6 Fall Crops To Plant Now and Grow Through Winter

Summary

In this collaborative video, gardening experts Kevin from 'Epic Gardening' and Tony from 'UK Here We Grow' share their top fall crops for different climates. Kevin recommends Asian greens, cabbage, and broccoli/cauliflower for cooler temperatures, while Tony suggests winter onions, garlic, and kale. They offer tips on planting, protecting crops, and maximizing growth, emphasizing the importance of timing, soil preparation, and pest control.

Takeaways

• 🍁 **Asian Greens**: These thrive in cooler temperatures and offer a wide variety, including Mizuna Beni Houshi and Purple Lady Bok Choy.
• 🥬 **Cabbage**: A staple for fall, it requires ample space and high nitrogen content for optimal growth.
• 🧄 **Garlic**: Planted in well-drained soil, it benefits from being spaced appropriately and mulched to prevent weed competition.
• 🥦 **Broccoli & Cauliflower**: Requires staggered planting in warmer climates to ensure they form heads in cooler weather.
• 🌿 **Kale**: Prefers full sun and can be grown in various soil conditions, benefiting from poultry manure and chicken manure pellets.
• 🌡️ **Temperature Management**: For crops like broccoli and cauliflower, timing planting to align with the necessary temperature for head formation is crucial.
• 💧 **Watering Tips**: Suggests using mulch to maintain even soil moisture and advises against overhead watering once heads form to prevent rot.
• 🌱 **Planting Depth**: For onions and garlic, planting at specific depths (2 inches for onions, bulb depth for garlic) is important for healthy growth.
• 🐦 **Pest Protection**: Recommends using protective covers to shield crops like cabbage and onions from pests like cabbage loopers and birds.
• 🌱 **Succession Planting**: Suggests planting onions with consideration for future crop rotation, as they have a long growing season and require specific soil conditions.
• 🌳 **Organic Pest Control**: Highlights the use of nematodes as an organic method to control pests affecting brassicas like kale.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is discussing fall crops to grow, featuring a collaboration between Kevin from 'Epic Gardening' and Tony from 'UK Here We Grow', where they each share their three favorite fall crops.

What is the significance of the term 'Zone 10b' mentioned in the video?

Zone 10b refers to a USDA hardiness zone, which indicates the minimum winter temperature in a region. It is mentioned to provide context for the climate in San Diego where Kevin is located and how it affects what and when to plant.

What is the first crop recommended by Kevin for fall gardening?

The first crop recommended by Kevin for fall gardening is Asian greens, which include a variety of leafy greens that thrive in cooler temperatures.

What are some specific varieties of Asian greens mentioned in the video?

Some specific varieties of Asian greens mentioned are Mizuna Beni Houshi, Purple Lady Bok Choy, Pak Choy Dwarf, Joy Choy, and Purple Magic.

What tip does Kevin give for growing Asian greens?

Kevin suggests covering the plants with some sort of protective cover to protect from late summer and early fall pests like cabbage loopers and worms.

What is the first crop Tony recommends for fall in the UK?

Tony recommends winter onions as the first crop for fall. He explains that they are easy to grow and look after themselves over winter but have a long growing season.

How should onions be planted according to Tony's advice?

Tony advises planting onions two inches deep and four to six inches apart. He also suggests using an oscillating stirrup hoe for weeding between onions and covering them to protect from birds.

What is the second crop Kevin recommends for fall and why is it a favorite?

The second crop Kevin recommends is cabbage. He considers it a favorite because it is a quintessential spring and fall crop that can be grown densely and is a heavy feeder, especially of nitrogen.

What is the significance of the planting distance for cabbages mentioned by Kevin?

Kevin mentions that for smaller cabbages like Mini Kisaku 50, a planting distance of about 14 inches apart is suitable, while larger cabbages require at least 24 inches or two feet apart.

What is the third crop Tony recommends for fall and why does it take patience?

Tony's third crop recommendation is garlic, which takes patience because it requires a long growing season and typically isn't harvested until just before the summer.

What are some planting tips for garlic according to the video?

For planting garlic, it's important to plant it in well-drained, fertile soils with the basal plate facing downwards, about two inches deep, and with a spacing of four to six inches apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart.

What is the third crop Kevin recommends for fall and why is it suited for a warm climate?

The third crop Kevin recommends is broccoli and cauliflower. These crops are suited for a warm climate because they need cold temperatures to form a head, and in Kevin's warm zone, he has to stagger his planting to ensure they get the required temperatures.

What is the final crop Tony recommends for fall and what are its ideal growing conditions?

The final crop Tony recommends is kale, specifically varieties like Cavolo Nero and Nero di Toscana. It prefers full sun and can grow in most soil conditions, benefiting from poultry manure and chicken manure pellets.

What is the purpose of using nematodes in the garden as mentioned by Tony?

Tony mentions using nematodes in the garden as an organic way to control pests that affect brassicas like kale, such as cabbage white butterfly, cabbage root fly, and white fly.