I don't know about you, but I have happily spent the last couple of months enjoying everything that summer has to offer in terms of delicious produce. Between the Old Capitol Farmers Market downtown and my in-laws' garden, I've been up to my ears in homegrown tomatoes, fresh corn, spicy shishito peppers, juicy peaches, firm zucchini and, of course, sweet summer watermelons.
Hands down, summer is my very favorite time to cook and eat, and I often wonder what I even bother eating during the other seasons. If you agree, do not despair, as there are several tasty vegetables you can plant now that will flourish throughout the fall and withstand early winter's first few frosts.
According to the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, vegetable gardening is completely doable in all regions of Illinois throughout August for fall harvesting. On average, the first frosts hit central Illinois in mid-October, which means there is a window of about 75 days between the start of August and the beginning of cold temperatures. Some plants need longer than that, but several are perfectly content to grow and flourish inside of a 75-day window.
Examples of crops that you can plant now and hope to harvest by fall include: beets, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, green beans, kohlrabi, kale, radishes, turnips, mustard greens, leaf lettuce and spinach.
To encourage the success of your vegetable crops from seed, you should consult the backs of your seed packets to see how long each seed requires to germinate and produce vegetables. Once you have that information ready, count backwards from our region's mid-October average first frost. Following the guidelines on your seed packet will help you to ascertain whether your garden dreams are attainable or if they are a long shot. Another tip is to skip seed packets completely and purchase already-grown seedlings or small plants from your garden store or local farmers and to plant these directly in your garden.
Once the first frosts come, you may notice that some plants are more affected than others, and to varying degrees. Kale, broccoli and spinach are said to have a sweeter taste following a frost. Kale will grow well into the winter, and spinach can sometimes survive the snow to come back with the spring season. Many other hardy vegetables such as cabbage, greens, turnips and radishes will absolutely withstand freezing temperatures for a short period of time.
If the weather turns early, or cold temperatures are expected for a longer period of time this autumn, the Farmer's Almanac recommends covering your fall crops with bed sheets, dropcloths or medium-weight fabric. Simply drape your plants lightly with any of these cover options (do not use plastic) and secure them with rocks, bricks and stakes to keep your covers from touching and sticking to foliage beneath. Don't forget to uncover your plants during the warmest parts of the day so that they can benefit from the sun's nourishment.
A few other tips for keeping your vegetables happy during the fall are to water your soil thoroughly before the first frost (just don't soak the ground); be sure to mulch your garden beds with straw, fallen leaves or pine needles to help insulate the ground and ward off frost from the roots of your plants; and pay close attention to the weather reports so that you know when to cover vulnerable plants.
I'll be wishing you a few more months of delicious produce this fall and winter!
Pamela Savage is a freelance writer living in Springfield. She has easily eaten 20 watermelons this summer.
