Fall Vegetable Gardening Presented by Kent Phillips Howard Co MG

2 College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Maryland Master Gardeners’ Mission Our mission is to educate Maryland residents about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.

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A version of this PowerPoint can be found at county-presentations

What Do We Mean By Fall Gardening?  Planting crops for harvest prior to frost or a hard freeze NORTH-CENTRAL MARYLAND Station10% 1 yr. in 10 33% 1 yr. in 3 50% 1 yr. in 2 67% 2 yrs. in 3 90% 9 yrs. in 10 Balt. AirportOct. 17Oct. 23Oct. 28Nov. 02Nov. 08 Baltimore City Oct. 30Nov. 08Nov. 13Nov. 18Nov. 28 Bel AirSep. 28Oct. 10Oct. 16Oct. 22Nov. 03 FrederickOct. 07Oct. 17Oct. 22Oct. 27Nov. 06 WestminsterOct. 06Oct. 15Oct. 20Oct. 25Nov. 03 WoodstockSep. 28Oct. 07Oct. 12Oct. 17Oct. 26 RockvilleOct. 01Oct. 12Oct. 18Oct. 24Nov. 04

What Do We Mean By Fall Gardening?  Planting crops for harvest prior to frost or a hard freeze

What Do We Mean By Fall Gardening?  Planting crops that can be overwintered for winter or spring harvest.

What Do We Mean By Fall Gardening?  Planting cover crops on unused beds to increase soil fertility and minimize winter weeds

What Do We Mean By Fall Gardening?  Extending the season by using a cold frame, greenhouse or low tunnel.

Preparing the Site  Remove waste from previous crop.  If ground is dry, give it a thorough soaking.  Work compost into top few inches of soil.  Add recommended amount of Nitrogen (.20#/100 sq. ft. of garden.

Nitrogen Calculation  Soybean meal – /.07 = 2.85 #/100.2/.07 = 2.85 #/100 Organic Nitrogen is less effective in cool/cold weather since soil microorganisms are less activeOrganic Nitrogen is less effective in cool/cold weather since soil microorganisms are less active  Blood Meal – /.15 = 1.3 #/100.2/.15 = 1.3 #/100 Blood meal contains 50% water soluble nitrogen so it is effective in cool weatherBlood meal contains 50% water soluble nitrogen so it is effective in cool weather  /.1 = 2 #/100.2/.1 = 2 #/100 all water soluble nitrogenall water soluble nitrogen

Fall Days & Cooler Temps  Cool nights slow plant growth but you can speed up growth using row cover or plastic.  Vegetables take longer to mature. Days grow shorter, less sunlight energy for plants. Add 14 days to maturity time for so called short day factor  These environmental conditions add sugar to cole crops.  Lettuce and spinach will not bolt.

Cover Crops Check out GIEI website for info on cover crops – GE006_CoverCrop2.pdf Different cover crops do different things – Break up clay soil (forage radish) – Deep root systems to capture nutrients (winter rye) – Add nitrogen to the soil (legumes) Plant a legume and cereal together to get additional benefit. Cover crops can be planted in any unused beds at anytime of year but no later than mid-October.

Winterizing the Garden September – Pull up and compost undiseased spent plants – Plant spinach and kale for spring harvest October – Pull up and compost undiseased spent plants. – Cover pepper and tomato plants to prolong production. – Remove and store stakes and cages. – Plant cover crop in empty areas. Till in organic matter. November – Cover empty beds with shredded leaves to stop winter weed growth. – Mulch overwintering carrots, leeks, winter onions, strawberries, radishes and parsnips with clean straw. December – Get soil sample for spring planting

Compost and Leaves Covering Beds

Rake & Take Program Leaves are available through the Howard County “Rake and Take Program” or you can just pick them up from your neighbors. Register with Pat Hooker, Howard County MG – – – Leaves may require shredding. Takers pick up bags curb-side.

Resources Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) – – Grow-It-Eat-It website – Master Gardener state website –

This program was brought to you by Maryland Master Gardener Program Howard County University of Maryland Extension