Are you discouraged with the summer garden? Pests have over taken everything at this point, you’ve watered each plant until you can’t possibly water any more, and it seems no matter your efforts things are just dying? Don’t lose hope, friend!

What is a fall garden?

Imagine my surprise when I learned that gardening does not have to just take place once a year in the spring/early summer. I always thought that you planted one time and what you harvested from that planting was it. It dumbfounded me how people would grow all of their own food many years ago in such a short period of time.

I was wrong.

Planting the garden can occur time after time in a given growing season through succession planting and fall sowings.

I know the name sounds tricky but you don’t actually plant the seeds in the fall.

You plant them during this sweet spot of summer so that when you plants reach maturity, the temperature has dropped and you are reaping the benefits of your last push of hard work just before the year’s frost hits.

I live in zone 7b, even though I saw a new map recently placing me in zone 7c but the specifics aren’t relevant right now.

What is relevant is that I get my hands in the soil and plant my last round of:

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• sweet corn
• carrots
• tomatoes (amish paste and sweet cherry 100s)
• celery
• Cucumbers
• bush beans
• summer squash
• winter squash
• and a little later I will sow greens and radishes.

Have you ever noticed the little number in the upper corner or small bottom print on the back of the packaging?

I count back from my last anticipated frost date the number that is on the package, give myself a little wiggle room with the time frame, and sow my seeds. When they’ve reached a healthy point, that is when I transplant out into the garden.

Using this method, I am sure to be harvesting food well into September, October, and possibly even November.

Gardening can be incremental so as not to stress you when it comes to preserving your bounty.

Pick up your trowels friends and hold steadfast to hope, there is more to come in your spaces for this year.