Bert Swope
During the late summer, greens and lettuce are the perfect vegetables to plant in your garden. These slow-growing cousins take much longer to grow than their faster-growing cousins. Slow-growing greens, such as spinach, collards, and Swiss chard, are best planted in August. During this time, the weather is still warm enough for these varieties to grow well. Planting lettuce and other greens in the late summer is one of the easiest ways to get a bounty of seasonal produce.
Best Vegetables to Plant in Late Summer
Mid-summer planting is the perfect time to start a garden. By mid-July, spring-planted green beans are already faded. You can plant again in mid-July to get a second crop before fall settles. Royal Burgundy (purple) and Blue Lake Bush Beans are excellent choices for planting again during mid-summer because they can grow from seed to harvest in 60 days. Planting your summer-grown sweet corn in multiple rows ensures cross-pollination. You can also try grilling fresh ears to add different flavors to your summer dinner.
If your vegetable garden isn’t quite ready for fall, late summer is still the right time to plant fall-weather crops. These cool-season plants can extend your harvest into late fall and into winter, especially if you start them early enough. Salad crops and fast-growing root crops are great options for filling up summer unkempt beds. Sweet root crops like yams and radishes are another option, as they will continue to grow well even after the first frost.
Late summer garden planting
You can start growing some vegetables in the late summer months, such as lettuce and kale. You can also plant broccoli seeds in July and transplants in early September. While seeds are easier to germinate and grow, transplants should be spaced at least 12 inches apart. The closer you space them, the smaller their heads will be. You can save the spring crop of Irish potatoes for the fall. Late summer is also a good time to plant kohlrabi, a brassica vegetable.
As the warm-weather vegetables mature, it is important to water them regularly to keep them as fresh as possible. You can also stop watering crops a couple of weeks before harvest to concentrate flavor. Some of the most common vegetables to plant in the late summer include onions, tomatoes, potatoes, celery, shallots, eggplant, pepper, and garlic. You can also plant radishes, beets, and carrots during this time. Remember that planting them later is best for late harvest because they will have the time to mature.
Plant Lettuce and Other Greens
There are many benefits to planting lettuce and other late summer greens in the spring. For one thing, lettuce leaves are tender when young, so you can pick them when the leaves are still small. Secondly, you can plant these greens every few weeks during the spring and summer. If you live in a warm climate, planting lettuce in midsummer may not be the best idea, as it will bolt and taste bitter. However, if you plant them later, the weather will cool off and you will be able to harvest the leaves at their peak.
While the heat-loving main crop vegetables should be planted in early to mid-August, they can also be grown in late summer and early fall. Unlike in spring, the vegetables should be planted in moist soil, slightly deeper than they were in the spring. Once they are in the ground, water lightly. This will help them grow properly. You can also use the cooler weather to grow cool-season vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower.
Plant Cabbage
If you are planning to grow cabbage and other greens for your fall garden, you should start planting them in late summer, preferably six to eight weeks before the first frost. These greens can tolerate cool weather and grow quickly. If you’re planting them early, you can add some protection by mulching or constructing a cold frame. Cabbage can be planted directly in mid or late-summer, so long as they get adequate water. You can also cover the plants with a row cover to provide shade and keep out insects.
Another late summer vegetable to plant in the garden is ‘Miz America’ mizuna. This heat-tolerant plant is best planted successionally every three to five weeks. To add color and contrast to the greens, pair it with other brighter greens, such as beets and beans. Be sure to harvest the leaves before they turn yellow or brown, otherwise, they’ll become weeds.
Plant Beets
Beets are a great crop to plant in the garden at the end of summer, and they will mature in approximately 55 days. You will need to plant the seeds about 1/2 to 3/4 inch deep, and water them once daily. Beets are frost-tolerant and grow best in late summer and fall. If you want to plant them in the fall, wait until the soil is at least 50degF before planting them.
Another great option is ‘Miz America’ mizuna, which can grow in hot, humid conditions. This lettuce is great for salads, and you can plant it successionally every three to five weeks. You can plant this lettuce in the garden with other types of greens, such as spinach, beets, and corn. They can be planted in the fall, so make sure to pick them at the end of the summer – they will continue to produce even as the weather cools.
Sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and kale are other great late summer vegetables to plant. You can plant them in a raised bed, if you prefer. Plant them a half-inch deep, and make sure they have plenty of sunshine. Remember to pull weeds and fertilize regularly. When planting, it’s best to sow the seeds about half an inch apart.
Plant Beets
When planning your vegetable garden for the late summer, beets are an ideal plant to grow. This late summer green is perfect for making delicious salads. They can be planted from mid-August until the first frost date in your area. To increase the chances of success, plant seeds in the garden at least 6 weeks before the first frost. Beets don’t transplant well, so plant them directly in the ground. In order to boost germination, soak seeds in water for 24 hours before planting. Broccoli is another late summer vegetable to plant in the garden. When planting, plant seeds at least half an inch apart. The seeds will germinate in about 5 to 8 days when the soil temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above. They should be thinned out once they grow to about 4 inches tall.
While most greens need cool weather to grow, planting them in the late summer takes advantage of cooler fall weather and will give you a harvest before winter sets in. You can extend the growing season of your greens by mulching them or by putting up a cold frame. Some varieties of cabbage will survive the cooler weather of the fall, so consider planting them in late summer. They can even last into early winter.
Plant Radishes
Radishes are another vegetable to plant late in the summer and early fall. They’re a great addition to salads and raw dishes, and they’re hardy enough to last through the cool fall weather. While other root crops like carrots, beets, and turnips can be planted in the spring, they do best when planted later in the season. Radishes grow very quickly, so they can be harvested multiple times from late summer planting. They are ready to harvest three to four weeks later, and they can be eaten fresh into the cold winter months.
Radishes are another vegetable to consider planting in the late summer. Red radishes, white daikon, watermelon radish, and black Spanish radish are all ready to harvest in 25 days. Also, plant basil, cilantro, and dill in succession. These herbs take less time to grow than many other summer vegetables, and they’re perfect for spicing up your salads.
Plant Fava Beans
If you’re still unsure of what vegetables to plant in the fall, late summer is a great time to do so. Most greens prefer cooler temperatures to thrive, so planting in late summer will ensure that you’ll be able to harvest your vegetables before winter arrives. Greens that grow well in cool weather can also be planted in the fall from seed or sown directly into the ground. If you want to plant greens that will last through the winter, try cabbage, which grows well in cool weather. You can pick cabbage early in the winter as well, and it will grow well in the garden.
For a more colorful late summer garden, try growing spinach, chard, collards, Swiss chard, or romaine lettuce. These slow-growing varieties take longer to mature than their faster-growing cousins. Plant them in August to reap their full benefits in the fall. Depending on the type of lettuce you choose, you can plant one of them in the fall and reap a large crop of salad greens in mid-October.
