It can be an unusual concept for the backyard grower, community gardener and urban farmer to think about as we have barely started harvest of fresh tomatoes, but now is the time to start planning and planting for production in late summer, through fall and into a winter harvest.
Things to start now: Under the lights
- Basil – Start from seed under the lights or by direct seeding into the garden. This will provide the grower with a stream of fresh, tender leaves to use or preserve.
- Brassicas – cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and asian cabbages can be started now under the lights. Transplant into cell packs after about two weeks in the flats. They will be ready to transplant into the garden in 6-8 weeks.
- Lettuce – small amount now, start more every two weeks until October.
The seed start grow station had been taken offline for a period of three weeks after spring vegetable production. This was done to sterilize the area and break the life cycle of any pests present.
Most of the varieties started now are brassicas. They will germinate in 3 days, be ready to be transplanted into individual cells in 2 weeks and be ready to plant in about 6 weeks total. That puts them in the garden in early August with maturation in late September and early October during the cooler weather
A small amount of lettuce will be started now. This lettuce has a good chance to mature in hot weather. The chance for cooler temperatures in late summer plus the use of shade cloth will attempt to control bitterness or bolting to seed. There is a good chance of failure to mature an edible product so only a small amount of starts will be attempted now. More will be started with an every two week timeline.
Things to Start now – Direct seed in the garden:
- Green Beans
- Cilantro
- Green Onions
- Potato – a second crop of potato can be started now if you have a plot that has not come off Solanaceae Family in the last three years so that a later harvest is possible, but does not affect good crop rotation.
Things to start in a few weeks – Direct Seed in the Garden
- Green Beans – if a short maturing variety can be used green beans can be planted up until early August
- Radish – can plant again 2 weeks after this planting up until September 1st
- Beets
- Carrots
- Lettuce – can be planted on two week rotations until September 1st – 15th.
- Snap Peas
- Summer squash – same as with green beans
- Cucumber – same as with green beans
Ohio is a true four season growing environment. Some of the above may need season extension in order to survive. We will keep a close watch on the ENSO predictions. Make sure that you observe crop rotation of families as best as possible.