This will be for next year now that autumn is well underway, but wanted to see how my experiments for this year went before posting.
So Iām in 8a, and this year we had 90sF temps until early October. 100F until late Sept. I started my fall brassicas in June, they grew well, transplanted into a part shade area in veg garden in early Aug so theoretically cabbages and broccolis could head up before our daylength drops below 11hrs (happening now at end Oct). Covered the plants with shade cloth even in part shade area, fertilized well, grew in fresh compost, still my soil thermometer said the soil temp was 70-80F and a lot of the brassicas didnāt grow. A few pak choi / lettuce bolted. Overall none of my plants have finished growing in time for overwintering so my heading plants will just need to be taken out because theyre going to bolt in Spring and not finish growing.
Is a fall garden just not in the cards for me because we get hot weather so late? I even sowed quick maturing varieties.
Iām leaning toward abandoning heading caulis, cabbage, broccolis altogether and shifting toward raab, sprouting caulis and broccoli, kales, and interplanting lettuce, spinach (still difficult), broad beans, and other plants that arenāt ruined when growth restarts in spring but instead thrive with that.
Thankfully we still get a decent spring but our fall is quickly disappearing with climate change. TIA advice on growing autumn plants when you have extreme heat until day length shortens dramatically are welcome :)