BroccoliBroccoliSpring isn’t the only time to think about planting a vegetable garden. Planting vegetables now is a great way to extend your vegetable harvest into the fall.

There are many advantages to gardening later in the season. Insect pests tend to be less of an issue in late summer and fall. Vegetables that mature during cool fall days are often better flavored than those that mature in the hot, dry days of summer. In addition, many vegetables can be left in the garden and used as needed in the winter months.

When to Plant
Planting dates depend on two factors: how long the crop takes to develop, and how frost/freeze tolerant the crop is. Crops such as cabbage or potatoes require longer development time and therefore should be planted in mid-July. Lettuce, spinach and radishes take less time to develop and planting can be done in late August through early September. Although it can be difficult to predict the exact date, the average first frost in the fall occurs around mid-October in the Kansas City area.

What to Plant
Crops that are best adapted to the fall season are mainly cool-season crops. However, beans, cucumbers and summer squash can also be grown as fall crops. Of the cool season crops, peas are the only ones to avoid growing in the fall. Peas require cool temperatures for germination and do not adapt well to the warm summer weather.

Crops to include in your fall garden include cole crops such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. These can be planted from seed or transplant.

Potatoes, beets and carrots are root crops perfect for growing. Freshly cut potato seed pieces can rot easily in warm soils so allow the seeds pieces to heal over 3 – 4 days prior to planting.

Various lettuces, spinaches and kale can be planted in August through mid-September when temperatures cool off as we enter fall.

-- Chelsey Wasem