Prepare Your Garden for Fall Vegetable Planting

In late summer, as the summer vegetables wane, thoughts turn to preparing the vegetable garden for fall crops. Perhaps a summer vegetable garden wasn’t possible this year, but many gardeners can still enjoy vegetable gardening into the winter.

What Vegetables Can be Grown in the Fall and Winter?

Which vegetables you can plant in the fall depends on where you live. In the U.S., the local Extension Service should have information on what crops are suitable for the area.

In most areas of the U.S, August is the time to plant pumpkins for Halloween harvesting. Many leafy greens, such as collards, kale, and mustard, can be grown in the fall and winter, as can hard shelled squash, like butternut and acorn.

In more temperate climates, summer vegetable harvesting may not be done just yet, but cultivating and enriching the soil around them, disturbing the roots as little as possible, may prolong the harvest.

In subtropical and tropical climates, fall and winter are the main vegetable growing season, and many of what most of the country regards as summer crops should be started in August and September. Most vegetables; squash, cucumbers, beans, greens, and more, can be grown in a subtropical winter climate.

How to Prepare Your Vegetable Garden for Fall Planting

First, remove any dead or dying vegetable plants, and all weeds. Take this refuse to the curb for disposal, or burn it. This will prevent diseases from overwintering in the soil, and infecting next year’s crop.

Second, add new manure, compost or soil, and turn and aerate the soil well. Continue turning and removing weeds diligently until the new crops are planted.

While weeds are not as much of a problem in the fall and winter, there are winter weeds that can steal nutrition from vegetable crops if not kept strictly under control. Removing small weeds before they get a chance to set deep roots, and disposing of them properly, keeps the same weeds from being a problem next fall.

Third, add some fresh earthworms to the garden to help enrich the soil. Also, amend the soil with whatever is needed to improve drainage at this time.

Preparing the Garden for Planting Makes it More Productive

As the summer vegetables grew, the soil was depleted of nutrients. By preparing the fall vegetable garden the same as for spring planting, the garden will produce more and better crops.

Also, by having a well prepared fall and winter garden bed, it’s easier to prepare the soil for spring planting once again.