Starting a Fall Vegetable Garden
The overwhelming majority of people out there (especially those that lack green thumbs) are under the false impression that the growing season in Ottawa dies after the last summer vegetables have been harvested – but nothing could be further from the truth.
There are a lot of different vegetables that you’ll have the opportunity to grow in the colder months of the year, but you’re going to need to make sure that your timing is impeccable and that you understand how to best approach a fall vegetable garden.
The tips and tricks below should help you out with that!
Fall in love with fall vegetables
The important thing to remember when starting out a fall vegetable garden is that you’re not going to be able to grow the same kinds of vegetables that you would have in the warmer months.
No, you’re going to want to stick to root vegetables and other vegetables that love a little bit of colder weather, instead of the more delicate crops that just won’t be able to take the temperature when the mercury dips to the bottom of the thermometer.
Look to plant:
- Beets and broccoli
- Cabbage and leaf lettuce
- Radishes and spinach
- Winter squashes and pumpkins
…And you’ll be good to go!
Take advantage of “green manure”
You’re definitely going to need to get your seeds into the ground during the months of July, June, and August (maybe stretching into September with some vegetables like radish and lettuce), but youe always going to want to include “green manure” with your seeds to really boost your results.
Green manure isn’t the manure at all, but instead decomposed organic material from green plant life (alfalfa, peas, oats, buckwheat, etc.) that will add a lot of essential nutrients to the soil so that your vegetables have every chance of succeeding in the colder temperatures.
Get your hands on a greenhouse for all year growing
If you really want to open up the potential to grow all kinds of vegetables in the colder months you’ll want to think about building your own greenhouse.
Today it’s possible to build a full-blown greenhouse without breaking your bank account in the process, and DIY plans are readily available, as are all of the construction materials necessary to get the job done. If you want to be up to grow all kinds of vegetables (and just about everything else) all year round, a greenhouse is going to be essential!
For assistance with designing the garden of your dreams or for help with the tedious side of gardening like weeding and pruning, call Hansen. We’ll handle the tough stuff so you don’t have to. We also offer fall garden winterization services in Ottawa to give you a head start on your spring/summer gardening in 2016.