Finally, the sun came out today.
It's funny. I'm not sure I want to bother with a fall garden. Even though we're still in the mid 80's, I think it's too late in the game to get a harvest out of anything that I'd plant right now. I'm sure the lettuce can turn around quick enough and the carrots have been in since August so they have a head start. Plus they can over winter in the ground.
I guess I was hoping to try for some cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and collards. But these plants take so long to grow. To even hope for any kind of harvest though, I'd need to have a hoop house and Mother Nature on my side. I'm just not feeling it.
Heading into October in the 80's is weird. Yes, it could imply an Indian Summer, but it's more likely that by the end of October we'd still have a frost and then I'd have wasted my effort (and expense) on plants that aren't going to give me anything back.
So I've decided to just "scrub it". No Fall garden this year other than the lettuces and carrots that are already in.
This may not be a bad decision at all, actually. We've got "double digging" and fencing to do and with our poor quality soil, I'd rather invest my time tossing organics (leaf and manure) in the garden to help try and establish a "bitchen" soil for next springs garden.
(Edit: I forgot to mention that I'm researching cover crops too. Why not? Any recommendations for a zone 7 cover crop?)
I agree-you're far better off improving the soil so you have a great garden next year. Sounds like you have enough projects to keep you in the garden.
ReplyDeleteBeen thinking the same thing about "scrubbing" it. I planted my "fall" garden last month and no a single lettuce or spinach or carrot came up because of the heat. Now I think it's too late, although you know darned well I'll be out there tossing lettuce seeds in the ground.
ReplyDeleteI only have a few carrots coming up as well. I am determined to have lettuce though.
ReplyDeleteSome is better than none. Enjoy your harvest, tami!
My fall gardens always seem to grow slowly too. I've actually started thinking of them as early spring plantings, LOL. But for some crops it works out well that way.
ReplyDeleteWe've tried annual rye for a winter cover, but with just a tiller, we've never been able to turn it deep enough for it not to re-root and make a nuisance of itself. I love buckwheat as a cover crop, but that's not a good one for winter. Our winter wheat did really well last year, but I'm not sure that's officially a "cover crop."
Carrots can overwinter in the ground? I did not know this! Do you do anything special to them?
ReplyDeleteNo...just leave them there and pull them as needed.
ReplyDelete