5 Easy steps to plan a fall garden – FREE PRINTABLES

FALL GARDEN PLANNING (5 easy steps)

*Disclaimer, I am a beginner living in a cool temperate environment (USDA Zone 9a equivalent) and I found these steps helpful. 

STEP 1

LIMITING FACTORS.

Decide where you are going to plant. Figure out the conditions of the soil and sun in this location, write or sketch it on the printable. Look up your frost dates on your most local website (IE. the website for your zip code/area code is better than a broad average for your whole state/territory). Then go ask a local gardener. If they are similar I proceed, if they differ I go with whichever is worse for planning purposes. Write this date on the printable, and write a reminder to check the weather daily for the two weeks preceding this date. Then figure out how many days from now to your first frost (I just type it into google and it pops up). Or if you are succession planting figure out how many days from when your planting space will be ready and the first frost date, you need this number in step two, so write it on the printable.

I am planting in a series of big terracotta containers. I have read that  that raised beds are usually warmer earlier and stay warmer longer then soil directly on the ground, so if I direct sow seeds in these pots they might germinate earlier or faster than the same seeds direct sown into the ground. Also terracotta tends to dry out soil a little bit so I will need to watch that to see if my plants need more frequent watering. I have filled the post with homemade compost, which is free draining. The pots are in our front yard which gets a lot of sun even in the cool seasons (8+ hours a day). I have 120 days from now till my first frost (I have left this planning a bit late!).

STEP 2

MAIN CROP.

Pick your main yield crop/s. Look up the different varieties that are sold locally to you and the growing conditions that they like. Pick one that the days to maturity is less than the number of days between now and the first predicted frost date (the number you wrote down in step 1). Then make sure you can create the growing condition that this crop likes. If you can’t pick another crop or variety.

Because I am a beginner I am only choosing one – Broccoli!! My family loves to eat this so hopefully it will be a hit. The days to maturity is 60 to 85 days. So that is fine as I have 120 days until my first frost in this area. It likes well-drained, fertile soil at least six hours of sun, which I have. I am going to add some manure to the posts and have some fertilizer on hand as they are heavy feeders. I have written reminders on my printable to fertilize every two weeks so I don't forget. So this is a good choice for a main yield crop for me.

STEP 3

CROP SUPPORT.

Look up companion plants for your main yield crop. Then Pick 1-3 companion plants that will do well in your growing conditions. Then look up ways to deal with the most frequent problems with your main crop, and decide how to combat them. Do you need to buy frost covers? Do you already have neem oil on hand? Do you need to have slug traps ready?

Apparently Broccoli's companion plants are - celery, potatoes, onions and chamomile. Celery is a long crop and needs 130 to 140 days to mature. On the surface this is no good as I have 120 days to my fist frost, but Celery is cold hardy so it would probably survive a frost in my area and you can pick it at any time, you don't have to wait until it is ‘fully grown’ so this would still work for me. Chamomile comes in an annual and perennial plant, I already have some perennials so I am going to make cuttings and use these.  Apparently the biggest issue for Broccoli is Cabbage worms and yellow-striped army worms. A good solution is covering the plants with breathable netting or tulle. So I’m going to put a trip to the thrift store to find some tulle or breathable fabric that won't get birds stuck in it.

STEP 4

ORGANIZE.

Count back days from maturity for your Main yield crop and your three companion plants. Write they date on the calendar when you have to plant the seed, transplant the seedling, cover the crop for frost, harvest. Don’t forget your accessories, write the date to buy your seeds online so they will arrive in time, or plan a trip to your garden center for seed raising mix, neem oil etc.

For Broccoli my approximate dates are:

Seed sowing = frost – 85 days.

Germination = frost – 70 days

Seedling hardening off = frost – 30

Outdoor planting = frost – 20

Harvest = frost date

My companion plants are going to be direct sown into the bed as seed and cuttings at Frost – 85 days. I have written this on the printable so I don't miss anything.

STEP 5

EXECUTE.

Do the task you have put in your garden calendar to see a successful fall garden. Watch the weather and your plants, be flexible and adjust to issues as they arise. Don’t forget to have fun and lavish love on your plants.

Print out the template below today and start panning your fall garden! Please note: There is one each for Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

Let me know in the comments below if this was helpful to you. Happy Gardening!

 

#pottedgarden #backyardgardening #lovegardening #gardeningismytherapy #veggiegarden #mygarden #containergardening #gardentips #gardenlife