The Modern Victory Garden

Probably the most frequent question I receive has to do with when to plant fall and winter harvest items. Usually I get the question in mid to late September when folks are realizing fall is fast upon them. With the exception of some lettuces, by that point in time they have long passed the opportunity to plant a fall/winter harvest garden. It would be better if the question were posed in May or June, because that is when you need to begin thinking about your fall and winter garden. Some fall/winter crops (such as parsnips. leeks, and some varieties of brussel sprouts) need four or five months of growth on them before they will be at a harvestable state. That growth needs to occur in the summer months while the sun strength and day length are adequate to provide the photosynthesis energy necessary to achieve that growth. The key is to think about your fall and winter garden at the same time that you are planning and implementing your summer season garden. Once you know what you want in your fall/winter garden, then you work backwards to determine when the plants or seeds need to go into the ground in order to be mature by the time the solar strength has diminished dramatically. A fall/winter harvest garden needs to be essentially matured going into the cold dark days of winter at which point they are just in a holding pattern - providing fresh produce for harvest as you need it during the late fall and early winter months. Because they will not grow in the dark cold months, it is also important to grow a big enough crop of each item that you have a good supply to harvest from over a long period of time.                            

I have already got several items planted in the garden that are fall/winter crops. Recently I direct seeded a big patch of parsnips. In addition, several weeks ago I transplanted a late maturing crop of brussel sprouts. The last patch of carrots I planted will be maturing in late summer and will be an early fall harvest. Now (looking ahead) I have another large planting of carrots I will need to do around the first part of July.  In addition, I am beginning the process of starting seedlings for transplants that will go into the garden over the course of July and first part of August. As early summer crops finish up (such as the peas and spinach) they free up garden bed space necessary for these fall/winter garden transplants and direct seeding. Today I started 24 broccoli and 12 kohlrabi plants which will be the first of the fall crops of these two items.   These were placed in the greenhouse where they will receive adequate light and warmth to germinate and grow on.   In the absence of a ventilated greenhouse, they can also just be set outside in a sunny location.

In about 3 or 4 weeks, I will begin even more broccoli as well as late season cabbages, kale, chinese cabbage, swiss chard, and the beginnings of several succession plantings of lettuces. In mid to late August, I will direct seed a very large bed of spinach. Obviously, by mid to late September when many folks are just beginning to wonder about what to do for a fall garden - mine is almost entirely planted and most crops are getting close to maturity!

While I am doing things to ensure that the fall/winter garden is productive, the summer garden is starting to really come on strong.           

The peas are blooming profusely and have the first pods formed.                

The zucchini plants are forming flowers, including female ones with immature fruit at their base.                                                                               

The first clusters of "Stupice" early tomatoes are starting to ripen.              

And, the strawberries are forming and will be ripening very soon.             

Preparing for fall and winter has to be done just as the excitement of the summer production season takes hold. It's important to be thinking at least one season ahead of where your current garden is at  -  in order to enjoy fresh garden produce all through the year.