Fall Gardening Starts in the Summer
Many Mississippians believe gardening is for the spring time, but trust me fall gardens are where it’s at. Fall-grown produce shines becuase it gets to ripen in a cooler, less stressful time of the season. Fall has fewer insects and less risk for sunburn or sun-scald.
When should you plant?
First, figure out your first frost date. Here in Jackson, MS that is around November 12. If starting from seed, most plants need 60 days to grow to first harvest. We then expect them to produce for 30 to 60 days. By those numbers, we can see it’s planting time now for crops that can take no frost.
What can I start outside right now?
Right now we can be planting tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, cucumbers, basil, oregano, rosemary, and sage from transplants. We can be planting beans and arugula from seed outdoors. Don’t forget to add helpful flowers like marigolds and zinnias from transplants as well.
What should I be prepping in July and August?
To prep for fall gardening we can gather supplies now and start planting either indoors or outdoors. Here are some recommended planting dates:
Broccoli and Cabbage - Plant seeds indoors in early July and transplant outdoors in early September
Pumpkins - Plant seeds outdoors in early July for a Halloween Harvest
Carrots, Lettuce, and Spinach - Plant seeds outdoors in mid-August for a fall harvest
Turnips - Plant seeds outdoors in mid-September for a fall harvest
Columbines, english daisies, for-get-me-nots, pansies, and violets - Plant from seed outdoors for fall flowers
Flowers to Plant for Fall in August? Daylilies, mums, marigolds, asters, and zinnias can replace summer’s fading annuals.
Planning for Flower Bulbs? Order tulips, hyacinths, irises, daffodils, narcissus, and ameryllis in August to be
Summer is a fun and exciting time in the garden. Start early in the day to beat the heat and drink lots of fluids. Happy Gardening!
As always if you need some help in the garden and are feeling a little overwhelmed, reach out to us for a free discovery call.
