Monday, October 14, 2024

Growing Greens In the Fall



You may remember that I shared this photo of the garden that my son built. It was a big project, and he didn't finish it until the end of the summer. Although he has never gardened before, he was pleased to find out that he could actually still attempt to grow some fall crops before closing shop for the winter.



Someone gifted him the sign 

Although the days are shorter and the air is crisper, fall offers a wonderful opportunity to plant a garden. While many think of spring as the prime planting season, autumn is perfect for growing a variety of hardy crops, especially leafy greens.

My son was a little too late to start his fall crops from seed, so he found a farm selling tiny starter plants which included lettuce, Swiss chard, carrots, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, dandelion greens, and some herbs - all fall crops.



Vegetable Garden Now in Bloom 

It has now been 6 weeks since I first shared his plantings, and the garden is now flourishing. I went over this morning to pick lettuce, kale, dandelion greens, and Swiss chard. 

Free Food Lactuca Sativa photo and picture

Unfortunately, his radishes and cauliflower didn't seem to want to develop: there were plants but no bulbs. It is something he will have to figure out for next growing season. 

Free Chard Nature photo and picture
Swiss Chard

I looked it up and the reason the radishes bulbs never developed, and it may be that they were planted too close together, the soil many be too acidic, or since it is a first time garden, the soil may not be loose enough. 

Free Lettuce Salad photo and picture

He still has a lot to learn for his spring planting, but he is enjoying the abundance of greens!

Free Green Salad Head Of Lettuce photo and picture

Why Plant Leafy Greens in Fall?

Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, arugula, lettuces, dandelion, and Swiss chard thrive in cooler temperatures.

Leafy greens provide important health benefits: 

Nutrient-Rich Powerhouses

  • Leafy greens are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Spinach is rich in iron, kale boasts high levels of vitamins A, C, and K, while Swiss chard provides magnesium and potassium.  
  • Greens such as kale and collard greens are rich in calcium and vitamin K, important for maintaining strong bones as we age.
  •  Incorporating these greens into your diet may help boost your immune system as winter approaches.

  1. Quick Harvest: Many leafy greens are quick to mature, allowing you to enjoy fresh produce in just a few weeks. This is especially rewarding in the fall, when the first frost can sweeten the leaves, enhancing their flavor.


Storing My Pickings

Since I only go to his garden once a week, I needed to know how long the greens would stay fresh in the refrigerator. This is what I found to help them maintain their freshness: 

  • Lettuce: up to 1 week. Store in a plastic bag or container to retain moisture.
  • Swiss Chard: up to 1 week. Wrap loosely in a damp paper towel and place in a plastic bag.
  • Spinach:up to  5-7 days. Keep it in a breathable bag in the vegetable drawer.
  • Dandelion Greens: up to 3-5 days. Store similarly to spinach for best results.
  • Kale: up to 5-7 days. Use a perforated bag to maintain humidity without causing rot.
Free Kale Fresh photo and picture
Kale 


Anti- Inflammatory Salad - this is a wonderful fall salad made with lettuce, kale, chickpeas, celery, red cabbage, roasted butternut squash and some other vegetables. Why not try it? It's a powerhouse of nutrients and tastes delicious.  It goes great with a bowl of quick and easy carrot ginger soup.

anti-inflammatory salad


Do you plant a garden? Do you re-plant crops for the fall? Any suggestions on the radishes? 

30 comments:

  1. A well-built garden, happy gardeners and beautiful produce.
    Thank you for the interesting information and storing tips!

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    1. Yes, it is important to know how long to store everything.

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  2. There is something innately satisfying about simply looking at all those veggies and salad greens - and then we get to eat them too!

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    1. I grew a garden for many years before all of my neighbors kept hiring chem lawn trucks to spray. I wasn't sure how much was running off with the rain into my soil, so I stopped. I wish I had thought of a raised bed like my son did .

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  3. This is a beautiful garden and I really like the raised beds. The greens all look very healthy and they are healthy to eat. you made a gorgeous looking salad! Each year I say I'm going to plant a garden and grow my own produce....but...I haven't done so yet.

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    1. Thank you and yes I did love that salad.

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  4. Your son's garden is so attractive, easy to move around and clearly productive. Congratulations to him. 😃

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's true, it is very easy to get around to pick the produce.

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  5. Our kale survived our -20C last winter. It is indestructible!

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  6. What a great success! The chard looks very pretty.

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  7. Very nice, I love the sign! I hope they give the radish tops a try, they are delicious in a stir fry. A bit spicy like mustard greens. I like to make Radish Top Pesto when I have fresh radishes to enjoy. Judee, thanks for the update!

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    1. I'll tell him about the eating the radish tops. He is just learning

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  8. Beautiful garden and plants! Thanks for the reminder, because although I don't plant much in the fall, I do plant garlic and almost forgot! andrea

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    1. Oh great idea. I'll tell him to plant garlic.

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  9. That salad looks good.

    This site (link below) may be helpful to read regarding the failed radish bulbs.

    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/radish/radish-does-not-form-bulbs.htm

    All the best Jan
    https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thank you for the link to the site. I'll share with my son.

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  10. Your son's garden is gorgeous and so lush! Great job! Nice picture of the two of you.

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    1. Thanks. It was early in the morning but I noticed my garden shoes matched my sweatshirt. ha ha

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  11. Try radish seeds, they usually grow quite easily. I have a leaf garden that goes to seed and keeps on giving. I thin it out and add to it each summer. Enjoy the fruits of his labour.
    Tandy | Lavender and Lime https://tandysinclair.com

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    1. Thanks Tandy. Interesting that your lettuce keeps replacing itself from seed.

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  12. Those greens and that salad look delicious and your son's garden is beautiful. Thanks for your kind comments on my blog. It will be awhile until things are back to normal.

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  13. This is a beautiful garden and it is great that you have so many vegetables in the garden, it is very healthy to eat leafy greens.
    I really like spinach and kale.
    I wish you a nice week.
    Greetings Irma

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    Replies
    1. I like to eat greens too. I was so excited when he started to grow a garden.

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  14. Your son's garden sounds fantastic, especially for a first-time gardener. It's inspiring to see how well it's doing with all the leafy greens thriving. The tips on storing greens are super helpful, and that Kale Anti-Inflammatory Salad sounds delicious!

    As for the radishes, it could indeed be an issue with spacing, soil acidity, or compactness. For next season, making sure the radishes are planted with enough space and in loose, well-draining soil could make a big difference. Testing the soil pH might also be helpful, as radishes prefer a pH of around 5.5 to 6.8.

    Happy gardening, and enjoy the bounty! Read my new post: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2024/10/ultra-rich-anti-aging-cream-for-improved-skin-hydration-and-radiance.html

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  15. Six weeks ago? So the beginning of September? From seeds? Wow that is really impressive. It would be great to grow ones own lettuce. This is a GREAT start!

    Allie of
    www.allienyc.com

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  16. Hi Allie,, you may have missed that I mentioned in the post that he had starter plants, not seeds. He was too late to start from seeds.

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  17. I have a black thumb -- well, two of them -- so no planting by me but WOW that Swiss Chard is gorgeous, and all of the other greens too! That salad looks delicious! Very impressive effort on the part of your son. xoxo

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