fall garden?

DamnearaFarm · #1 10/02/07, 09:13 AM

Please be gentle with me, I've never put out a fall garden before.

What should I expect to do best with, given the growing season eastern Tn has this season? Thanks!

rambler · #2 10/02/07, 09:25 AM

We had a hard enough frost 17 days ago, killed many things. Can't imagine a climate where you could plant any garden stuff now!

Alfalfa, clover, rye it is getting late for, but could grow 'here' yet. Not much else!

Sorry I'm no help, good luck with it.

--->Paul

DamnearaFarm · #3 10/02/07, 01:22 PM

Lol I had abig plan to come on here and ask you if you are my brother- the whole rambler/ramblin thing. Then I see that your name is Paul, which is my only brother's name! Heehee.

It's still hot here, today's temp is 82

**Cabin Fever** · #4 10/02/07, 01:57 PM

Oh, I dunno....maybe start with winter squash, snow peas and iceberg lettuce.

Maura · #5 10/02/07, 02:00 PM

Spinach, Swiss chard, kale

Quinton · #6 10/02/07, 05:17 PM

If you have the sun for most of the day without shade, you could try some fast growing broccoli. I have seen it growing even in snow.

Fast growing lettuces, spinach, chard, kale, peas, snow peas are all good ideas.

http://www.humeseeds.com/falwint.htm for more ideas..

Jean · #7 10/02/07, 05:36 PM

I am from Iowa but I think this productive advice I got here will do for any area. Around 6 weeks before your average frost date lettuces, spinach, radish, kohlrabi and turnips can be planted and you can expect a harvest. I am enjoying them right now. The radishes didn't do that great and maybe abit hotter then the spring ones but welcome for diversification.

Another tip that I got from an "old" gardener years ago is to plant a second crop of potatoes about the first part of July for this area. At this time they are still green and will be dug around the time of the first average frost which will be in about a week for this area. These potatoes will store until late next spring when the earlier planted potatoes are withering and sprouting. Have gotten alot of harvest from different times of planting. Hope this helps someone.
Jean

Callieslamb · #8 10/02/07, 05:57 PM

I think it would normally be a bit late now to put in many typically fall crops. However, you never know. I consider my garden to be a gamble anyway most years. If you could find plants, you might get a small crop of broccoli or cabbage. I think it is too late to start broccoli and cabbage from seeds at this point. However, you can still put in lettuces and spinach. If you do find plants, be prepared to cover your crops when it turns cold at night and uncover them during the day - you would be more likely to have success by doing that. I am in zone 6- almost 7 I am not sure what plant zone you are. I just put my broccoli out in mid-Sept. I am hoping I will get something from them since I lost the broccoli this past spring.

If you have the seeds, time and don't mind not being successful - you can go ahead. You never know. I have served fresh tomatoes and raspberries for Thanksgiving before. Broccoli is hardier than either of those crops. But there is the chance that your plants won't have time to produce anything.

DamnearaFarm · #9 10/02/07, 07:56 PM

Drat. Looks like i'll have to wait until next fall. Or maybe I can do something in containers that I can move into the garage at night.... hmmm....

james dilley · #10 10/02/07, 07:58 PM

I have NO idea what you can plant. Maybe root crops?? A cover crop. We are blessed here We have A 300 plus day season. You can Start your Compost piles now too.

DamnearaFarm · #11 10/02/07, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james dilley

I have NO idea what you can plant. Maybe root crops?? A cover crop. We are blessed here We have A 300 plus day season. You can Start your Compost piles now too.

So let me pick your brain, if I may.

How's the humidity down there?

Kim_NC · #12 10/02/07, 10:31 PM

Try any cool weather crops that mature in 45-60 days....

Leaf lettuce - varieties like Simpson, Salad Bowl, Oakleaf
Spinach
Radishes
Onion sets
Turnip
Kohlrabi

You might even get something from broccoli or collards if you throw row covers or sheets over them during the first couple early frosts. (Cover overnight and then uncover during the day when temperatures warm again.)

Here in North central NC we even have a second crop of squash and tomatoes started at the end of August. They'll get frozen out eventually....but we'll have many meals of fresh squash, some late tomatoes, and we'll make green tomato relish (chow-chow) and fried green tomtoes before the first Fall frost gets them.

js2743 · #13 10/02/07, 11:07 PM

turnips,mustard greens,kale, cabbage & winter onions do real well here in the fall but its so dry nothing is going to grow this year. and i wouldnt think in east tn either because we are both in a severe drought.

Thoughthound · #14 10/03/07, 07:17 AM

Really, a lot of the problem with growing this time of year is a lack of sunlight.

Many cool season crops will hold or grow in zone 5 to about January.

Read "Four Season Harvest" by Elliot Coleman.

marvella · #15 10/03/07, 07:26 AM

kim in nc is correct. i just planted kale and collards the other day. it's a little late but you can still grow stuff, using covers of ramey or old sheets as needed to keep off frost. where in east tn are you? usual first frost date here is oct. 15, which isn't far away.

that is, if it ever rains again...

DamnearaFarm · #16 10/03/07, 07:50 AM

Oh we have NO problem with sunlight. Unless too much of it is a problem. No rain to speak of, though.

I'm right outside Knoxville.

My proposed site gets sun throughout the day, with nothing nearby to shade it, not even the house.

I think i'll take a trip to the Co-op today ........

homebirtha · #17 10/03/07, 07:54 AM

This is our first year doing a fall and winter garden and I used the Eliot Coleman book too.

I planted carrots, bunching onions, and kohlrabi a month or so ago. I've also planted various winter greens, and I don't think it's too late for you to do that. I used Mache, Claytonia, Tatsoi and Pac Choi, and Erba Stella. I will cover them with row covers when we start getting frosts and then do a rigged up greenhouse (unheated) over top of that, probably in December. The carrots will also get layered with straw. It's the double layer of the greenhouse plastic and the row covers underneath that make it possible.

Basically what you're doing is growing the stuff August-November, then just storing it in the ground until you're ready to harvest it. The winter greens are especially well-suited for growing and keeping in cold weather.

The Coleman book is really great for getting you started. I highly recommend it.
Here's a quick overview of Coleman's setup:
http://www.fourseasonfarm.com/main/a...s/mother2.html

marvella · #18 10/05/07, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RamblinRoseRanc

Oh we have NO problem with sunlight. Unless too much of it is a problem. No rain to speak of, though.

I'm right outside Knoxville.

My proposed site gets sun throughout the day, with nothing nearby to shade it, not even the house.

I think i'll take a trip to the Co-op today ........

well, you're not very far away. i am east of you, off I40, near the TN/NC line.

howdy neighbor!

DamnearaFarm · #19 10/05/07, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvella

well, you're not very far away. i am east of you, off I40, near the TN/NC line.

howdy neighbor!

Well hello there ;-) A few weeks ago we were riding up around your neck of the woods, the Waterville exit. Beautiful area!

Phantomfyre · #20 10/06/07, 10:27 AM

I'd imagine you could still eek out some cool-season greens - spinach, lettuce, etc. Especially if you have a cold frame or could rig up a really simple plastic-covered hoop-style row cover.

Jean, your potato suggestion will help me, and I'll plan to try that next year. Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by james dilley

You can Start your Compost piles now too.

They way you said this made me giggle. Made me think, "Gentlemen, Start... Your... COMPOST!!!!"