Henny Penny Farmette

If you are lucky enough to live in an area where gardening can be done through spring, summer, and fall, September is the time to start looking in local nurseries for plants that grow in cooler weather. Here are some tips to get a quick start on fall planting of cool season crops, including brassicas, root crops, vegetables, and herbs.

Keep in mind that all new seedlings require well-drained soil. For leafy Brassicas, incorporate some agricultural lime into the soil to get them off to a good start. For leafy plants like Swiss chard, make sure to plant in full sun in soil that is rich in humus and well draining.

If you are planting broccoli, cabbage, or other brassica crops that attract aphids, plant some sweet alyssum. The tiny flowers attract syrphid flies, whose larvae consume the invading aphids.

Suitable for autumn planting:

1. Brassicas (bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, Napa cabbage, Savoy cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi or German turnip)
2. Root crops (turnips, radishes, beets, carrots, and rutabagas)
3. Leafy Brassicas (arugula, collards, horseradish, kale, mustard greens,spinach, wasabi, watercress)
4. Cool season vegetables (broad or Fava beans, celery, garlic, leeks, peas, scallions or spring onions, Swiss chard)
5. Herbs (borage, chives, chicory, cilantro/coriander, chamomile, chervil, dill, fennel, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and sage)

If you enjoy reading about gardening and country topics, check out my cozy mystery novels chocked full of delicious recipes and tips for country living–A BEELINE TO MURDER, THE MURDER OF A QUEEN BEE, and A HIVE OF HOMICIDES. All are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online outlets and bookstores everywhere.

See, https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Book%2BMeera+Lester&ref=nav_bb_sb

Tags: cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, Napa cabbage