BAILEY VAN TASSEL
Fall in the garden is different for everyone depending on where you are. For most it’s a time to plant the hearty veggies that will develop quickly in advance of winter. This means spinach and kale, any cabbage (think Brussels sprouts) and cauliflower. Some root vegetables can be good too, and don’t forget some pollinators (pretty flowers) that will attract bees and butterflies.
Two quick tips for planting:
1. Plant all your seedlings after the sun has gone down, so they really hold their moisture until morning. Transplanting a seedling into a garden bed is hard on a young sprout.
2. Plant things that will be ready to harvest at different times. For instance, plant some seeds and some seedlings, so that you have crops throughout the season.
For a great fall garden, here are four of my favorite things to plant.
“Don’t dig up in doubt, what you’ve planted in faith.” - Elizabeth Elliott
1. Kale – Kale is packed with nutrients, but I really love it because it wilts when you cook it, which means I can sneak it into my 12-month old’s food. The key is to massage the kale before you cook it, to break up the fibers in the leaves. Quesadillas, pancakes, spaghetti, you name it, we sneak it.
2. Beets – Beets are fantastic in a fall salad, and will really up your game come time to roast your vegetables. I recommend starting your beets from seed, so that you can have them closer to winter to brighten up your plates.
3. Cauliflower – This has become a staple vegetable, thanks to all the folks to who discovered that cauliflower can become pizza crust. I planted this veggie because I’d like our family to eat more of it, and if we grow it, we eat it. I start cauliflower from a seedling, and transplant it into our beds, so that we can get the crop faster and really watch it grow.
4. Chamomile – Nothing is cozier than a snuggly blanket and a mug of chamomile tea. It’s also such a pretty little flower to display in the house in little vases. This year, try planting a flower that you can dry and turn into a yummy beverage. Echinacea is another favorite of ours, and is great for warding off back-to-school germs.
For your Fall Garden, get planting now in late summer and sneak in this last crop of veggies before winter comes in.
Good luck getting your hands dirty this Autumn! Remember, “Don’t dig up in doubt, what you’ve planted in faith.” – Elizabeth Elliott.
Article and images by Bailey Van Tassel. You can view more content by Bailey on her blog baileyvantassel.com and on her Instagram here.
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