At this point, summer vegetable crops have been harvested for the most part, so it's time to gear up for fall planting! Now is the time to get your garden area ready and make a plan to get your seeds and/or transplants in the ground in the next few weeks! There are several factors to consider when preparing a fall garden for cold weather crops:
Site- Your garden needs to be in a well-drained area that gets at least six hours of sunlight daily. If you have space, you should rotate the land that you plant your garden on to help control soil diseases and other pests.
Plan- Decide what vegetables you want to grow and make sure you have access to seeds/transplants. There is a long list of vegetables that can be grown during the cooler season. Some popular options for our area to plant in August are eggplant, beans, peppers, squash and tomatoes. Then in September and possibly into October, you can still plant seeds for beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, kale, mustards, radish, spinach and turnips depending on when you want to harvest.
Soil preparation- If you had a summer garden, clear out remnants of it that would attract bugs or encourage diseases to flourish. Also, it is worthwhile to amend the soil with organic matter or compost before planting to improve soil health.
Irrigation- Young plants need frequent but light irrigation whereas maturing crops need more water but less often. To ensure ample amounts of water when rainfall is scarce an irrigation plan needs to be in place before you plant.
Fertilizing- You can have your soil tested to determine nutrient levels but fertilizer grades such as 10-10-10 are typically used in Florida gardens. Use amounts recommended by the fertilizer label and broadcast fertilizer over the plot just before planting and then two to three more times during the life of your garden.
Pest management- Categorizing pests is very difficult because there is a wide array of types of pests, but whatever the type, pests need to be dealt with to ensure the health of your garden. There are many non-pesticide approaches such as controlling weeds, tilling your area, scouting your garden and removing insects or diseased leaves. When pesticides are needed, be sure to read labels to ensure proper applications and efficacy.
Gardening offers fresh air, sunshine, exercise, enjoyment, economic savings and many other benefits! If you have never planted a garden before, start small and you can add more over time! If you have any questions about gardening or anything else related to agriculture, natural resources or youth development, please feel free to reach out by emailing elbeach@ufl.edu or calling the office at (386) 294-1279.