Here's my favorite cool season vegetables to grow in central Georgia fall gardens...
Beets
Beets should be planted between August 1 and September 20. They take 55 to 65 days to mature, depending on the variety. Varieties include Red Ace, Ruby Queen and Detroit Dark.
Broccoli
Broccoli seedlings should be planted 10 weeks before the first frost date in your area. They take 70 days to mature. This means planting them during the last hot summer days so it's important to mulch around them to help keep the ground cool and moist. Feed the plants 3 weeks after transplanting into the garden. Use a low nitrogen fertilizer.
Brussels Sprout
Brussels sprouts taste best when allowed to mature in cool weather. In my mid-Georgia garden, summer comes too quickly to grow them in the spring garden. Set the plants out in mid-summer. Sprouts take about 90 days to be firm and green and that’s when they are ready for harvest.
Cabbage
Plant seedlings 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost. If the heat of summer is still intense when it's time to plant in your area, give the young plants protection from sun. Cabbages are heavy feeders that require fertile soil, rich in organic matter and consistent moisture. They take 70 days to maturity.
Cauliflower
Plant seedlings 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost. Cauliflower can be tricky to grow and takes 60 days to mature. Rich soil and consistent watering are very critical. Fluctuations in temperature, moisture and nutrients can cause the plant to "button" or produce small, undersized heads. Blanch the heads by tying the outer leaves together over the heads when they are about 2 to 3 inches across. This keeps them from turning green and becoming bitter.
Lettuce
Sow seeds between September 1 and October 1. They take 60 to 85 days to mature. They require consistent moisture to keep from bolting or becoming bitter.
Spinach
Sow seeds 5 weeks before first frost date. The short days and cool, moist weather of fall is even better for spinach than spring. An established spinach crop will last well into winter and can survive temperatures in the 20’s. Spinach prefers very fertile soil to encourage rapid growth and tender leaves, and takes 45 days to maturity.
Although in the hot days of summer, the last thing you want to think about is planting more crops to take care of, look ahead to the satisfaction of prolonged fall and winter harvests of fresh vegetables, savings in food costs, and making full use of your gardening space and season. Some of the best-quality vegetables are produced during the warm days and cool nights of the fall season. These environmental conditions add sugar to sweet corn and crispness to carrots. So if you haven’t already begun planting, don’t delay any longer; get started today or this weekend.
