{"id":1471,"date":"2018-07-22T16:00:44","date_gmt":"2018-07-22T21:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.homesteadintheholler.com\/blog\/?p=1471"},"modified":"2019-08-04T20:15:09","modified_gmt":"2019-08-05T01:15:09","slug":"fall-garden-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homesteadintheholler.com\/blog\/fall-garden-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Fall Garden Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Homestead in the Holler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.<\/h4>\n

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Fall is my favorite season.  It’s no longer blazing hot and the leaves turn into their magical colors.  Have you ever considered growing a fall garden?  The temperatures are more moderate, most of the problematic bugs have gone and a lot of greens thrive in the cooler temperatures.  What’s not to love about that?<\/p>\n

Starting your cool weather crops in the summer, whether transplanting seedlings started indoors or direct sowing, can be a challenge.  Some crops need to be started when the sun is still hot.  Those tender seedlings can wither in a hurry if not cared for and protected.<\/p>\n

The effort of protecting your seedlings is well worth it!  A lot of cool weather crops taste so much better with the cool temperatures.  Plus going out and picking your own salad in October or November never gets old.  You don’t need a greenhouse to keep your garden going well into late fall. <\/p>\n

What can you do to protect your fall garden?<\/h3>\n

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Tips for a Successful Fall Garden<\/h2>\n

Prepare soil<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Just like in the spring, you need to prepare the soil before planting in the fall.   I top dress my garden beds with composted goat manure from our goat barn or rabbit poo before planting any time of the year.  The better the soil, the better the crop!<\/p>\n

Water<\/h5>\n

Water is always important, but it is even more so for fall crops.  The soil dries out quickly this time of year, which simply will not do for direct sowing seeds for slower to germinate veggies, such as carrots or parsnips. Soil needs to be kept moist around 7-10 days. Once the seedlings emerge, they will still require moist soil, the seedlings will dry out as quickly as the soil this time of year. The best way to keep moisture in the soil is with mulch.<\/p>\n

Mulch<\/h5>\n

Mulch, mulch and more mulch!  Mulch is a must in the garden any time of the year.  Besides weed control, a thick layer of mulch  will keep the soil warm and will protect plants from light frosts in the fall.  Think of it as a nice layer of insulation.  I have used straw and wood chips as mulch and have had great results with both.  As long as the bare earth is covered, preferably with something that will break down and give you more organic matter and soil, you are set!<\/p>\n

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If you want to keep your garden going during hard frosts, you need to go one step further.<\/p>\n

Row Cover<\/h5>\n

Row cover is the best way to extend the season and to protect your crops without purchasing a greenhouse.  It is also called garden fabric, or floating row covers.  You’re basically making a mini greenhouse right over a garden bed in your garden.  Row cover will make your fall gardening a smashing success! <\/p>\n

Here’s what row covers will do for you:<\/p>\n

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  • Protect your seedlings from the hot summer sun by filtering the sunlight.<\/li>\n
  • Protect plants from frosts<\/li>\n
  • A barrier for insect pest control<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n