Midsummer is the perfect time to sow seeds for a fall harvest. On this week's episode of the Gardening Tips podcast, the Chicago Botanic Garden's Jacob Burns talks about how to prepare for the fall harvest.
Cool season vegetables can be directly sown into your garden in mid-July. These are crops that need approximately 80 days to mature before the first frost in early October. When seeded into warm soils now, you can expect a lovely autumn harvest.
Consider planting root vegetables like beets, carrots, and turnips or leafy greens like collards, cabbage, and kale. Summer heat does not faze bush or pole beans seedlings, which will provide a tasty treat after Labor Day. Nutritious brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower will mature once cool temperatures arrive.
When sowing seeds, keep in mind that they rarely germinate when the soil temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. So, keep the soil moist and consider a thin mulch of straw to shade the soil around them.
Every Saturday, listen to a new episode of the Gardening Tips podcast for timely tips on all things plants, gardens and the great outdoors. Look for the latest episode here.
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