There are a number of late summer vegetables to plant in your garden even when the weather becomes cooler. Here are eight veggies to plant for fresh flavours into the autumn months.
We didn’t have much luck with our summer container garden. We successfully grew herbs like thyme, parsley, and coriander in our hanging herb garden, but had less luck with our tomatoes, squash, and other fruits and veggies.
I’ve decided to plant a late summer vegetable garden and try again to grow some food. I think the issue with our summer garden was with the soil quality. So I’ve picked up new organic top soil and some larger plastic containers to plant in.
Our first frost is expected at the end of October and so I have about two months to see what I can grow. I’ve chosen crops that grow quickly and can thrive in cooler temperatures. For our area, this looks like a lot of leafy greens – which I’m excited for! I love using greens in salads, quiches, stirfrys, and more.
If you’re also wondering which late summer vegetables to plant, here’s what I’m going to try.
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Vegetables To Plant In Late Summer
Kohl Rabi
Kohl Rabi is a circular-shaped vegetable with a crisp texture, similar to cabbage. It is very high in vitamin C – one cup will give you nearly 100% of what you need on a day-to-day basis.
Kohl Rabi takes about two months to grow start to finish and doesn’t need extremely hot weather to thrive.
Since I’m trying to maximise the food I get from our small container garden, I won’t plant a lot of kohl rabi. Each seed will produce only one vegetable, compared to chard for example, which will keep growing more and more food. But I want to see how kohl rabi does in our climate and so I’m willing to give it a bit of space in our late summer garden.
Radishes
Radishes are quick to grow and are ready in 20-30 from sowing. Because of this, you can do multiple sowings, even in the late summertime.
Lettuce
Lettuce grows quickly as well. It is usually ready in about 30 days. Once mature, you can pick what you need for a meal, and then let it regrow. Lettuce can also handle cooler weather well.
Chard
Chard takes about two-three months to produce the large leaves that we’re used to seeing, but you can harvest smaller leaves sooner. The plant is hardy in cooler winter so it’s a great option for sowing in late summer.
Beetroot
Beets are quick to grow and take about 7-8 weeks to produce the bulbs we’re used to eating. You can also eat the beet greens in salads or soups.
Turnips
Turnips prefer growing in cooler weather, so sowing in early spring or late summer is the perfect time. They grow quickly as well, in about 6-8 weeks.
Arugula
Arugula is another leafy green that grows well in late summer. It’s also quickly to grow and takes about 6-8 weeks to produce the leaves we’re used to seeing.
Spinach
And spinach – another leafy green that’s great for late summer growing! It takes about 6 weeks to produce it’s leaves and will keep growing even after you pick what you need for dinner.
What are you growing in your late summer garden? Tell me in the comments!
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