By July, many people have planted their vegetables and are ready to sit back and enjoy the summer harvest. But July is also time to think ahead toward fall. With advance planning, you can double garden productivity and extend your harvest into November or later.
Tips for success with fall crops:
Choose seed varieties with early maturity dates.
- Keep seed beds evenly moist. Water lightly every day (or even twice a day) during hot weather, until seeds germinate and plants become established. After that, cut back on watering to allow plants to establish deeper root systems.
- Plant lettuce and spinach in light shade, as they prefer cooler temperatures.
- Extend the growing season with a light-weight frost cover during cooler months.
Suggested planting schedule from seed
July 10-15
Corn, cucumbers, summer squash, and beans
July 15-31
Carrots
August 1-15
Beets, chard, cilantro, collards, kale, and peas
August 15-30
Spinach and lettuce
September 1-15
Broccoli, kale, collards, and cabbage from transplants
-Provided by Oakland Columbus
