Gardening in autumn? Absolutely!
Gardening in autumn? Absolutely!
Who says summer is the only gardening season? Despite the cooler temperatures, there’s still plenty of time to work the soil.
What should I plant?
Planting tomatoes and carrots is tempting, but unfortunately these vegetables take a long time to reach maturity, which is not ideal for a fall garden.
Consider the following:
|
Vegetable |
Maturation time |
|
Microgreens |
14-21 days |
|
Radish |
21 days |
|
Spinach |
40 days |
|
Chard |
45-55 days |
|
Lettuce |
40-60 days |
Faster germination
You can speed up germination by laying the seeds on a wet paper towel, folding it in two and placing it inside a plastic bag or container. The advantage of germinating the seeds indoors is that you will be able to plant them in the ground sooner.
Leafy veggies strike back!
Did you know that trimming is a must for some vegetables?
- Asparagus
- Chard
- Celery
- Cabbage
- Spinach
- Lettuce
Trimming off older leaves enables new ones to grow.
This also applies to the following herbs:
- Parsley
- Mint
- Fennel
Simply remove mature stalks to make room for new ones.
This also works with basil, coriander and dill, although they tend to be more finicky.
Optimal growth
Make sure your plants get plenty of sunshine cause they need at least 6 hours per day.
So, don’t let other plants (especially those that are wilted) steal their sunshine. Be sure to trim or even remove them altogether.
Never underestimate the benefits of weeding. Weeds and sprouts don’t go well together.
Beware slugs!
Slugs love rainy, cooler temperatures.
They also love sprouts and will ruin your garden overnight.
Forget about beer traps or creating a prickly barrier—they don’t work.
Ferrous sulfate (specifically Sluggo or Slug-B-Gon) is a better, ecofriendly solution.
The perfect season to plant
Wait until autumn to plant perennials, shrubs, evergreens and trees—not to mention spring blooms—because it provides ideal conditions:
- Abundant rain
- Warmer soil than in spring
- Cooler air that reduces evaporation
- Peak root growth
Still not convinced? Then you might be interested to know that gardening centres tend to offer big discounts on many plants and vegetables in the fall.
