Prepared by James D. Utzinger, Extension Horticulturist,
The Ohio State University. Reprinted from Landscape Facts,
Cooperative Extension Service, 1969
Late summer planting of vegetables offer several benefits. Late summer planting or early fall plantings of vegetables, which make rapid growth and mature crops before extremely cold fall weather sets in, will enable the home gardener to extend the gardening season and get best use of the garden areas. The gardener can produce fresh, high quality vegetables at a minimum cost for family meals in early fall and also have vegetables for storage and use during the late fall and early winter.
During the fall season the days become shorter and temperatures cooler. These conditions plus favorable soil moisture conditions provide an excellent growing environment for the development of high quality vegetables, especially those vegetables which tend to "go to seed" during the long hot days of summer, or fail to develop best eating quality when grown at high temperatures for a prolonged period of time.
Vegetables suitable for fall Garden Crops. Vegetables suitable for late summer planting along with suggested planting information is given below in Table 1.
Table 1- Vegetables for the Fall Garden
Vegetable Seeding or Planting Seed Per Days to Planting Distance
Planting Depth 100 ft. Maturity in inches
Time (inches) of row (in row) * (between row)
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Snap beans Aug.1 ´ - 1 1 lb. 50-60 3 24
Chinese Aug.1 ¨ 1 pkt. 80-90 15 24
Cabbage
Collards Aug. 15 ¨ 1 pkt. 65 15 18
Endive Aug.1 ´ 1 pkt. 80 15 18
Kale Aug.1-15 ´ 1 pkt. 50-70 18 18
Kohlrabi Aug.1 ´ ¨ oz. 55-70 4 18
Leaf Lettuce Aug.1 ¨ 1 pkt. 50-60 6 18
Winter Sept.1 1-2" 3 lb. -- 2 18
Onions -Oct.1
Radish Aug.1 ´ 1 oz. 25-35 1 12
Spinach Sept.1 ´ ´ oz. 40-50 6 12
Turnip Aug.15 ´ ¨ 0z 50-60 3 18
*Row spacing will depend on the type of cultivation to be used in the garden. If mechanical equipment is to be used, allow enough room between rows to allow equipment passage without injuring the crop plants.
It is important that vegetable varieties and hybrids used for making the planting are those which have been found to do well under Ohio growing conditions. Varieties and hybrids of the vegetables suitable for planting in the fall garden are as follows:
Chinese Cabbage:Michihili
Collards :Vates (Improved Georgia Type)
Endive: Full Heart Batavian (broadleaf) and Green Curled (green ribbed)
Kale: Dwarf Blue Curled (*), Dwarf Green Scotch Curled,
Dwarf Siberian and Vates (*)
Kohlrabi: Early White Vienna, Purple Vienna
Leaf Lettuce: Salad Bowl, Grand Rapids, Black Seeded Simpson,
Slobolt, Oakleaf, Matchless
Radish: Early Scarlet Globe, Red Prince
Radish, Winter: Round Black Spanish
Snap beans: Contender, Topcrop, Tendercrop (*), Provider
Spinach: Long Standing Bloomsdale, America, Dark Green BloomsdaleTurnip:
Turnip: Just Right Hybrid, Purple Top White Globe
(*)= Suitable for freezing
Cultural Practices for Fall Grown Vegetables. Vegetables for the fall garden should be promptly seeded using high quality seed at the time indicated in Table 1. The soil should be well prepared to free it of weed growth and previous crop residues. Additional fertilizer may not be required if the spring and summer crops were heavily fertilized. If fertilize is used, 1-2 pounds of a fertilizer such as 8-16-16 per 100 square feet should be adequate. The fertilizer should be thoroughly mixed with the soil if a broadcast application is made. Row applications should be applied such that the fertilizer is sprinkled in a light band three inches to the side of and three inches below the seed.
If the soil is dry at planting time, apply water to promote rapid seed germination and assist the transplants in making new growth. slightly deeper planting is advisable during warm weather when soils are more likely to be dry. The crops should be kept free of weed competition, insects and diseases.
Root crops such as beets, carrots, parsnips, and salsify, maturing in the fall garden can be stored for late fall and early winter use. The parsnips and salsify can be left in the soil over winter if desired. The carrots and beets should be dug and stored in moist sand or peat in a cool area such as a basement.
If you do not plan to plant a late, fall garden, you can sow a cover crop like rye or ryegrass following crop harvest. Such cover crop will help to maintain a desirable soil physical condition and protect the soil from erosion over the winter.
