Fall gardening options

Roots and Shoots

Zucchinis may start showing up in people's mailboxes as Western Montana gardens are getting into the harvest season. Even though this is the pay-off time of year for gardeners, there's an option to stretch out the season for fall crops. 

"Like most fresh homegrown vegetable enthusiasts, I have never wanted the garden to end," said Eliot Coleman, market gardener, teacher and author of "Four Season Harvest." "That doesn't mean I longed for an endless summer; I love the pleasures of fall, winter and spring. I just wanted year-round, freshly harvested food on the table."

By planting cold hardy crops now and then adding a cold frame made of hoops and row cover when temperatures dip near freezing, crops can be protected and continue growing. Adding a plastic cover over the row cover protects the plants further. Crops that can tolerate cooler temperatures are kale, chard, carrots, bok choy, arugula, some lettuces, parsley and cilantro. Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower can tolerate cooler temperatures but don't grow very well from direct seeding in warm temperatures.

Johnson's Homegrown owner Chuad Johnson said that they plant spinach, bok choy, salad mix, arugula and cilantro in their greenhouses in late August or early September when the weather shows signs of cooling. Growing from transplants, instead of seed, has worked better for them, because of the scale of their business, said Johnson.

In my experience, flea beetles are attracted to the tender growth of freshly planted vegetables. Using insect screen and lightweight row cover gives the transplants some shade and insect protection.

Planet Natural author Eric Vinje said, "Most important is what you grow. Not only does a plant need to survive cold temperatures, it must sustain itself with little light."

Vinje said kale, spinach, arugula, bok choy and all root vegetables will survive and have viable greens with nighttime temperatures of 20 degrees with protection. But they still will do well if conditions aren't extreme and they are well insulated.

Garden hoops can be made with smooth rebar, one-inch PVC pipe or electrical conduit pipe. By carefully bending it over a wheel to form a hoop shape that fits over a garden row. A ten-foot piece of pipe hoop fits over a three-foot row using a seven-foot-wide row cover.

"At whatever level you get involved in the winter harvest, you will discover some of the best food and easiest gardening you have ever experienced," Coleman said. "Remember, the winter work is mostly harvesting."

 

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