It's Time to Start Some Cool-Season Veggie Seeds!

You're probably up to your ears in zucchini and tomatoes right now, but believe it or not, it's time to start planning for (and planting) your fall garden! Planting a Fall garden provides you with fresh, home-grown produce well into the coolest months of Fall; and the vegetables that grow well during the Fall are great for hearty Autumn soups and dishes!

Fall gardens are so exciting and often under-appreciated! While some star cool-season vegetables can be grown well during the Spring, most perform excellently during the Fall. Why? Planting your vegetables in  warm weather allows them to establish in a comfortable environment; as the season gradually gets cooler, the cool-season vegetables flourish and produce higher yields than they would in the Spring (since during the Spring you plant when it's cool and the weather gets progressively warmer.) 

When it comes to planting your Fall garden, you have the option to sow seeds or start with small plants. The gardeners around Strange's like to plant their Fall gardens using a combination of seeds and plants. We love seeds for the wide selection of varieties available, and for the oh-so-gratifying experience of watching tiny plants burst out of the soil. We love starting with small plants for the ease of establishment they afford. So, we do both! 

Not sure what to grow? Here's a list of some of our favorite plants that we carry, as well as how to plant them and the recommended time to start them:

• Arugula- sow seeds in August and September
• Beets- sow seeds in August and the first half of September
• Broccoli- plant transplants in August and the first half of September
• Brussel Sprouts- plant transplants in July and August
• Cabbage- plant transplants in August and the first half of September
• Chinese Cabbage-sow seeds in August or transplant in the last week of September
• Carrots-sow seeds from July through the first half of September
• Cauliflower-sow seeds or plant transplants in August and September
• Collard Greens- sow seeds or plant transplants in August into the first half of September
• Kale-  sow seeds or plant transplants in August and September
• Kohlrabi-  sow seeds or plant transplants in August into the first half of September
• Lettuce (Leaf)-  sow seeds or plant transplants in August and September
• Lettuce (Head)- Sow seeds the last half of Aug or first half of Sept, transplant the last half of Sept.
• Mustard-  sow seeds in August and September
• Peas-  sow seeds in August and September
• Radishes-   sow seeds in August into the first half of September
• Rutabaga-  sow seeds in July, August and September
• Spinach-  sow seeds in August, September and into the first half of October
• Swiss Chard- sow seeds or plant transplants in August into the first half of September

If you're interested in planting a Fall garden, stop by our Garden Center! Our staff is eager to have fun helping you plan what to plant and can give you pointers on growing each crop. 

Happy (Fall) Gardening!