W

ith harvesting comes more sowing, especially in July, when many of our fall-harvested crops are sown. Here at the seed co, we try to make the most of the growing season by succession sowing, intercropping, and making sure our fall-harvested crops are planted in July and August. Check out our Fall Haul Sale to get started on your fall garden and take 15% off seeds and supplies.

When planting second and third crops during the season, add fresh compost, if it's available.  Compost builds soil structure, so roots can get a healthy start. To produce foliage and fruit, plants make energy from photosynthesis and soil nutrients; to keep the soil healthy and nutrient-rich for your next crop, maintain soil fertility by incorporating cover crops and amendments into your garden maintenance routine.

Due to the waning daylight hours following the summer solstice, crops sown for fall will generally need an additional 2 weeks on average to mature compared to spring-sown crops. Consult the “days to maturity” information on your seed pack and add two weeks plus the time to germinate; use this number to count backward from the first frost, and you'll know when to sow! To find the average first frost date for your area, try this tool. Performing this calculation ahead of sowing will allow these crops to fully mature by harvest time. Our Late Season Planting Guide Poster is another handy tool for estimating planting dates.

Crops you can sow now for fall harvest are listed below. Add 14 days to the “days to maturity” for a general time frame, but specific varieties can have slightly different maturity rates. Consult the "Growing Instructions" and "Quick Facts" section under each seed listing. 

As you can see from this long list, it is not too late to sow! In fact, it's the perfect time. We hope this will encourage you to squeeze as much as you can out of the growing season. Happy sowing!