A Fall Adage

By Secretary Derek Haynes

As seasons change, it can be quite the task to consider the next plants to start within your garden.  Granted, the showy plants of the summer months are seemingly aplenty!  We instantly think of sunflowers, tomatoes, peppers, and coneflowers.  But, here is a simple adage to guide your selection as you plant this fall that was given to us by our local Extension Agent Cheralyn Berry:

Grow leaves, roots, shoots, but no fruits!  Below is an abridged chart from NC State Extension (see the full version and more information here) from the article "Growing a Fall  Vegetable Garden" by Ervin Evans:

Vegetables	Suggested Planting	Inches Between Plants	Planting Depth (inches)	Days to Maturity
Asparagus (crowns)	Nov. 15 to Mar. 15	15	6.0	2 years
Beets	July 15 to Aug. 15	2	0.5 to 1.0	55 to 60
Broccoli	July 15 to Aug. 15	18	0.5 to 1.0	70 to 80
Brussels sprouts	July 1 to 15	20	0.5 to 1.0	90 to 100
Cabbage (plants)	Aug 1 to 15	12	0.5 to 1.0	70 to 80
Cabbage, Chinese	Aug. 1 to 15	12	0.5 to 1.0	75-85
Carrots	July 1 to 15	2	0.25 to 0.5	85 to 95
Cauliflower	Aug 1 to 15	18	0.5 to 1.0	55 to 65
Collards	July 15 to Aug. 15	18	0.5 to 1.0	60 to 100
Cucumbers, pickling	Aug. 1 to 15	10	1.0 to 1.5	40 to 50
Cucumbers, slicing	Aug. 1 to 15	10	1.0 to 1.5	40 to 50
Kale	Aug. 15 to Sept. 1	6	0.5 to 1.0	40 to 50
Kohlrabi	Aug. 1 to Sept. 1	4	0.5 to 1.0	50 to 60
Lettuce (leaf)	Aug. 1 to Sept. 1	6	0.25 to 0.5	40 to 50
Lettuce (head)	Aug. 15 to 31	10	0.25 to 0.5	70 to 85
Mustard	Aug. 1 to Sept. 15	2	0.5 to 1.0	30 to 40
Onions (seeds)	Sept. 1 to 30	4	0.5 to 1.0	130 to 150
Onions (sets or plants)	Sept. 1 to 15	4	--	60 to 80
Radishes	Aug. 15 to Sept. 15	1	0.5 to 1.0	25 to 30
Radish, Diakon	Aug. 15 to Sept. 15	4	0.5 to 1.0	60 to 75
Rutabagas	July 1 to Aug. 1	4	0.5 to 1.0	70 to 80
Spinach	Aug. 1 to 15	6	0.5 to 1.0	50 to 60
Turnips	Aug. 1 to 31	2	0.5 to 1.0	55 to 60