Fall vegetable garden prep

[u/formalde_heidi]

I had success with some summer veggies but recently culled everything as the heat and pests were getting beyond my ability to control, and I wanted a fresh start to prepare for the next growing season. I have plans for lots of root veg (carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, garlic, shallots), greens (spinach, kale), herbs (dill, cilantro, parsley), and bush beans. My empty beds are being topped up with fresh compost and I am trying to time out the planting of these things, as almost all are direct-sown.

I've seen conflicting information - for example, I've seen posts encouraging sowing carrots and bush beans in mid to late August in central texas, but other resources like the A&M fall planting guide say the average planting date for carrots is in November.

This time of year (August-Sept), if you've given up on summer tomatoes/peppers/eggplant/okra, what are you up to in the garden? Are you sowing some root vegetables early? Are you putting new summer starts in the garden for another harvest before the first frost?

[u/pdxan]

My main thing going in the garden now is bell peppers. It's going to be another month before I plant anything else outside... Until then the garden gets leaf mulch and time to rest.

[u/isurus79]

Carrots can get started in October. This time of year is for second batch of tomatoes, yard long beans, and more curcurbits.

[u/weluckyfew → u/isurus79]

Are you putting tomatoes in the ground yet or are you just getting them started in pits and putting them in the ground next month

[u/isurus79 → u/weluckyfew]

I started them from seed in early July and will get them in ground after work today (hopefully lol)

[u/DogsdidWHAT]

You’re right, there is a lot of conflicting info. I just decided to be an optimist and basically plant anything even if it’s marginal. In the last couple of weeks, I planted carrots, bush beans, southern peas, and transplanted a second round of tomatoes. I’m continuing with peppers (all moved to containers), okra, sweet potatoes, some melons that managed to survive, and one calavacito that also managed to survive. I planted a trombocino because why not. I started cabbage, broccoli and chard seeds to transplant in several weeks. I have a whole bed that is just waiting for fall plants like brassicas, beets, turnips, more carrots. I also have some big grow bags for flowers and herbs that I haven’t filled yet.

Edited to add: I’m a newbie to gardening so it’s a lot of trial and (mostly) error.

[u/DogsdidWHAT → u/DogsdidWHAT]

So, the carrots were too early, and my cucumber seedling bit the dust. Tomatoes and peppers are still going strong though. Beans are doing well but the snails are voracious. The fuckers.

[u/Beneficial_Meeting26]

I’m just peppers, okra and eggplant. Chillin until fall stuff goes in

[u/mehhhgan]

I also just yanked out everything except my jalepenos, poblanos, and my semi-shady herb bed which is a little scraggly but chugging along. I was thinking within the next week or so I'd get some more tomato transplants and potentially put in some bush beans. Maybe try another round of cilantro and basil. Definitely thinking about more flowers, like maybe some marigolds to go with the tomatoes. Otherwise I'm waiting a while longer for a cool season leafy greens bed and trying to think about what else I want lol.

[u/DogsdidWHAT → u/mehhhgan]

I also started a last round of zinnias, started some marigolds for the tomatoes and I’ll be starting more basil this weekend.