As we get into the late summer, you might be asking what you could plant now. Is the season over? Did I miss it? The answer is no! There are still lots of vegetables you can plant that do well in a late summer to early fall harvest. That is why we’ve compiled a list of potential options of vegetables you can grow, most of which are available from our seed library locations, found here! If you are planning on planting this season, you can also participate in our Grow a Row project to donate a part of your harvest to a local food bank in the city. The full blogpost with information for Grow a Row can be found here.
So what can you plant? Here are just some of the options for what can go into your garden as we move from summer into fall:
Beans grow best when the air and soil are already warm so they are excellent for later summer planting. Should be planted 1 inch deep and 2-4 inches apart in rows that are spaced 2-3 feet apart. If using pole beans you might need to set them up near a fence or trellis to encourage them to grow.
Beets do better in the late summer to fall when the days are warm but the nights are cooler. Try for a sunny spot and plant them 1 inch deep and 3-4 inches apart. If the greens become too crowded you can thin them out and use the excess in salads (they can be eaten raw or sauteed!). Harvest before the first fall frost and you can eat them right away or keep them in your freezer well into the winter!
Cucumbers are fast growers that don’t take up a lot of space in your garden so they can be planted throughout the summer. Plant 1 inch deep and approximately 18 inches apart and water weekly with at least an inch of water. They should sprout within a week of planting!
Greens like arugula, spinach, and lettuce can be planted as a second crop through August and into September since they grow quickly and are fairly hardy once they’ve grown. Plant ½ and inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows in a mostly sunny spot in your garden for a good harvest into the fall.
Radishes grow quickly and can be planted up until mid-August because they love the cooler temperatures. They are best planted ½ inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows and their soil should stay moist! Radishes can also be continually planted every 2 weeks if you have the space for it, giving a consistent fall harvest.
Interested in starting your late summer planting? Pick up your seeds from one of the Hamilton Seed Library locations.
Have some of these seed varieties that you would like to donate? We would love it if you dropped them off to us at our donation box at EcoHouse (22 Veevers Drive)!
