Fall garden tips Portland ME

Fall is a time of transition in your garden.  As your summer plants die off, you can add some cold weather crops to get the most out of your garden.  Don’t think that just because the air is colder and the days are shorter that your garden maintenance is over.  Following these tips can help you make the most of your fall garden.

Here are some key points to remember for a fall garden.

• Plant seeds for fall crops while the ground is still warm.
• Your garden needs at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.  Check the shadows to be sure it is getting enough sunlight for plant growth.
• Keep a lookout for pests.  There can still be warm days in the fall, and that can encourage the pests to head to your garden.

The number of vegetables that can withstand the colder temperatures in a fall garden may surprise you.  You have plenty of choices.

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Collards
• English peas
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Leaf lettuce
• Mustard
• Radish
• Spinach
• Swiss chard
• Turnips
  

Most of these are the same vegetables that you planted in your early spring garden.  They are more suited for the colder temperatures of early spring and fall.

As winter sets in and the plants in your vegetable garden begin to die, think of your spring crops.  Pull the dead plants and add them to your compost pile.  That way they can be used as fertilizer for your spring garden.