Cool nights remind me that it’s time to put in the fall garden. As much as we look forward to spring we also look forward to the coolness brought in by autumn. Cool season vegetables can be planted in the spring and fall. Today we planted broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. Others to consider planting include carrots, onions, peas, beets, lettuce, and potatoes.
Anytime the four of us garden together there tends to be some drama. Today’s drama included the need for gloves. Seriously, they play in garden soil all the time and never worry about getting their hands dirty! I think it’s a fashion statement; we are not properly ready for gardening without our gloves. I didn’t want the hassle. I just wanted to get the garden planted and didn’t want to stop and look for garden gloves. I simply stated, “You don’t need any gloves!” Not the right answer. The crying and whining started. I began tuning out the whining and started planting, when I realized I had forgotten to add any fertilizer to the soil. We walked to the garage to get the fertilizer and found a pair of garden gloves! Problem solved, I thought. Once the one year old saw that sister had on gloves, she needed a pair too!
Adding fertilizer was an important step I could not afford to skip. The vital nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) should be added to the soil to replenish what the previous plants depleted. When applying fertilizer, read and follow label instructions. Apply the product at the right rate, right time and in the right place.
I think fall gardening is a bit easier for the following reasons:
- Cold season vegetables tolerate a light frost.
- Weeds tend to germinate more in the summer, less in the cool temperatures of fall.
- Fall brings more rain.
- Fewer insects to feast on your veggies.
- The autumn air is refreshing.
If you haven’t had a fall garden before, give it a try. I think you might like it.
