Now is the time to anticipate autumn gardening

As autumn approaches, one notices the days are becoming shorter. We notice in the morning it's darker when we get up, and we are forced to come in the house a little quicker in the evening because it grows darker earlier. There is a different feel in the air. Fall is coming.

One thing we always notice in the fall is the flies seem to get stickier, or they seem to cling to something, which is normally us. They get slower, so they are a lot easier to hit with a fly swatter. The tomatoes, if you still have some, seem to grow thicker hides. The cucumbers seem to be crispier. Although it is fall, there are veggies you still can grow, and there are things that need to be done.

About the middle of August is when we should be planting our fall turnips. My plans are to have mine planted Aug. 15, if at all possible. I still have some sweet corn I need to pick; then we need to bush hog the corn patch, disc it and plant turnips. Seems like a lot of work in the next couple of weeks, but we should be able to get it done.

The average frost for this part of Missouri is around Oct. 20. That gives us about 80 days. Cucumbers take from 50 to 65 days, so they would be a good fall veggie. Tomatoes would probably work, but you will have to find plants. Tomatoes usually take about 70 to 80 days from planting to eating tomatoes, so they would be kind of iffy. Green beans are an option. Zucchini should do well, if you plant them.

Fall radishes are a great crop. Some take as little as 35 days, so plenty of time. Some radishes have been designed for the fall, so they would be perfect. Kale or collards or even cole crops would work if you can find sets. Kale would probably work even from seed. Kale will take a mild frost. Broccoli or such would work, if you can find plants. I have never grown it in the fall but bet it would do well.

Somewhere about Oct. 1, you can plant your garlic. Last year, I waited a little too late to plant mine. My goal is to get it planted the first part of October this year. I plant mine about two or three inches deep and then cover with four or five inches of loose straw. If we are getting rain, I wouldn't worry about watering it. If no rain, then I'd give it a drink now and then.

If you have blueberries or other plants like them and have mulched them, make sure they stay watered in the fall. It is easy to forget them once we have picked all the fruit. Also, make sure you have pulled the mulch back from the plants so they can get a breath of air. We pull the mulch back from our blueberries, and in no time, the cats have dug in the mulch, and it is just smothering the blueberry plants or bushes. I might give them a shot of Miracid in the fall as well. I don't test like some do. If the leaves are a dark green, I'm pretty satisfied.

We have a time with junk trees growing up in our blueberries and around our evergreen trees. What I like to do is bend them over and lay something heavy to hold them down. I then give the bent-over junk tree a shot of weed killer. After the leaves have dried, you can let the tree stand back up.

If you have grapevines, the birds should be sampling your grapes full-time. We don't put netting on our vines, so the birds are enjoying eating our grapes right now. I talked to the owner at Tower Rock Winery a number of years ago and asked him what he did. I had noticed he never put netting on his grapes. He said when the birds went to eating his grapes, he picked them. Since then, he passed away. Jerry out at River Ridge Winery always nets his grapes. I've planned to but just haven't invested in the netting.

Fall is a perfect time to spread lime on your garden. I'd probably test the soil to make sure it needs lime. You can take soil samples to the soil ag office either in Benton, Missouri, or in Jackson. It costs something like $10 to $15 a sample, but it is well worth it.

I must say, of all the fall veggies, I probably enjoy cucumbers most. When I pick them in the morning with a little dew on them, they feel cool to the touch. After I've taken off the hide and added a touch of salt, they almost snap when I take a bite. They are crispy.

Have a great fall.

Until next time.