Over the weekend I made it round to several farmers markets, to include a few International grocery stores, in order to acquire the necessary items needed to begin my yearly task of “putting up” my own pickles and relish.  I love to can all sorts of items, from Jams/Jellies to pickles and soups, which my family can enjoy all year long.  Although I do grow some of my own vegetables, I sometimes just don’t have the yield necessary to do mass canning, so I find it easier to use my local farmer and grocery to help round out my stock.  Typically, I am well aware of what I will pay for the additional produce, but on this trip I was continually confronted with a markedly high rise in costs.   Each time I pulled out my wallet, it reinforced the thought that I really needed to work on my vegetable garden and increase my production.

            You may think it is too late to address your vegetable garden this year, after all tomatoes and cucumbers were planted way back in April and May and there is no chance of starting any of those now, Right? True, but did you know a whole new crop of veggies can be started in August.  Now is the time to start seeds of winter vegetables. Below is a brief list, just to name a few.

 

Great fall veggies, some are planted by seeding, others by transplant. All Delicious!

  • Carrots
  • Kale
  • Spinach
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Garlic
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Leeks
  • Parsnip
  • Cabbage
  • Turnip

              By August, many of us have lost the steam needed to keep a vegetable garden going year round, but with our grocery budgets shrinking, you may want to reconsider.  Growing fall vegetables is not at all difficult, and working in a fall garden can be a lot more enjoyable than your summer plot.  Cooler temperatures and bug free environments can be thanked for that. Fall gardening is not much different than summer gardening, to get started you will want to transfer the old spent summer vegetables to the compost bin after you have completed your harvest. Next you need to replenish the nutrients of your soil with some new compost and start your seeds and install your transplants.  What could be simpler? A good trick to extend the harvest of many of your vegetables is to add row covers to your vegetable plot.  If using, it is best to construct your framework now prior to sowing, that way you will be ready to add the frost protection when needed.  Now that you have completed the work, sit back and know that you will have fresh vegetables into the fall and won’t have to rely on the supermarket quite as much.