Along with September comes cooler nights, lower humidity and the perfect time to plant your fall vegetable garden. With a little planning, preparation and choosing the right vegetables, you’ll enjoy the “fruits” of your labor well into the new year!
PLAN YOUR GARDEN
If you don’t already have a garden location, make sure to choose a level, well-drained spot that’s close to a water source and receives at least six hours of sunlight per day. You can also plant some vegetables within your flower beds, however, make sure they will receive adequate sunlight. And balcony gardens are even an option!
It’s definitely helpful to sketch out your garden plan before you start. Doing so will help you organize your plants to avoid grouping incompatibles. It’s also important to note that some vegetables (i.e., companion plants) enhance performance of others and should be planted accordingly. Examples include carrots & lettuce, celery & cabbage and corn & beans.
Likewise, the sketch will allow you to determine the number of plants you’ll need. We suggest including some flowers in your garden, as the nectar and pollen will attract beneficial insects, including pollinators.
It’s important to seasonally rotate your vegetables around the plot to ensure that the same plants don’t deplete essential nutrients year to year. Moving your garden’s location can also help rest your soil.
PREPARE YOUR GARDEN
Hopefully you’ve already tilled your garden, as we recommend it three to four weeks prior to planting. At the same time, mix compost or other organic enhancements into your soil to improve nutrient content. Test your soil’s pH to ensure it is within an acceptable range of 5.5 to 7.0. If less, you’ll need to apply lime a week or two before planting to increase your soil’s pH level. If more, consider a different location for your garden, as attempting to lower pH is not advised.
Your vegetable garden will likely need fertilization. However, Florida’s Rainy Season along with accompanying bans on nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing fertilizers continue through September. Instead, opt for iron-rich supplements w/micro-nutrients and compost. Once we reach October and the beginning of the “Dry Season,” fertilizers containing at least 50% slow-release nitrogen can be used if needed.
VEGETABLES: WHAT AND WHEN TO PLANT
Choose your vegetables based on a combination of your preferences and those suitable for fall planting in your area. The University of Florida/IFAS Extension offers the following guide to help your selection process.
| SEPTEMBER VEGETABLES | |
| Transplant Easily | Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chinese Cabbage, Collards, Eggplant, Endive, Kale, Lettuce, Peppers, Sugarcane, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo, Tomatoes and Tropical Spinaches |
| Transplant Carefully | Amaranth, Calabaza, Long Squashes, Luffa, Mustard, Papaya, Seminole Spinach and Sweet Potatoes |
| Seeds | Beans (bush, Lima & pole), Carrots, Cucumbers, Okra, Onions (bunching), Peas (southern), Radishes, Squashes and Turnips |
| OCTOBER VEGETABLES | |
| Transplant Easily | Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chinese Cabbage, Collards, Eggplant, Endive, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Peppers, Sugarcane, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo, Tomatoes and Tropical Spinaches |
| Transplant Carefully | Amaranth, Calabaza, Celery, Long Squashes, Luffa, Mustard, Potatoes, Seminole Spinach and Spinach |
| Seeds | Beans (bush, Lima & pole), Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Okra, Onions (bulbing, bunching), Peas (southern), Radishes, Squashes and Turnips |
| NOVEMBER VEGETABLES | |
| Transplant Easily | Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chinese Cabbage, Collards, Eggplant, Endive, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Peppers, Sugarcane, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo, Tomatoes and Tropical Spinaches |
| Transplant Carefully | Amaranth, Calabaza, Celery, Long Squash, Luffa, Mustard, Potatoes, Seminole Pumpkin and Spinach |
| Seeds | Beans (bush, Lima & pole), Carrots, Cucumbers, Okra, Onions (bunching), Peas (English, southern), Radishes, Squashes and Turnips |
As Sarasota resides along the University of Florida/IFAS Extension’s “Central” and “Southern” border, check with your local gardening expert to verify suitability for your area if uncertain.
FALL HERBS TO PLANT
For extra flavor and aromas, don’t forget to include herbs! USF suggests the following Herbs are great for fall planting: Anise, Basil, Borage, Chervil, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, Garlic, Ginger, Lovage, Rosemary, Sage and Thyme.
WATERING YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN
As previously mentioned, fall’s arrival means we transition from the Rainy Season to the Dry Season. Accordingly, you’ll need to plan on watering your garden on a regular basis. As a rule of thumb, water two to three times per week or when the soil is dry a half inch to one inch deep.
According to the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program, vegetable gardens typically require a half-inch to one inch of water every week. A combination of rainfall and watering is acceptable.
For younger plants and/or seedlings, light, regular watering is necessary. As they grow and mature, they’ll need more water but on a less frequent basis. And of course, sandy soils drain more quickly and will require more watering. Remember you are watering to wet the soil and root zone but not to create standing water. If you see wilting, dropping or yellowing leaves or compacted soil, you are likely overwatering your plants.
PEST CONTROL
Regardless of the size or kind of plants in your garden, you’ll need to monitor your garden for pests several times a week. Many gardeners prefer natural control methods:
- Hand-remove large insects and dispose of them in soapy water
- Treat small insects with neem oil products containing Azadirachtin, which repels pests.
- Certain small insects (i.e., aphids, thrips, mites, flea beetles, slugs) can be treated with “Food Grade” Diatomaceous Earth (DE) powder, which is largely Silica. DE penetrates their protective outer covering and dries them out.
- Hot Pepper spray (more specifically, the Capsaicin within) will kill bugs such as spider mites and cabbage worms and also repel larger visitors including rabbits, deer and squirrels. It does not affect pollinators.
- Remove any diseased or non-producing plant from the garden.
- Harvest vegetables as soon as they are ripe and remove any fallen, decaying vegetables from the ground.
- Place a “collar” around plants to protect them from cutworms.
- Use Iron-phosphate containing products to control slugs.
WEED CONTROL
Along with pests, you’ll need to control weed growth. Weeds in and around the garden can attract pests and steal nutrients from your garden plants. When possible, dig up weeds by the root for permanent removal. If you hand-pull larger weeds, make sure to remove the roots as well. Hoe smaller weeds into the soil. And mulch around plants with compost, leaves and straw to block the weeds from the sun and suffocate them.
If herbicides are deemed necessary, consider natural alternatives such as industrial vinegar, iron-based herbicides, corn gluten meal and herbicidal soaps.
CONCLUSION
Fall is a great time to be in the garden. Whether you like the leafy greens or the crunch of root vegetables, now’s the time to begin your garden adventure. Growing your own herbs & vegetables will not only save you money but also give you the peace of mind knowing you’re eating naturally-grown, healthy vegetables!