I live in North Texas and I have been shocked at the lack of vegetable seeds and plants available for fall planting. I currently have okra, tomatoes, and bell peppers producing. I pulled up my cucumbers and squash because they were looking like they weren't going to produce anymore. I finally planted some pumpkin and bought some eggplant from a nursery. I would think that with grocery prices the way they were that everyone would be planting gardens. I want to plant something else, but don't know what will do very well in this heat. Our growing season will last until late October.
You can make another planting of cucumbers now and by the time they are producing the weather should be far less hot than now which will allow another successful crop in early Oct. The nurseries and garden centers here are not set up to promote fall planting of any kind even tho down here Sept and Oct are the best time to plant perennials. Sept they will begin having deep sales or throwing plants away so they can get everything ready for Christmas and the only flowering plants available with be a few cold weather plants, Mums, Pansies, etc. And after July you can forget about finding any vegie or herb starter plants anywhere that are in good shape. I am planning on growing several vegies next year so I'll be buying lots of seeds in the spring or by mail order over the winter. Most seed packets have days to harvest/maturity info on the back that will help you know if another crop is feasible. Usually if you get seedlings started in July and planted in early August, you will have a good crop by mid-October. I am not very far south of you and our average first frost is in mid-November. But, you watch, I will follow my own advice next year about a second crop and we will have a cold Oct and blow my plans out of the water. But, considering the last few summers I won't mind an early winter at all!!!
I plan to start my fall crop soon, as we have mellow temps up until Dec. It's my first attempt at a fall garden, but you're right, there are not any fall plants available here either. Well, we can compare our results. gardengater
As gardengater said we have very mild winters in SC. I have seedlings started for rutabagas, turnips, carrots, brussel sprouts, cabbage, brocolli and cauliflower. All of the seeds have sprouted so I am hoping for a great garden. This is my first attempt. I will keep everyone posted.
If you can find transplants you can plant broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage,and fall tomatoes, you can start mustard greens and collard greens directly from seed when it gets a little cooler, and turnips also. Do you have any small local nurseries around you, maybe a hardware store with a garden center, they usually have transplants this time of the year. The big box stores don't usually carry them. We are blessed with several small nurseries in our area and they cater to fall planting. Good luck.
I already planted turnip greens. Was it too early? I remember that they taste better after a light frost. What can you all tell me about growing Vetch or Rye as a ground cover for next year's garden?
grammarbug, I put in beet, cauliflower, peas and chinese greens seeds two weeks ago. So far the peas, greens and Bok Choy have sprouted. I'll keep you posted as well. Gardengater
Fall Garden Update My tomatoes have decided to finally ripen,and my green peppers are producing like crazy. I planted pumpkin and it is doing well. I transplanted eggplant and they are full of blooms. My okra was planted late, but the Texas heat is making it thrive.
