Joanna Radford
Home, Farm, & Garden
We live in one of my favorite areas on this earth because we can continue to garden and harvest vegetables well into the fall. Who knows, in the future we may be capable of growing vegetables all year long or at least until we tire of the work. This time of year, the month of September, is a great time to transition into fall gardening. There are numerous cool-season vegetables that can be planted and enjoyed in the cool autumn weather. The list of plants that grow well in the fall are also those that grow well in early spring.
Knowing when to plant fall vegetables is key to successful harvests. The planting date can be determined by taking the number of days to maturity and counting backward from the average first frost date to determine the best time to plant. The maturity time is typically listed on the seed packet. The average first fall frost date is October 17 for Surry County. (This is based on data from 1893 to 2019.) This chart will give an estimate of when to plant.
Chart 1: Vegetable Planting Times
| Vegetable/Herb | Type | Estimated Planting Dates | Days to Harvest from Seed |
| Beets | Seed | Sept 1 – 30 | 55-60 |
| Garlic | Bulb | Sept 15 – Nov 15 | 180-210 |
| Lettuce | Seed or Transplant | Sept 1 – 30 | 70-85 |
| Carrots | Seed | Sept 1 – 15 | 75-80 |
| Collard Greens | Seed or Transplant | Sept 1 – 15 | 60-100 |
| Kale | Seed or Transplant | Sept 1 – 15 | 40-50 |
| Swiss Chard | Seed or Transplant | Sept 1 – 15 | 60-70 |
| Onions, bulb* | Seed | Sept – Dec | 90-12 |
| Onions, green | Seed or Transplant | Sept 1 – 15 | 60-70 |
| Spinach | Seed | Sept 1 – 15 | 50-60 |
| Turnips | Seed | Sept 1 – 30 | 55-60 |
*Harvest early next summer
Without seed germination there is no plant, no fruit, no harvest. Different seeds require different temperatures to germinate. While most seed will germinate in temperatures ranging from 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, lettuce, spinach, and other cool season vegetables germinate best between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. In cooler temperatures, you can plant seeds ½ – 1 inch deeper. This may provide some additional warmth. If soil temperatures are too warm, the seeds may go dormant or not germinate at all. Mulching the seeded area will help keep the soil cooler and hold moisture. Monitor the mulch to ensure the mulching does not interfere with germination either.
Vegetables can be direct seeded and is easier and cheaper than seeding inside and planting as a transplant. Having the right amount of moisture is important when seeding a fall garden. If you do not have access to water, transplants may be the better route to follow.
Fall gardening may be too late for many of our traditional summer vegetables. Insects and diseases are prevalent in the fall due to a buildup of populations during the spring and summer. Scout your fall garden frequently for insects and diseases. Keep the plants healthy. Unhealthy plants attract pests. Do not overfertilize. Excess fertilizer can attract pests to your vegetables as well. Remove any pests that you see as soon as you see them. Use sanitation practices such as removing plants from the garden if they stop producing. They are no longer a benefit to you and are a great host for unwanted pests.
What are you waiting for? Get to gardening this fall.
