   Planting a Fall Vegetable Garden - August 9, 2000 Jeff Schalau, County Director, Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Now is a good time to start planting seeds for some cool season crops. Cool season crops generally produce edible roots, shoots, and leaves rather than the flowers and fruits produced in summer vegetable gardens. Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, chard, kale, lettuce, onions, radishes, spinach, and turnips can all be planted in August to produce crops until next spring. We will take a brief look at each of these crops including planting dates, special nutrition needs, pests, etc. All require high organic matter content in soil and I encourage you to experiment with varieties. Brussels Sprouts - sow seeds July 1 to August 1 (later is probably alright), 80 to 100 days to maturity, full sun, minimum spacing 15" to 18", heavy nitrogen feeder, pluck lower leaves to encourage height growth, sprouts form on stem, lower sprouts mature first, can be frozen to preserve. Cabbage - set out small plants July 10 to August 20, 70 to 100 days to maturity, full sun, minimum spacing 15" to 18", medium nitrogen feeder, dwarf varieties available for small families, harvest when heads are firm, can preserve as sauerkraut. Cauliflower - set out small plants July 10 to August 20, 55 to 120 days to maturity, full sun, minimum spacing 15" to 18", heavy nitrogen and phosphorus feeder, heads should be blanched when the head is about 3" across by bunching 3 or 4 leaves over the head and binding with a rubber band, harvest 4 to 8 day after blanching, can be pickled or frozen to preserve. Carrots - sow seed July 15 to September 15, full sun, thin plants to 3" apart, moderate nitrogen and high phosphorus feeder, short varieties are best suited to our heavy soils, begin harvest when finger sized, they keep well in moist soil until you are ready to use them. Chard and Kale - sow seed July 15 to September 15, 45 to 80 days to maturity, full sun, minimum spacing 6" to 9" apart, moderate nitrogen feeder, rainbow varieties are now available (yellow, orange, red), will likely survive through next summer growing season. Lettuce - sow seed July 15 - September 1, 45 to 80 days to maturity, full sun or part shade, minimum spacing 6" (leaf) and 12" (head and romaine), medium-heavy nitrogen and phosphorus feeder, many varieties, leaf type is easiest to grow, eat fresh. Onion - sow seeds October 15 to January 1, 100-120 days to maturity, full sun, minimum spacing 4" to 6", heavy nitrogen and phosphorus feeder, sweet varieties Grano or Granex are well suited to this area, freeze or store dry with adequate air circulation. Radish - sow seeds July 15 to September 15, 22 to 60 days to maturity, full sun, minimum spacing 2" to 3", moderate nitrogen feeder, many colorful varieties, success is guaranteed with radishes, but then you have to eat them. Spinach - sow seed July 15 to August 15, 45 to 80 days to maturity, full sun, minimum spacing 3" to 6", moderate nitrogen feeder, flat-leafed and crinkled varieties available, keeps well in refrigerator. Turnips - sow seed August 15 to September 15, 50 to 60 days to maturity, full sun, minimum spacing 4" to 6", medium-heavy nitrogen and phosphorus feeder, can be harvested for green or roots, keep well in cold storage. A final note: Gila, Yavapai, and Coconino County Master Gardeners have organized the Arizona Highlands Garden Conference on September 7 and 8, 2000. The conference will be held at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park near Payson. The public is welcome to attend. Cost is $50.00 before August 20 and $65 thereafter. Space is limited for this excellent conference, so contact the Cooperative Extension Office at (928) 646-9113 or the conference web site at ag.arizona.edu/gila/conference2000/ for agenda and registration information. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on vegetable gardening and soil. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 or E-mail us at mgardener@kachina.net and be sure to include your address and phone number. The Yavapai County Cooperative Extension web site is http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/. |