It is mid July, mid summer…sigh… R Dub loves hot weather and summer. I will hate to see this one pass us by. But…
Now is the time to begin replacing harvested crops with mid summer loving plants. While looking at the raised garden beds this morning after watering I wondered internally how many plants need to be succeeded.
Here are some great veggies to plant in Mid Summer for Fall harvesting:
| Crop | Days to maturity | Cold hardiness |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | 30-60 | Killed by frost |
| Beets | 50-60 | Survives high 20s |
| Bush Beans | 45-65 | Killed by frost |
| Broccoli | 50-70 | Survives light frost |
| Brussels sprouts | 90-100 | The hardiest – down to 20° |
| Cabbage | 50-90 | The hardiest – down to 20° |
| Cauliflower | 60-80 | Survives light frost |
| Cilantro | 60-70 | Survives light frost |
| Collard greens | 40-65 | The hardiest – down to 20° |
| Garlic | Harvest the following July | Winters over in ground |
| Green onion | 60-70 | Survives high 20s |
| Kale | 40-65 | The hardiest – down to 20° |
| Kohlrabi | 50-60 | Survives light frost |
| Leaf lettuce | 40-60 | Survives light frost |
| Mustard greens | 30-40 | Survives light frost |
| Peas | 70-80 (longer than if planted in spring) | Survives high 20s |
| Radishes | 30-60 | Dig until soil freezes |
| Spinach | 35-45 | Survives light frost; may overwinter |
| Swiss chard | 40-60 | Survives light frost |
| Turnips | 50-60 | Survives light frost |
We have already sown the following succession plants: Basil, Beets, Cilantro, and Swiss Chard. We are planning to add the following succession plants: Bush Beans, Brussels Sprouts, Garlic, Peas, and Spinach.
Radishes and carrots was easy. They’ve been plucked from the ground and have left a nice empty spot to fill. However vining plants like beans and peas are a more difficult decision.
We have one cabbage plant that is slightly larger than a softball at the moment. The decision will need to be made when it is roughly twice as big as it is now. Do we cut the head and let a smaller golf ball sized head follow it up or pull out the entire plant a sow another plant in it’s place for a late fall cabbage head. We will have a committee meeting this weekend to decide. In the mean time it’s time to start some cabbage and cauliflower seedlings inside just in case.
As seen in the first photo of this post one of our cucumber plants has reached the bottom of the eaves. We will need to train the plant to either go sideways or back down the trellis netting. So far, all of the cucumbers are growing near the top of the trellis. R Dub will be harvesting from a ladder soon. Pray for me.
Herbs were sown in Bed A, B and C plus in a window sill planter a few weeks ago when the temps started to rise. (Rise by Wisconsin standards anyway.) The basil, dill will be used for canning. The cilantro will be used to make salsa. Rosemary and parsley for cooking.
It is clear that the peas and beans are done climbing and have slowed down producing. Our next decision: Pull them and sow new seeds ore continue to harvest until completely bare?
Tomatoes at long last are ripening. I’m estimating roughly 200 cherry tomatoes and 70 San Marzano tomatoes. The beef stake will continue to grow fruit until the first hard frost, I’m not hazarding a harvest guess for those. (A couple dozen…maybe.)
Ron's Ramblings 