As the first frost approaches, small farmers can still maximize their growing season by planting the right seeds in mid-August.
With approximately eleven weeks of growing time left before the cold sets in, it's crucial to focus on fall and winter harvesting vegetables and cover crops. Here's a comprehensive list of seeds to sow in mid-August:
1. Arugula: Sow arugula seeds once nighttime temperatures reach 15°C (60°F) or lower. Plant a short row every two weeks until late September for a continuous harvest. Astro Organic is a recommended variety known for its mild flavor and suitability as a micro-green.
2. Corn Salad: Also known as mache, corn salad is a cold-hardy and succulent vegetable that can be harvested well into winter. It's perfect for salads and small beds. Give it a try, and you'll likely fall in love with its taste and versatility.
3. Carrots: Take advantage of the remaining 75+ days of the season by planting carrots in the next two weeks. Keep the seed bed well-watered until germination, especially in temperatures above 25°C (77°F). Covering the soil with a tarp or lumber can help minimize evaporation.
4. Italian Dandelion Endive: Often described as "bitter," endive is a delightful vegetable with a wide range of flavors and leaf types. It adds a unique touch to salads and savory dishes. Explore this underappreciated green and try it in our Simple Radicchio Salad recipe.
5. Kale: A winter workhorse, kale can be planted in mid-August and continue thriving well into winter. It's an easy-to-grow vegetable that offers numerous culinary possibilities.
6. Lettuce: Plant lettuce varieties suitable for colder temperatures, such as Winter Density and Rouge d'Hiver. Start with early maturing loose-leaf types and add cool-loving romaines in two weeks. Greenhouses provide excellent conditions for year-round lettuce production.
7. Mesclun Mix: Ideal for containers or short rows, mesclun mixes offer a continuous supply of salad greens throughout the fall. Sow seeds every two weeks to ensure a steady harvest. West Coast Market Mix is a reliable choice.
8. Mustard Greens: The mustard family encompasses a diverse range of salad greens, including frilly Mizuna and the substantial Giant Red. Mustard seeds thrive in cool weather, making them perfect for fall and winter salads. Komatsuna is a recommended winter favorite.
9. Pac Choi: Cold-loving pac choi grows well in containers or garden beds. Harvest it before bolting in early summer and explore its use in soups, stir-fries, pickling, sautéing, or raw in salads. This group of vegetables is fast-growing, nutritious, and available in various sizes and flavors.
10. Radishes: Plant radishes in short rows every couple of weeks for a quick-growing fall crop. Watermelon radishes, which require cold soil, add an exotic touch to winter dishes and are best planted in October.
11. Spinach: Surprisingly, spinach seeds can be planted in late summer for a bountiful fall harvest. Harvest leaves as needed during frosty weather, leaving the roots intact. The following spring, you'll enjoy an early spinach harvest before pest insects appear.
12. Cover Crops: Barley, buckwheat, and oats make excellent cover crops for fall. These crops can be tilled under frost, enriching the soil with carbon and reducing weed pressure. Barley and oats can also serve as a mulch to prevent soil erosion.
By following this fall planting guide, small farmers can extend their growing season and enjoy an abundant harvest even as the temperatures drop.