However, there’s still plenty of time to savor some of the garden’s best flavors before you close your door on the season. In fact, now is the perfect time to plant what are collectively known as “cool weather” crops — tasty favorites that thrive in autumn’s chill.

Bonnie Plants grows a wide variety of cool-weather veggies and herbs, perfect for fall planting. Availability of Bonnie’s fall varieties is limited to specific regions, so check your local garden retailers to find plants near you.

Select some hardy favorites to get weeks of crisp cabbage slaws, healthy kale bowls, crunchy cauliflower and broccoli or even hearty greens like collards or Swiss chard, perfect to pop in a long-simmering winter braise.

Other fall favorites include Brussels sprouts — delicious roasted with slivers of garlic, olive oil and a touch of balsamic vinegar — or any of the versatile salad greens like lettuce and spinach or flavorful herbs like cilantro that tend to suffer and bolt prematurely in sweltering summer sun.

Here’s six timely tips from Bonnie Plants to help you make your fall garden as enjoyable as your summer harvest.

1. Go big at home

Plant pre-started vegetable or herb transplants rather than seeds to squeeze every last moment out of fall’s compressed growing season. These plants love warm soil coupled with cool air and will start to grow quickly. Using transplants instead of seed also means you’ll be gathering tasty produce weeks earlier than you would with seed-sown varieties.

2. Stretch the season

While you can certainly plant cool-season veggies and herbs in pots or in the ground, a simple, commonly available garden product, a “cold-frame”, can help you extend your fall season by providing some added protection. A cold frame is a four-sided, clear box — open to the soil at the bottom — with a hinged lid. Because the ground inside stays warmer than the ambient air temperature, a cold frame protects plants long after unsheltered veggies start to fail. (On warm, sunny days, be sure to crack the lid open to prevent too much heat from building up inside.)

3. Prepare you plot or pot

If planting in-ground, be sure to clear the area of previous planted crops and weeds, as they may decay and harbor bacteria. Always bag, tie and discard debris. Turn up the soil’s top layer and add some bagged compost, and mulch. If planting in a pot, be sure to sanitize pots and use fresh, new potting soil, specifically formulated for containers.

4. Proactively patrol for pests

While pest numbers naturally decline in the cooler days of fall, they don’t disappear entirely. Common pests of cool-season plants include tiny, sap-sucking aphids, caterpillars (particularly from cabbage white butterflies) and harlequin bugs. Inspect your plants for tiny clusters of aphids or tell-tale holes in the leaves. Handpick caterpillars or harlequin bugs from plants and dispose of them or use a strong blast of water from a hose to dislodge aphids.

5. Embrace cooler, carefree comforts

With the warm days and cool nights of fall, less moisture evaporates from your garden or pots, so you’ll need to water less often. (Only water when the soil 2” deep is dry.) In addition, many cool weather crops handily survive light frosts, growing well until a very hard freeze ends their productivity. Better yet, chilly weather improves the flavor of many late-season varieties, including members of the cabbage family, kale, Brussels sprouts and chard, by turning their starches into natural sugars, making them a sweet and healthy treat.

6. Take time to relax

Just like plants, gardeners enjoy a break from the stifling heat of summer. With the leisure of cool days, fewer chores and less weeding as the garden begins to wind down, you’ll be able to enjoy the garden more while you wait to harvest your fall favorites to boost your recipes and brighten your table.

If you don’t want to give up on your garden’s bounty, pick up a selection of cool-season favorites from Bonnie Plants now — and keep your garden growing!

For more information on fall gardening and varieties, please visit www.bonnieplants.com.

*BPT

The post Fabulous Fall Flavors: Why Autumn is ideal for gardening, plus timely tips for success appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

By Dana DeMercurio

With the ever-rising cost of produce –fresh veggies, fruits, and eggs— single families and entire communities around the country are taking matters into their own hands, though not without getting them a little dirty.

Urban farming may not be a new concept to thousands of people who have been living off their land for decades, yet for certain urbanites the adage “reaping what you sow” was never meant to be taken literally.

Families in major metro areas including San Francisco, Boston, and even New York City have been experimenting with urban farming for quite some time, and with their proven success, this sustainable lifestyle has spread like wildfire around the nation.  Tight-knit and sprawling communities alike are picking up their shovels, throwing down their seeds, and reaping the benefits of their edible efforts. 

