Once mid-summer hits, it may seem like the opportunity for planting veggies is gone. That’s not true though! There are plants that mature quickly that will be ready to harvest from early to late fall. You need to be aware of the plants’ cold tolerance and your area’s average light frost and killing frost dates so that you can plant your veggies early enough for them to mature.
What to Plant in Mid-Summer for Fall Harvest
I like to plant greens in mid-summer. I often harvest them as baby greens, so I don’t even have to wait for them to reach full maturity. Some greens I’ll be planting for fall are:
- Kale – Takes 40-60 days to mature; cold hardy to about 20 degrees F. In warmer climates, kale can live though winter.
- Collard greens – Same as kale. You all know how crazy I am about those ‘Bulldog‘ collards!
- Swiss chard – Takes 40-60 days to mature; won’t survive more than a light frost. One of my favorite varieties is ‘Peppermint.’
- Spinach – Takes 30-45 days to matures; will survive light frost. Try ‘Imperial Green‘ spinach.
- Mustard greens – Generally, mustard greens take 30-45 days to mature and will survive a light frost.
‘Miz America’ Mustard
My new favorite mustard green, though, isn’t green at all. ‘Miz America’ mustard leaves are a deep burgundy color on both sides. The leaves can be harvested just three weeks after planting. Sow the seeds three to four weeks before the first frost.
Some root vegetables I like to plant in mid-summer are:
- Beets – Ready for harvest 45-65 days after planting; will tolerate temperatures to about 20 degrees F. ‘Merlin’ and ‘Touchstone Gold’ are two of my go-tos.
- Turnips – Ready for harvest 30-60 days after planting; will survive and light frost
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‘Easter Egg’ Radishes Radishes – Mature in 21-35 days; will survive light frost