How To Create A Fall Garden

Fall is a beautiful time to plant winter vegetables. Many people garden in spring and summer, but in southern California, we are blessed with great weather where it allows us to garden year round.  There are plenty of vegetables that can be planted to get ready for the winter and appropriately they are called 'winter vegetables!'

I recently planted some carrots, beets, turnips, kohlrabi, swiss chard, dandelions, lettuce and artichokes. The garden always needs a little bit of preparation where you add some compost and top soil to the existing soil. If the soil is too wet, wait a few days for the soil to dry. Otherwise, clay particles stick together, which can damage the soil structure. To achieve best results for an edible garden, you need full sun with adequate air circulation and good drainage. If your location does not have full sun all day, try to plant where southern and western sun exposure is at a premium.

Vegetables and herbs grow easily from seeds. I usually plant both seeds and small plants. The root vegetables, like beets, carrots, and turnips are best planted from seeds since they grow in the ground and it is hard to transport those plants.

Before planting seeds, loosen soil to a 12 inch depth. Add the compost and the top soil. Rake the top to make it even. Depending on the directions on the packets of the seeds you are planting, dig a half inch to two inches deep troughs along the bed where you are planting and arrange your seeds along the troughs. Cover with the top soil. Press the soil gently on top of the seeds. Water thoroughly. Water every few days until established.