Planning ahead in the kitchen garden can yield a satisfying vegetable harvest even off-season. In summer, it’s time to start thinking about autumn vegetables. While spring and summer are two very productive seasons for the garden, autumn is no exception! Indeed, during this season crops like lamb’s lettuce, radishes, and other vegetables can be harvested.
What to Sow This Summer for the Autumn Garden
Here is a non-exhaustive list of vegetables to grow in the garden as autumn arrives:
Winter Black Radish
To sow winter black radish, which are sown directly and are not transplanted, make furrows in the soil spaced 12 inches apart. Place the radish seeds in a line, about 2 inches apart, taking care not to crowd them. Push them in about 3/4 inch deep, then cover with soil.
Once the seedlings are well up, thin them so that only one plant remains every roughly 6 inches, keeping the strongest plants.
Winter black radishes can be harvested in autumn, as soon as they start to emerge above the soil and before the first frosts.
Carrots
Carrots are sown in the same way as radishes, but the seeds are much smaller. For sowing, make a 1 cm (about 0.4 inch) deep furrow and sow 2–3 seeds per hole, then thin by removing the weaker plants.
The harvest can take place from September to December, depending on the carrot variety planted. It is advisable to uproot carrots before the first frosts.
Beets
Beets are typically sown in spring to be harvested in summer and early autumn. But you can also sow beets in mid-summer to harvest later in the season. To do this, choose a late-maturing beet variety. Sow beet seeds around mid-July, spacing plants about 8 inches apart.
The harvest can occur from October to December, depending on the beet variety planted.
Spinach
Spinach is a cool-season crop that can be planted in summer to be harvested in autumn. To do this, sow spinach seeds around mid-July, spacing plants about 6 inches apart.
The harvest takes place from October to December, depending on the spinach variety chosen.
Rutabaga
Rutabaga is typically planted in spring and harvested in summer. But you can also plant rutabagas in mid-summer to harvest in autumn. It is better to choose a late-maturing rutabaga variety. Sow rutabaga seeds around mid-July, spacing plants about 8 inches apart.
Beans
Beans are also typically planted in spring and harvested in summer. But you can plant beans in mid-summer to enjoy them later in the season. Also prefer a late-maturing bean variety. Sow bean seeds around mid-July, spacing plants about 8 inches apart.
The harvest can take place from October to December, depending on the bean variety.
Sorrel
You can plant sorrel in mid-summer to harvest later in the season, notably by choosing a late-maturing sorrel variety. Sow sorrel seeds around mid-July, spacing plants about 8 inches apart.
The harvest can occur from October to December, depending on the sorrel variety planted.
Lamb’s Lettuce
Lamb’s lettuce is a winter vegetable that can be harvested from October to March. To sow lamb’s lettuce, make furrows in the soil at 12-inch intervals and place seeds on a row spaced about 2 inches apart, making sure not to crowd them. Cover with soil and water regularly.
When the plants are well established, thin to leave one plant every ~4 inches.
Lamb’s lettuce can be harvested from October to March.
Winter Turnips
To sow winter turnips, make furrows in the soil 12 inches apart and place turnip seeds in a row about 2 inches apart, ensuring not to crowd them. Cover with soil and water regularly.
When the plants are well established, thin to leave one plant every 4 inches.
Turnips can be harvested from October to March, depending on the variety planted.
White Onions
For an autumn harvest, white onions should be sown at the beginning of summer. To do this, make small holes about 4 inches apart and place onion seeds there, taking care not to crowd them. Cover with soil and water regularly.
Later, thin to leave one plant every about 6 inches.
The harvest can take place from September to November, depending on the variety you chose.
Lettuce
Lettuce is one of the vegetables that can be sown directly in the ground, without transplanting. Sow lettuce seeds in furrows dug in the soil, 12 inches apart. Place the seeds in a row, about 2 inches apart within the row, taking care not to crowd them. Push them in about 3/4 inch deep, then cover with soil.
As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them to leave one plant every about 4 inches. Lettuce can be harvested from September until the first frosts.
Isn’t It Too Hot in Summer to Start Sowing?
If the temperature runs higher in summer, the season is nevertheless ideal for preparing autumn harvests, since the garden will gradually empty as you harvest. You will thus have room to prepare autumn crops by sowing in July and August.
Preparing the Garden Soil for Summer Sowings
To give your seedlings the best chance to grow in good conditions, garden soil should be clean, i.e., free of stones, roots, or weeds. Do not plow too deeply; instead, run a rake or cultivator to make the area more welcoming. You will have plenty of time, once autumn arrives, to perform a more substantial renewal of the soil, which in summer is still relatively easy to work.
You can, however, fertilize the garden soil a little, since the harvests have somewhat depleted it. Just be careful not to overdo it, applying organic fertilizer in a measured way: about a handful per square meter of garden.
Other Tasks in the Garden During Summer
In addition to planting, there are other tasks to carry out in the garden during the summer season.
Weeding
The first is weeding. This task should be carried out regularly and systematically, especially in new vegetable plots, to prevent weeds from taking over.
Watering
Another important task in the summer garden is watering. During the hot days of summer, vegetables need more frequent watering to prevent them from wilting.
Fertilization
Finally, fertilization is also essential in the summer garden. Fertilize your plants every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer, or once a month with a granular fertilizer. Prefer natural fertilizers.
Natural Fertilizers for the Garden
There are many natural fertilizers that can be used in the garden.
Manure
Manure is one of the best natural fertilizers for the garden. It is rich in nutrients and helps improve the soil structure.
Compost
Compost is another excellent natural fertilizer for the garden. It is made from organic matter such as leaves, grass clippings, and kitchen scraps.
Compost enriches the soil with nutrients and helps improve its structure.
Green Manure
Green manure is a type of fertilizer made from green plants grown specifically for this purpose. Green manure is often used in organic gardening, as it enriches the soil with nutrients and also helps improve its structure.