But adding a small garden to your backyard or contributing to a neighbored farm is not just about lowering your monthly food budget. Children between the ages of six and sixteen who participate in gardening and farming activities are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables that are home-grown, and have the added bonus of developing a close relationship with the earth and its ecosystems. 

Julie Cummins, Director of Education for the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture located in San Francisco (CUESA), says that urban farming projects “give children a sense of purpose –growing their own food—and an opportunity to nurture and take care of something.” Teaching sustainable and healthful practices through hands-on experiences not only allows children to feel accomplished, it provides an extended education of fresh, whole foods and their benefits on living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.     

“Understanding where food comes from, and understanding what it takes to grow food are the foundation for making informed food choices later in life,” says Cummins. “When they learn about the industrial food system and how much food is produced today, and they compare that with their own experience in the garden, they can easily understand that pesticides and overly processed foods are not a necessary part of the diet.”

When getting your child involved in farming or gardening projects, parents should steer clear of treating the experience like a chore, Cummins suggests. “Try to come up with games, art projects, or other creative ways to interact with the garden.” Allowing kids to pick their own seeds and cook with the harvest are other ways to keep kids engaged and eager throughout the entire farming/gardening experience. 

Not all families can be committed to live animals for produce such as chickens and bees, however. For such families, Cummins suggests starting off small with a manageable project so that both parents and children have the chance to acclimate to the new sustainable lifestyle.  

Want to learn more about urban farming and how your family can get started? Check out www.CUESA.org for more information on how to cultivate a healthy food system.  

The post Lettuce, Tomatoes and Carrots, Oh My! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

(BPT) – People choose to garden for many reasons: Food is fresher and tastes better. It’s a healthy hobby that exercises the body. It saves money. Numerous reports show an increasing number of homeowners are growing their own fruits, vegetables and herbs.

As temperatures cool,-you may think gardening season is over. The good news is with a few strategic tips, you can keep your green thumb going and enjoy a plethora of autumn edibles for months to come. 

Step 1: Select second plantings

Second plantings are the plants you use for the latter part of the gardening season. Late summer is typically the best time to plant these varieties. Call your local extension offices or access information online to find regionalized planting schedules and recommended plant varieties.

The length of the fall season and when the first frost will likely hit are important considerations when selecting second plantings. Keep in mind that fast-maturing vegetables are ideal for fall gardening and they should be planted early enough to reach maturity before the first frost arrives.

Popular second plantings that yield a delicious late fall/early winter harvest include broccoli, lettuce, turnips, collards, carrots, peas, radish, spinach, leeks and beets. Some people even claim root vegetables and cole crops like kale and turnips taste better after the first frost.

Step 2: Prepare your garden space

If you plan to use your current garden space for second plantings, remove the early-season plants that are done producing. Add those plants to your current compost bin or create a new compost pile with easy-to-use, stylish options from Outdoor Essentials. Wood-slate bins blend well with the outdoor aesthetic and the design allows oxygen to circulate and facilitate the composting process.

Next, prepare your garden space. Elevated garden beds are growing in popularity because they look great anywhere in your yard or on your patio, and are easy to move if necessary. Raised garden beds from Outdoor Essentials elevate the plants so gardeners don’t have to bend over and risk injury. They are ideal for fall because gardeners can regulate the temperature of raised beds with ease. On hot days, move or add a shade netting to protect plants from the heat; when frost is a threat, cover the entire bed for protection.

While you’re getting your hands dirty, fall is the perfect time to plant spring flowering bulbs. A little outdoor work now and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful flowers when spring arrives next year.

Step 3: Enjoy the harvest

Tend your garden daily for the best results – it may just need a quick check for pests and proper soil moisture. Typical benefits of late-season gardening include fewer bothersome bugs and the soil has better water retention.

As plants grow, pick the fruits and vegetables and enjoy Mother Nature’s bounty. If your plants become crowded, pluck a few out to help remaining plants grow roots and increase the harvest yield. You may be surprised just how many cool months your plants provide you with fresh, delicious produce.

Fall is a great opportunity to keep gardening momentum alive. So get started and decide what second plantings are best for your space. In as little as 30 days you could be eating the freshest, most flavorful vegetables you’ve ever had, all while under the gorgeous autumn sun.

