Fall Gardening
Remember how last year I made a big hoopla about fall gardening? Well I missed the planting dates for most things other than broccoli and garlic, my spinach refused to sprout, and then bugs ate up all my broccoli. I am determined that this fall will be better, but first I must go ahead and clear some space!
Here are some fall planting dates for North Carolina, taken straight from this leaflet provided by NC Cooperative Extension Services. I’ve highlighted those I am considering planting (garlic should be included on that list). I am giving broccoli another go, but I will be applying Sevin®. Surprisingly pumpkins and winter squash were not included on this list. I believe the cutoff date was July 15, but at the risk of disease from cooler weather, you can stretch that out later.
| Vegetables | Suggested Planting1 | Suggested Cultivars |
| Asparagus (crowns) | Nov. 15–Mar. 15 | Mary Washington, Jersey Giant, Jersey Gem |
| Beets | July 15–Aug. 15 | Ruby Queen, Early Wonder, Red Ace, Pacemaker II |
| Broccoli | July 15–Aug. 15 | DeCicco, Packman, Premium Crop, Green Duke, Emperor |
| Brussels sprouts | July 1–15 | Long Island Improved, Jade Cross Hybrid |
| Cabbage (plants) | Aug 1–15 | Round Dutch, Early Jersey Wakefield, Red Express, Red Rookie, Sweetbase |
| Cabbage, Chinese | Aug. 1–15 | Pak Choi, Mei Ching, Jade Pagoda, China Pride |
| Carrots | July 1–15 | Danvers Half Long, Spartan Bonus, Little Finger, Thumbelina, Scarlet Nantes |
| Cauliflower | Aug 1–15 | Early Snowball “A”, Violet Queen, Snowcrown |
| Collards | July 15–Aug. 15 | Vates, Morris’ Improved Heading, Carolina, Blue Max |
| Cucumbers, pickling | Aug. 1–15 | Carolina, Calypso, Liberty (mtns.), County Fair ’83 |
| Cucumbers, slicing | Aug. 1–15 | Poinsett 76, Sweet Slice, County Fair ’83, Salad Bush, Fanfare |
| Kale | Aug. 15–Sept. 1 | Green Curled Scotch, Early Siberian, Vates, Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch, Blue Knight |
| Kohlrabi | Aug. 1–Sept. 1 | White Vienna, Grand Duke Hybrid |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Aug. 1–Sept. 1 | Grand Rapids, Salad Bowl, Buttercrunch, Red Sails, Romulus |
| Lettuce (head) | Aug. 15–31 | Great Lakes, Ithaca |
| Mustard | Aug. 1–Sept. 15 | Southern Giant Curled, Tendergreen, Savannah |
| Onions (seeds) | Sept. 1–30 | Texas 1015, Granex 33, Candy |
| Onions (sets or plants) | Sept. 1–15 | Ebenezer, Excell, Early Grano |
| Radishes | Aug. 15–Sept. 15 | Early Scarlet Globe, Cherry Belle, Snowbells, White Icicle |
| Radish, Diakon | Aug. 15–Sept. 15 | April Cross, H. N. Cross |
| Rutabagas | July 1–Aug. 1 | American Purple Top, Laurentian |
| Spinach | Aug. 1–15 | Hybrid 7, Dark Green Bloomsdale, Tyee Hybrid |
| Turnips | Aug. 1–31 | Purple Top White Globe, Just Right, Tokyo Cross Hybrid, White Egg, All Top |
1 Dates shown are for the upper coastal plain and lower piedmont. In western North Carolina plant 7 to 10 days earlier. In eastern North Carolina plant 7 to 10 days later.
