Growing Weeks Needed for Fall Crops
Wondering how many growing weeks are needed for a certain fall crop? I’ve made a simple guide to give you a clear idea. You will want to bookmark or save this guide for your mid summer plantings.
How To Use the Guide
1.) You need to know the date of your first frost. Clicking this link —> Here. Gives you that date in the United States for your area. I like to use the 50% chance column. But be prepared to cover a few days.
2.) Write the date down for your first frost.
3.) Now find the fall crop you want to grow under the crop list on this page.
4.) Navigate over to the weeks needed before frost. The weeks given are growing the crop from seed by starting the seeds indoors or directly in the garden soil.
3.) The last column should be filled in by you. To find this date use the date from step one. Locate that date on the calendar and count backwards the number of weeks for step 4.
Example:
1.) Brown County, Wisconsin states September 23rd – October 13th for my 50% and Oct 3rd – Nov 2nd for 90%. What does that mean? I could get frost around September 23rd and I could also go into October, depending on the year. But basicly, I have up to September 23rd before I SHOULD see frost. Keeping in mind that if you cover at night – you have no worries and extend the growing season a little longer.
2.) I want to grow beets and make sure they produce in time before the frost hits. Beets take 10-12 weeks from seeds. I go with 12 weeks for my example because I know a few things. Fall equals cooler weather and shorter days. So, I want to give my crop time. That is a judgement call on my part.
Additional Posts:
Video on how to make fresh beets
How to make pickled beets
3.) I grab my calendar and locate September 23rd and count back 12 weeks. That gives me July 1st. I must START my seed no later than July 1st to safeguard myself. Although, I COULD get a little longer. Make sense? You can figure out the date each of the crops has to be planted by and write it in the third column for coming years as a good guide.
Important Side Note:
1.) You can purchase nursery plants for some of the crops and that will give you 10-15 days later, maybe even more later to plant. The growing time is from seed on the list above.
2.) Again, as mentioned above if you cover your plants the first few nights of frost you can extend the growing season a little longer.
3.) Most of your root vegetables taste so much sweeter when growing them in cooler weather. It is worth the extra work figuring out the dates. Besides, who doesn’t like gaining two crops of your favorite vegetables.
Happy planting!!
Additional Posts:
Sweet & Sour Cabbage Slaw Recipe
Plant Fall Bulbs for Easter Centerpiece
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