The post Autumn edibles: Tips for fall gardening and second plantings appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

My mother is an avid gardener. Almost every plant she rescues comes back to life and thrives under her delicate care. I can remember the time and dedication she gave to her garden, how she often had to chase down plants and rescue them from our neighbors’ yards on account of the Santa Ana winds. Her patio now reminds me of watching Agnieszka Holland’s The Secret Garden (1993) when I was younger, and wondering what it would be like to walk through a door and find myself in another world of wisteria and agapanthus, rhododendrons and wildflowers.

And yet amongst all the plants, flowers, trees, and faerie gardens my mother has on her patio, her favorite plants to work with are succulents.

Gardening is something that has constantly been a part of her life, whereas for me, it was always the one thing I was certain I would never get the hang of. I never inherited my mother’s gift for taking care of plants, and can easily kill fichus trees in no time. Because of this, my mother suggested I take up gardening with succulents as they are nearly indestructible and also make wonderful ornamental gardens. And they also make excellent houseplants because they adapt to growth in drier areas.

I took my mother’s word for it and created a succulent garden for my condo. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make and how easy it is now to maintain.

I am now a firm believer that even those who have a busy schedule and minimal time for maintenance and watering can easily take care of succulents and have a beautiful garden to showcase at the same time!

Though the definition of succulents itself is as various as the plant, a general definition would be that succulents are any plant with thick, fleshy (succulent) water storage organs. Based on succulents’ adaptive mechanism in surviving arid conditions worldwide, green thumbs, such as myself, can benefit from these heartier plants with their various leaf forms and plant shapes.

The easiest way for those with minimal time to care for succulents is to make use of dish or container gardens. These gardens, as little self-contained planets, are quite easy to water and cultivate.

Succulents can be purchased from your local flower shop or hardware store, such as Home Depot, Lowe’s or Ace. Be sure to purchase the proper potting soil for succulents as they need a heavier soil that is often mixed with gravel or peat moss. Most stores that carry succulents should also have potting soil for succulents and cacti. While you’re there, also pick up some fertilizer for your succulents. You will need to fertilize succulents during the summer just as you would any other houseplant, whereas you can hold off on fertilizing entirely during the winter.

Along with finding the perfect succulents to suit your style is procuring the perfect container to suit your succulents. Remember that most dish and container gardens are ornamental in purpose, so the container you choose should say a lot about not only your succulents, but about you and your personality.

Terracotta pots, including the dish they usually stand on, are one of the most common containers for succulent use. Terracotta tends to blend in easily with a variety of settings and is a very neutral color when it comes to displaying gardens and decorating with different plant shapes and colors.

Practically speaking, you can put succulents in any type of container you choose, from beach wood to wrought-iron bird baths. Bolsa wood and Manzanita tree bark are also used as both decoration and natural containers to place succulents on and in as well.

As far as caring for your succulent garden, the three most important things to remember are light, temperature and water. Most succulents prefer bright light. There are varieties, however, that will actually scorch if met with sudden direct sunlight, so be sure to watch the leaves for signs of bleaching. Alternatively, etoliation, which involves elongated stems and widely spaced leaves, can occur due to succulents receiving too little light. A simple fix would be to provide more light and prune the succulent(s) back a bit.

Temperature is perhaps the easiest thing to adhere to with succulents. Remember that succulents have adapted to arid environments, which means they have also adapted to cold desert nights as well. Daytime temperatures should be somewhere between 70˚F and about 85˚F, while nighttime temperatures should be between 50˚F and 55˚F.

Though the potting mix for succulents should be allowed to dry between waterings, be sure to water succulents generously in the summer. When succulents go dormant during the winter, be sure to cut back the watering to once every other month. Remember that succulents should never be allowed to sit in water. Overwatering and plant rot are one of the most common causes of plant death. Even if a succulent looks healthy, it can still have already begun decaying due to oversaturation.

With these easy steps and tools in mind, you’ll be on your way to creating a succulent container garden that is both easy to maintain and a joy to create. Use it as a conversation piece with friends or loved ones, a table topper or window display, or simply as a beautiful and natural method for peace and relaxation!

The post Take the Green Thumb out of Gardening with Succulents! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.