By Jessica Romer, Community Initiatives Coordinator
Operations Coordinator Faatma Mehrmanesh planting fall garlic at DUG’s DeLaney Community FarmIf you’re like me, you may feel like you missed out on this year’s cool season crops in the spring. Our early warm weather made it difficult to grow some of my personal favorites – greens, cilantro, peas, etc. But all is not lost – there is still a window of opportunity to replant as the summer winds down and we move towards the fall. As you’re pulling out crops that have finished for the season, things like broccoli, cabbage, beets, carrots, etc., you now have space to replant the cool season crops, as well as garlic which needs to overwinter in the soil for a harvest the following season. It may still be hot outside, but now is the time to get the cool season crops planted. This way you can extend your growing season through the fall, or at least as long as you have access to water in your community garden.
Denver’s average last frost is October 7th, which is also roughly when water gets turned off in DUG community gardens. Keep this in mind when you are planning for the fall. Look at your seed packets and count backwards the days to maturity, beginning with the frost date. Beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards, lettuce, mustard greens, spinach, cilantro, radish, peas and garlic are all great fall crops.
Special tip for garlic: Mid-October is the best time for planting garlic for a 2013 harvest. Buy your garlic at a nursery or garden center (grocery store garlic is often treated with growth inhibitors). Break apart the bulb, but leave the skin on each clove. Plant the largest cloves pointed side up, 4-6” apart, 2-3” under the surface of well-loosened, compost-enriched soil. Mulch with chopped up leaves or straw, and then water.
Happy planting!
