It's Time For Fall Planting

arugula seedlings

     Run as fast as you can!!! Go plant you some vegetables for the fall and winter. Yes, I know it's August. Yes, I know it's still hot. But here in the Southeast there is no better time to plant cool weather crops. Every seed you plant now will sprout quickly in the warm soil and will mature as the weather gets cooler. In the spring, those cool-weather loving crops will be maturing into the early heat we get in this part of the country and will bolt, or go to seed, quickly.   Fall is the answer! Many of these will last through the winter.
   What should you plant now? This is not a complete list, but it's what I'm growing.

• Arugula 
• Lettuce- loose leaf types. Don't even try to grow head lettuce here. 
• Mustard greens 
• Spinach 
•  Kale – I like Siberian kale the best because it will overwinter. I can only find it at the local co-op. 
• Cilantro 
• Carrots 
•  Radishes 
• Broccoli – Research has shown that it's best to grow it from seed and that you may be wasting your time planting in the spring in the southeast. 
• Garlic – Plant cloves from your kitchen now.  

Here are some that I'm not planting but that also like cool weather.

• Cabbage 
• Cauliflower 
• Bok Choy 
• Brussel sprouts 

This is not an exhaustive list, but you get the idea. Go to the store and buy seeds. Yes, they will have them! But hurry. Don't make the mistake of waiting until the weather cools off.  It will then be too late.