By Dan Bergbauer

For the Daily News

Starting a fall garden in early September and harvesting vegetables before cold weather sets in is still possible. Although the first light frost usually hits the first week of November, a hard freeze does not occur until about the middle of December. This gives us still at least 60 days of growing season for warm weather (no frost) crops such as some varieties of beans, squash, cucumbers and 100 days for cool weather crops that tolerate light frost.

Fall vegetables include essentially the same vegetables that we plant in late winter and early spring: lettuces, radishes, beets, peas, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, kale, spinach, mustard and turnip greens, and turnips. As you decide what to plant, consider the time required for your vegetables to produce (listed on the seed packet) and also the period for harvest. For example, consider snap beans, which will die with the first frost. If it takes 55 days to first produce and has 15 days of harvest, there should be at least 70 days between the time you plant and the first frost. Planting them by the first of September still might be okay if there is no early frost this year.

Consider another example of turnips, which also takes typically 55 days to produce. Turnips, however, tolerate frost and will continue to grow and produce until there is a hard freeze. For herbs, parsley, cilantro, and dill will continue to grow during the winter if it is not severe. Lastly, plant garlic by early November — it will continue to slowly grow over the winter for harvest in the spring.

Be also aware that the growing environment is somewhat more hostile for planting vegetables in late summer. Since the weather is usually hot and there can be an abundance of rain from storms or too little rain causing drought conditions, getting plants to grow properly can be challenging. In addition, insects are usually more prevalent and require more attention and effort to suppress them. Some vegetables, such as peas, do not germinate well in hot soil (85 degrees), and nematodes, which are microscopic small worms in the soil that attack the roots of many vegetables, thrive in hot weather.

This information is given courtesy of the Extension Master Gardeners who are volunteers under the direction of the Beaufort County Cooperative Extension. Volunteers are available through the Hot Line to answer your questions concerning lawns, vegetables, trees, ornamentals, fruits, plant problems and diseases, pests, soil and many other horticulture issues relating to gardening in North Carolina. The Hot Line telephone number is 252-946-0111 and the hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. You can leave a voice message at that number or email the Master Gardeners your question at beaufortcomg@gmail.com and a Volunteer will return you call on the next Hot Line work day.

Dan Bergbauer is a certified master gardener volunteer.

Gardening Calendar September

Lawn Care

• Now is the time to fertilize and lime your tall fescue according to the soil samples.
• There is no need to fertilize warm season grasses.
• Grubs in turf can be controlled with insecticides at the beginning of this month.
• Fertilizing
• There are no fertilizing needs this month other then cool season grasses.

Planting

• Fall Vegetables can be planted in September.
• Set out new chrysanthemum plants this month.
• Now is a good time to set out or transplant landscape plants. Be sure to “open up” the root balls of container plants.
• Pansies can also be set out this month to add color to the landscape.
• Pruning
• Long-blooming annuals and perennials can be cut back.
• Late summer is NOT a good time to prune trees and shrubs because pruning will stimulate new growth.
• Dead or diseased wood can be pruned out anytime of the year.
• Weeds or unnecessary trees should be removed from the landscape.
• Root prune any plants you plan to move next spring.

Spraying

• Watch shrubs for the following insects: spider mites, scale, and lace bugs.
• Use recommended herbicide to control trumpet creeper, and blackberry.
• Continue with rose spraying program.
• Peach and nectarine trees need a trunk spray for peach tree borers.
• Insects and diseases can be more severe in the autumn, keep a close eye on your fall vegetables.

Other Activities

• Prepare houseplants to reenter your home. Check them carefully for insects.
• Seeds can be saved from your summer vegetables.
• Clean up and put away unused gardening equipment so it will be ready for the spring.
• Destroy any dead vegetable plants by chopping, burning, or plowing under.
• Start looking for spring flowering bulbs to plant in October.