Posted on 2024-04-24

Fall Gardens

As summer winds down and fall takes over don't let worry over frost stop you from enjoying a fruitful fall garden. With the right plant choices and a few tricks, producing a bountiful fall crop can be easy.

First it is good to know something about frost. Frost occurs when temperatures drop enough to condense and freeze the moisture in the air. In fall, when air temperatures sink, it's common to find frost layering the ground, leaves and crops. Frost may occur frequently in the fall before the ground endures what is known as a hard freeze.

While a hard freeze generally heralds the end of the growing season and frost can harm warm weather crops like oranges, some veggies actually do very well - and taste better - when nipped by frost. By stocking your fall garden with frost-loving varieties, you can ensure your garden remains bountiful right up to the first hard freeze. 

Choose a location for your garden that gets plenty of sun, especially in the morning when you'll want plants to quickly shake off overnight chill. Get started by clearing out the remnants of summer plantings and get the ground ready for new plants. When planting your fall garden time is of the essence. Start with well-established, vigorous bedding plants.  Choose from favorites like spinach, cabbage, collards and kale. These hearty, leafy vegetables actually like the chill weather and can stand up to some frost. Root veggies, such as radishes and turnips, also do well in cooler temperatures. 

Even though your fall vegetables might be able to handle the cold, you may want an extra layer of protection for unseasonably cool nights. One option is a cold frame. Typically constructed of wood and glass or plastic, the frame sits over plants like a portable mini greenhouse. You can build your own - an on-line search will yield plenty of how-to plans - or purchase a prefabricated one. For less severe situations, simply turning a pot or bucket upside down over tender young plants can be enough to shield them from cold. 

Another advantage of fall gardening is that cooler temperatures are more comfortable for working in the garden with the added benefit of fewer insect pests and weeds to deal with.

Originally published in The Times Dispatch, September, 2015