Preparing for a Fall Garden
A picture of one of our spring gardens.
It is now mid-August on a year with record highs and little rain. Most people in my area start planting their fall garden in the middle of this month. The last thing that I want to think about right now is planting a fall garden, but my family does like to eat.
I am a planner by nature. I don’t just walk into a store and impulsively pull seeds or plants off the shelf and stick them in my soil at home. I think, I plan, I read up on vegetables, and I prepare. I will not be physically planting my garden for a while, but I am preparing for my fall garden now.
First I need to clear the garden area of all the plants that are done producing. I pull them up and leave them in the garden to decay. Then we will work as a family to collect composted manure from our chickens. We will add a thin layer to the top of our soil. Then Lane will till up the soil using a tractor. It does a great job breaking up the soil, tearing up the spring vegetable plants that were left, and combining the manure with the soil. We allow it to rest for a few days to a week.
While the soil is resting, I will be deciding which vegetables we are going to plant, how much, and where. Based on the plants needs, like whether they need a mound or support on which to grow, I will sketch out our garden on paper. Now we can see where the mounds, rows, etc. need to be placed. Then we go shopping.
This season I am going co-op to buy my seeds and plants. For years we have always gone to a local feed store, but last spring I did not get what I purchased as seen in my article, “The Great Pumpkin Mystery.” I will shop before making my rows because you never know what is going to be available. You might have to make adjustments to your garden plan. If so, it is much easier to adjust on paper than in soil.
These are the vegetables I am considering planting this year. If you have a suggestion for my family, please let me know. We like to try new things.
Zucchini
Cabbage
Swiss Chard
Spinach
Lettuce
Carrots
Kale
Onions
Sugar Snap Peas
Radishes
Why not try broccoli and cauliflower. Some beets might be nice also. We don’t like the roots, but the critters do, and the greens are wonderful in salads. I am working on my fall garden now also. We have a small patch of corn left to harvest and then turn and fertilize that so it can rest until next year.
Broccoli, of course, I completely forgot that one on my list. We really enjoyed it last year. Thank you so much for your suggestions. I have never even eaten a beet, root or green. Maybe it is time to try one.
very nice great post
very nice great post
Good job on your blog here. I too am trying to build a site for my small home remodeling business. Its a long story, but I’m not very good at this computer stuff. I like the blog theme you have used here and was wondering what it was called? I bought Thesis but just gave up. I want to supplement my income in the cold winter months and thought I could do it. Its a long road ahead. Anyway, I just stumbled across your post here and am glad to have met you. virtually of course
.
Thank you. And, nice to meet you too. The theme is Magazine Basic. It is one of the WordPress themes. Hope this helps.
This is the first time I visit here. I found so much interesting stuff in your thread, especially its topics. From the loads of comments on your thread, I guess I am not the only person having all the enjoyment here! Keep up the great work.
Hi, i’m a first time visitor her, found your website in Countryside Magazine. Really love all the stuff i’ve read so for, will put your site under my favs. I live outside Augusta, Ga. We have 40 acres and are in the planning stages for a CSA site with the University of Ga. Again, thanks. Donna Young