.com/od/vegetablesherbs/a/Vegetables-And-Herbs-To-Plant-In-August.htm

http://www.thevegetablegarden.info/resources/planting-schedules/zones-5-6-planting-schedule

 

[Ridgerunner]

Petey, your county extension agent should be able to help you with the dates to start a fall garden. Here in Arkansas they have a pamphlet that tells you the dates. Your local master gardeners may be able to help too.

My fall garden normally consists of peas, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, beets, and some greens like lettuce. I also start kale and chard from seeds which will often overwinter and produce pretty early in the spring, but then it bolts so I have to plant fresh in the spring to keep it going. Sometimes it freezes out. Mulching helps.

I always start garlic in the fall though that is not harvested until the next year. Sometimes I start onions in the fall for early spring onions, especially green onions. Those tend to bolt to seed too but I get some green onions pretty early. For the ones that bolt, I just take out the seed stem and chop the rest of the bulb and freeze them.

 

[peteyfoozer]

Sounds like I wil be better off to plan NEXT year's winter garden. Maybe I can budget for a rototiller by then! Thanks for all your input. "GardeningwithRabbits" that is a great and very helpful list! Thank you

I'll also call the extension agent so I know the best time to start everything!
Love this forum!