Plant Midsummer Vegetables Now For Fruitful Fall Bounty
This summer I decided to plant some vegetables and herbs for fall harvest. Below is a quick, concise breakdown of my research into planting midsummer vegetables. First, I determined which vegetables do best in cooler temperatures, and how much cold they could stand. Next, I found days to maturity and our local first frost dates. Then, I even looked into preferred lunar planting dates. All this information and more has been put into the Midsummer Planting Guide, included below and offered as FREE download.
List of Midsummer Vegetables to Planting
Midsummer Planting Guide 2019
FREE DOWNLOAD
What Is Your Plant Hardiness Zone
The Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a standard by which gardeners and growers determine which plants are most likely to thrive in their location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones. Easily find your zone through the interactive USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Some Frosty Information
(Ha ha, pun intended.)Frost is such a key factor in the fall garden. Here's some information and resources to help. The classification of freeze temperatures is based on their effect on plants:
- Light freeze: 29° to 32°F—tender plants are killed.
- Moderate freeze: 25° to 28°F—widely destructive to most vegetation.
- Severe freeze: 24°F and colder—heavy damage to most plants.
Where I live, October 10th is the average date for first frost. You can look up your expected first frost date at The Old Farmers Almanac website.
It should be noted: local weather and topography may cause considerable variations. So, the probability of frost occurring after the given spring dates and before the given fall dates is 30 percent. Frost dates used are calculated based on data from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
Prepare the Soil for Planting Midsummer Vegetables
First, before sowing seeds as second crops, prepare the soil. Then, remove debris like stems or roots from first planting which may cause problems in seed germination. Next, add some balanced fertilizer (I use Jobe's Organic Tomato and Vegetable Fertilizer) to the soil be sprinkling on top using the amount as directed on package. Finally, turn soil, mixing the fertilizer in well. Learn more about second crops and succession planting.
Sow Seeds 2x Deeper
Sow seeds twice as deep as normal or as per seed packet directions. This is helpful, because the extra depth helps keep seeds moist during the dry summer heat.
Water Often
Late summer and early fall are typically drier than spring and early summer. Accordingly, during periods of little or no rain, it's important to water seeds and seedlings twice a day or more as needed to keep moist.
There You Have It; Short and Concise
Short and concise, as promised! I've already planted a few of my midsummer vegetables. This weekend I'll be planting some more. I'm soo looking forward to harvesting some awesome fall vegetables. I will keep you updated on my progress. How about you? Are you planning to plant some midsummer vegetables. Hopefully, this post gives you the information and inspiration to go out there and plant your own midsummer vegetables for a fantastic and fruitful fall harvest.
Did you plant midsummer vegetables?
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