Fall Gardening

Temperatures are dropping, and our summer gardening season is coming to an end. This sure doesn't mean you need to stop gardening.

my garden today

The first frost day in Seattle usually occurs around November 11th, so we have some time!

Won't you join me in some fall gardening? It will keep you from realizing just how short our summer was and might postpone the winter blues!

Preparing:

1. Clear a space in your garden.

2. Work some fresh compost or organic fertilizer in to the top layer of the dirt.

What you can plant from seed (do it quick though!)

• Carrots
• Lettuce
• Mustard
• Radishes
• Spinach

What vegetable starts you can plant:

• Plant any herbs except cilantro and basil.
• Arugula
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Green Onions
• Kale
• Peas
• Swiss Chard

My fall vegetable starts

Tips

• Add Mulch! I know I always say this, but it's really important! It will help keep your soil warm as temperatures drop. 
• Be sure to really examine the starts you buy at the garden store this time of year. I have found that many of them have been sitting in those tiny containers for way too long. 
• Examine for bugs
• Look for rotting roots. (see photo below)
• Check the bottom to see if the roots are pushing out of the drainage holes. This is a sign it should have already been transplanted. 

The best part of fall gardening is that there aren't as many bugs to munch on your harvest!