Do you still have the planting bug even though it’s August? The good news is that there are late summer crops that you can plant and harvest during the fall. Below are three late summer crops that you can plant that will be available to harvest come fall.
Late Summer Crops 1 – Cauliflower
This vegetable is a great option for cool weather planting. It should be planted in the late part of August or the early part of September, approximately 6-8 weeks before your area’s first frost. It will need lots of full sunlight – around 6 hours of it.
Before you plant, add some compost to your soil. This will ensure it stays fertile and will help with developing a clean cauliflower head instead of lots of little ones. If you’re planting your cauliflower right from the seeds. Place the seeds in rows 3-6” apart and between ¼ and 1/2” deep. Regularly water the seeds and put mulch in to help with conserving the water.
Late Summer Crops 2 – Broccoli
Broccoli is very hardy, which is the reason that it can be planted just 85 days prior to the first frost. It actually will thrive when it’s cooler. If you aren’t sure, the middle of August to the later part of it is fine.
When you’re planting this vegetable, seeds need to be around ½” deep and 12-24” apart. If you’re planting multiple rows, it’s best to give them 36” between the rows so your broccoli fully grows. Fertilize around 3 weeks later and make sure the soil’s in full sun and moist. But try keeping the crowns dry.
Late Summer Crops 3 – Spinach
When you’re planting spinach during late summer, search for an area that has full sun or light shade. If your soil’s cool enough, planting in early August will give you a harvest in the fall. Make sure you’re planting in well-draining soil, too.
Plant your seeds from ½ to 1” deep and around 1” apart in each of your rows. You also can harvest spinach in the spring as long as you are protecting your young plants using something like thick mulch during the harsh winter months. Just make sure that you are adjusting your planting times if you are doing this (later August – early September if you’re harvesting in spring).
These are just three of the late summer crops you can plant and still enjoy this year. And remember, we offer fall cleanup services. Contact us here for more information.
