Today I completed one of the most critical chores to increase your harvest.
Mid season planting. The easiest way to know what you have time to plant is to search for “[your city/zip code] average first frost date”, then check the back of the seed pack for days to germination PLUS growing days.
CALCULATION: 75 days til average frost – (germination days + growing days needed) = Days you will or will not have to harvest a crop. For frost tender plants i.e. tomato, pepper, summer squash, subtract at least a week to ensure you have a week or more of harvest before the plant may be killed by frost. For root crops and brassica plants that most often benefit from a light frost, add a week or two, as they will be fine finishing off the last week or two of ripening in temps just below freezing.
EX: I want to plant another round of summer squash, to ripen a week or more before the first frost date. My summer squash, germinating in the heat of summer, will provide fruit approximately 60 days, allowing for an additional 5 days for germination. As of today I have 75 days left until my average frost date.
75 – 65 = 10 (days I will have a harvest) Do I have time? YES
EX: I want to plant Cherry tomatoes, to ripen a week or more before frost will kill them. My variety of tomato, germinating in the heat of the summer, will provide fruit in approximately after 80 days, after an additional 5 days to germinate. As of today I have 75 days until my average first frost date.
75 – 85 = -10 (days I will have a harvest) Do I have time? NO
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What Did I Succession Plant Today at 75 Days Out?
- Summer squash. Cocozelle, Zephyr, Golden Zebra Zucchini, Crook Neck Summer Squash
- Radish. This will be round two of three. Easter Basket Mix and Wasabi
- Carrot. Fall varieties like Kyoto Red
- Cabbage. Planted in the shade per heat. Flat Dutch, Jersey Wakefield, Kalibos
- Green Beans. Dragon’s Tongue, Calima, Soleil, Yellow Wax
All of this said, we have little idea of how the fall will go. Last year, I was given an extra month, an unheard-of extension of the growing season. If you want to push the limits of your frost dates, I’m not the one to discourage you. Prepare for the worst, yet hope for the delicious best.
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