Fall Crops Post

It's a blustery cool day today, very reminiscent of the fall. Looks like weather in the low 20's(68f) is here to stay for a while so what better of a topic then fall crops. Since Aug 15th I have seeded quite a few things, both in cell packs and directly in the soil and they are all up now. All the fall crops that I started in July are doing well also.

Vates Kale, growing in the cold frame.

Spinach, growing in the cold frame.

Mache, growing in the cold frame.

Fall Broccoli, that I seeded back in July. There is Brussels Sprouts in
behind as well but the squash has badly shaded them, I don't think
they will produce because of this.

Green Onions in the poly tunnel. These were growing in the native
soil garden at the bottom of the garden. I decided to trim & transplant them
into the poly tunnel to extend their harvest.

Red Celery, growing in the poly tunnel. I started these back in July and they
are just starting to put on some good growth. I have also underplanted them
with mache which tolerates shade and can be harvested after the celery is harvested.

Merlot Lettuce, it will be growing out in the open.

Easter Egg Radish, these also will be growing out in the open.
This fall I am growing Easter Egg, Black Long & China Rose Radishes.
Some will be grown in the open well some will be grown with protection.

Crookneck Squash in a topsy. This is an attempt at a late
harvest, being in a topsy I can bring it into the shed if cold
weather comes for a few days.

Leeks. I planted these in a trench for blanching and I will be refilling
the trench this weekend. I'm hesitant to admit it but I have been fertilizing
these with lawn fertilizer. I read onions respond well to high nitrogen fertilizer
early on and these certainly have!

In behind the poly tunnel is Detroit Red Beets that I seeded in July. They are
starting to size up nicely and will be harvested in 30 days I am guessing. There also
is some Vermont Cranberry Beans (from The Conservative Gardener ) and
Fennel mixed in.

In no particular order, here we have little gem romaine, merlot lettuce, napa cabbage, bright lights chard (from Daphne's Dandelions ), sugar loaf chicory & batavian full heart. These were all started around the first of Aug and will be planted into the poly tunnel this weekend.

Here is the most recently started transplants. I have ran out of labels
and it is driving me nuts that I don't know what is what, bit of a control
freak :-) So here we have mizuna, bok choy, tatsoi (from Daphne's Dandelions)
& I think Australian Yellowleaf lettuce.

Here is a white cucumber variety that I started in July. It took the place
of the sugar snap peas that were growing in this container last spring. They are
kind of sickly looking but are putting out a couple cukes, maybe they will pick up soon.

Lastly I put a row of yellow bush beans in a few weeks ago. They are up
and I am hoping for a couple pickings before the October frosts.