Stock photo.

Even though the temperatures aren’t falling yet, it is time to start preparing for the fall vegetable garden. Many vegetables can be planted in August directly into the garden by seed or transplant. Sometimes I start my seed and wait to plant until September. Why? Stink bugs, high heat and lots of warm-season diseases are really active in August. Waiting until mid-September to start planting vegetables into the garden lessens some of these problems and makes gardening easier especially if you are just embarking on gardening.

Prior to Planting Your Vegetable Garden:

• Remove all existing weeds, even the roots. This can be tough especially if you neglected your spring garden once the heat set in. However, weed removal is essential, especially perennial grasses from the garden. If you simply till the grasses in and then irrigate you will end up with a relatively nice lawn!
• Till or work the top 6-8 inches of soil.
• Plan for irrigation or make sure a hose will reach the garden. Irrigation is necessary especially in September when it is extremely hot!
• Don’t forget to fertilize. Add aged manure, compost or conventional or organic fertilizer. If you are not sure how much to add, run a soil test. If you don’t have time to get results and you are planting just for a fun hobby, apply 1/2 to 1 pound of 13-13-13 for every 10 linear feet of row space you have. This is the equivalent of 1 1/2 to 3 cups. This is a nice medium rate of fertilizer sure to jump start your veggies.

If you see transplants next to a vegetable crop, those seeds were started in August.

Vegetables to Plant

September

1. Plant transplants or start seed: Beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, collards, Lettuce, kohlrabi, kale and Swiss chard.

2. Direct seed into the garden: Beets, endive, carrots, English peas, snow peas, mustard, onions (seeds, mid-to-late September), parsley, snap beans (early September), radishes, rutabaga, spinach and turnips.

3. Also: Garlic toes are planted mid to late September. Shallot sets can be planted all month long.

October

1. Plant transplants: Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Chinese cabbage.

2. Direct seed or plant transplants: Kale, parsley, spinach leaf lettuce, celery, Swiss chard and endive.

3. Direct seed: Mustard, turnips, radishes, beets, onions (early-to-mid October to create sets for later) and carrots.

November

1. Plant transplants in south Louisiana: Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale and Swiss chard.

2. Direct seed: Beets, Swiss chard, spinach, kale, radishes, mustard, carrots and turnips.

3. Plant: Shallots and garlic in the first part of the month.