Lots of good questions. I'd suggest that you go to www.amazon.com and search "James Underwood Crocket" and buy his book, "The Victory Garden." It's long been out of print, but there's several used ones there. It's a great book as it's divided month by month and tells you what you should be planting, harvesting, seeds to be started, seedlings to be thinned. I consider it my Veggie Bible. One word of caution, Mr. Crockett couldn't plant a radish seed without drenching the soil with various and sundry insecticides, pesticides, etc. We now know that all that isn't necessary, some chemical control, sometimes, perhaps is necessary but Mr. Crockett certainly loved the stuff! That being said, it's still the best source I've found for what to do when.
Good Luck

Thanks for the suggestion! I need a couple good garden books so that "at the end of the world" (yeah my husband is a super planner... ) I can still reference how to grow my garden when the internet is no more. ;)

Almost my entire garden bed is composted horse manure and other compost. It works great. The one bed that was dirt is way too hard for things to grow well and I'm slowly changing that over as well. I do sometimes use some insecticides though, but try not to use too many or organic when I can.

Anyonoe w/ suggestions between now and when I get around to book ordering, welcome as well!

Hi,

I'm in zone 6 too. You should be able to plant peas, lettuce, kale, spinach, chard and maybe broccoli rabe. I think it's too late (at least in my zone 6 - NY) to plant cabbage and broccoli. They would need to be started indoors in early June then planted out late July/early August. If you were to direct seed them now, you'd need about 80 days before frost. My hard frost is usually mid October, so I couldn't do it.

As for over wintering onions, I'm not sure, but you can definitely plant garlic now and over winter it. Just mulch deeply.

Good luck!

I'm a pretty new gardener. I've planted the past couple years, but this is my first real Fall garden. I make use of the Weekend Gardener GrowGuide to help me keep track of what to plant when.

BTW, I had no idea that Nashville would be in zone 6, I would have thought it was at least zone 7, if not 8. Learn something new every day.

Here is a link that might be useful: Weekend gardener GrowGuide

You should be in the process of planting and sowing seeds for your fall garden.

I don't think it is too late to plant broccoli or cabbage for your area. These tolerate freezes in the 20s quite well. Plants would probably be best for your area. If you use seed, you want earlier varieties or you won't be harvesting until late November or early December. The plants really slow down when temperatures don't get above 50°F during the day and there is a freeze in the 20s nightly.

I've included a link (PDF format) to "Fall Vegetable Gardens" by the Tennessee cooperative extension service. It has planting dates and other information for fall crops.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fall Vegetable Gardens

Wow! Lots of great info here! I've already copied the info from the Tenn CO-OP.

IMHO, the link mentioned above and lots of similar links tell you generally when to plant what, but don't tell you how and a lot of the "subtleties" involved. As gardeners we all know the "subtleties" are the difference between feast and famine in gardening. That is why I'm reemphasizing (sp?) The Victory Garden book as it has lots of pictures, sketches, etc. explaining things in a very down to earth way. In additon, it's set up by month so he's explaining how to determine when things are ready to harvest and how to accomplish it. In addition, info on what seeds need to be started, or planted directly into the garden, what seedlings need to be transferred to the garden, and how to care for developing plants. You'll have to adjust planting times slightly as the book was written about Boston which I believe is a bit colder than Tenn. OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.....:-)
Good Luck,

I have overwintered leeks and chives and garlic chives -- I think anything in the allium family overwinters well.

Generally, I start garlic first or second week of October and harvest the next year. Trouble is, squirrels got half my garlic, you could smell it on their breath.

Hey all! I have a related question. I'm going to plant broccoli, spinach, peas, and beans. Which of these should be started in pots indoors and which should be started outside in my raised bed? Of the seeds to plant directly outside, it is currently 99 degrees here today. Should I wait a few more weeks? It seems the soil temp would be too high at this point.
Thanks for helping this noob find her way through the gardening maze! ;) Ally

I was always under the understanding the heat will help to germinate the seeds sooner. They do down here in South Texas. So I would recommend sewing the larger seeds directly into your garden and the smaller seeds in potting soil in small trays outdoors.

also see: http://www.rense.com/general91/dehe.htm

soon we can not garden at all..are you ready for that ?

Yummm...:)

I'm going to plant broccoli, spinach, peas, and beans.

All of those do well when started directly in the ground. If you absolutely have to do something right now.. emotionally you know... you could start the broccoli, since it transplants better than the others.

Warm soil is fine for seedlings.. but 99 degree days and keeping them evenly watered, not too wet so they rot, and avoiding getting too dry when their tiny, baby roots are only 1/4 of an inch long would require more patience than I have, and I'm a pretty patient person.

Not knowing where you are or your weather makes being more specific difficult. So I can tell you my plan. I'm in the PNW, the Willamette Valley to be more precise. We have fairly mild weather compared to lots of places, so keep that in mind.

Right now I'm working on construction of my new 4 season bed, attempting to force my compost to finish in time for new fall leaves on the way, gathering materials I'll want to do some winter sowing, and enjoying thinking about what perennials I will try to start this winter and what seeds I can find now. Planning a mini hoop house to fit perfectly over the new bed too... hope that works.

I know our weather and we will still have our hottest days ahead, what little there will be. So I'm not going to be planting for probably a couple of weeks, since I can't count of being able to care for things in the heat. But.. we don't have cold enough temps to really bother anything till Thanksgiving, so I have plenty of time.

I did start a plastic window box of garlic chives last week and they're poking their tiny shoots up now. I've been able to manage perfect temp, moisture and humidity because of the volume of the window box, yet I have been able to move it around to dappled sunlight once they peeked above ground. I had them plastic bag covered before that, with airing them out in the early evenings to prevent fungus starting. It took less than a week for them to get started since we did have a warm but not hot week. My test is coming up this weekend when they say we're going to get one of our infamous HOT spells. Hope I can keep these little guys alive..and me too. = :-o

I really could easily have waited to start these, but I just wanted new babies to fuss over and have great me in the mornings.

So think about your location and when it will be the easiest to care for the seedlings, yet warm enough to give them a jump start before things get cooler. You could try looking up your county extension service and see if they have good gardening tips for your fall plantings. I've found great information that way.

Have fun. :)