What to plant in the fall for next year's garden?

[emulkahi1]

Hello everyone! I am in the process of breaking ground (approx. 6000 sq.ft.) for what will become my new market garden. I am going to be planting a couple rounds of cover crops, as well as adding some aged manure, etc to start improving the soil. I already have garlic on hand to be planted this October.

My question is....what else should I be thinking of planting this fall, so that I will have it next spring? I've gardened for a few years on my small in-town postage stamp yard, but haven't had room for things like asparagus, berry bushes, etc. I would love to get some raspberry canes in the ground, some ginger, asparagus, and other things like that. I have a healthy horseradish plant that I will likely transplant part of this fall. Anything else that I should be thinking about now?

Thanks for your ideas!!

Erin

[Windy in Kansas]

Garlic and onions.

[Callieslamb]

Have you thought about using the low growing white clover and just leaving it in place? Next year, plant your crops through it - it is supposed to work especially for corn and vining plants.

rhubarb

[Danaus29]

Rhubarb if you can find it in the fall. You won't be able to harvest any in the spring but next year it will be ready to pick.

Does ginger overwinter in your area or is it a spring/summer crop? I have grown it in pots (unsuccessfully) but never tried it in the ground.

[clovis]

Since you call it a market garden, I assume you are going to sell.

If so, can I suggest you plant zennia flowers? A lady at our farmers market sells cut zennias for 20 cents each.

She told me once that they are super easy to plant and care for, and add great profit to her efforts. Seeds can be found cheap.

She sells out VERY quickly of her flowers, as well as the other veggies. Lots of people like adding a bouquet to their table, including my wife.

Just an idea to add profit to your endeavor.

Clove

[emulkahi1]

Thank you, all, for your suggestions!! Rhubarb!! I wasn't thinking of that one...thanks! The onions too....I've not tried planting those the year before yet. Though, each year a couple that I missed when harvesting, send up greens. So they must overwinter ok. I wonder if seeds would do the same? Maybe I'll set up an experiment to find out.

I am not sure about the ginger. I know that I WANT to grow it, but have to learn the hows/whens, etc for it. Same for asparagus....I think that, like rhubarb, takes a few years to get established before one can harvest it, right?

I will definitely look into the clover idea. Friends of mine had it growing in their footpaths, between their rows of veggies, and they said it did a good job of providing ground cover, choking out weeds, etc.

And thank you for the zinnia suggestion! I know that they grow well here (a friend has a beautiful flower bed just filled with them). So I really like that idea. I was thinking of having some cut sunflowers too, so it would be a fun addition to that plan.

Thanks again for all of your replies!!

Erin

[NoahJohn]

I am curious as to what you mean by "a couple rounds of cover crops"?

The white clover idea sounds pretty cool. I might try that.

[chickenista]

Cover crops, or green manures, are plants that build the soil for you. You plant, let grow and then turn under before seeds set. Wait a few weeks and do it again.
They come in several different types for different circumstances and seasons.
They can break up hard pan. They can bring deep nutrients from the soil to the surface for use by crops. They add nitrogen.
They also choke out weeds.

Awesome things those cover crops.. great for raised beds overwinter as well. Never good to leave your beds just soil.. it breaks down the delicate structure. Always best to plant something that you can turn over a few weeks before planting.

[MELOC]

walking onions can be planted when you plant the garlic.

[Danaus29]

Parsley and any of your hardy herbs can be planted now too.

I've got lots of onion seed yet. I need to get started on that.

[fin29]

Originally Posted by chickenista

You plant, let grow and then turn under before seeds set. Wait a few weeks and do it again.
.

Actually, if you just mow before they go to seed you can get several rounds of growth and avoid the whole "wait a few weeks and do it again" thing. If you grow a tall nitrogen-fixing manure like soy, buckwheat, flax or alfalfa and mow it every few weeks, you get WAY more nitrogen fixed to your soil and more organic material to turn into the soil at the end of the growth.

[MelissaW]

We like buckweat and soy for a cover crop. You can plant horseradish now. It's also the right time to start cooking a pile of compost and manure!

[MelissaT]

Definitely garlic, shallots, and onions. Especially shallots. Not many people grow their own, but lots of people cook with them.

Depending on your climate, you can plant a lot of overwintering crops...In milder climates, you can plant certain types of carrots, kale, claytonia, beets, fennel, cabbage, broccoli, fava beans, cauliflower, collards, cress (upland), spinach... You can plant a lot more if you use row covers and/or cold frames. We are lucky out here in PNW...can garden year round with a little planning.

There's a good book out by Lewis Hill about gardening year round in the North- Successful Cold Climate Gardening.