Presented by Kent Phillips
Howard Co MG kent.a.phillips@gmail.com

College of
Agriculture and
Natural Resources
2

Our mission is to educate Maryland residents about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.

A version of this PowerPoint can be found at https://extension.umd.edu/mg/giei-howardcounty-presentations

What Do We Mean By
Fall Gardening?
 Planting crops for harvest prior to frost or a hard freeze
Station 10%
1 yr. in 10
Balt. Airport Oct. 17
Baltimore
City
Oct. 30
Bel Air
Frederick
Sep. 28
Oct. 07
Westminster Oct. 06
Woodstock Sep. 28
Rockville Oct. 01
NORTH-CENTRAL MARYLAND
33%
1 yr. in 3
50%
1 yr. in 2
67%
2 yrs. in 3
Oct. 23
Nov. 08
Oct. 28
Nov. 13
Nov. 02
Nov. 18
Oct. 10
Oct. 17
Oct. 15
Oct. 07
Oct. 12
Oct. 16
Oct. 22
Oct. 20
Oct. 12
Oct. 18
Oct. 22
Oct. 27
Oct. 25
Oct. 17
Oct. 24
90%
9 yrs. in 10
Nov. 08
Nov. 28
Nov. 03
Nov. 06
Nov. 03
Oct. 26
Nov. 04

What Do We Mean By
Fall Gardening?
 Planting crops for harvest prior to frost or a hard freeze

What Do We Mean By
Fall Gardening?
 Planting crops that can be overwintered for winter or spring harvest.

What Do We Mean By
Fall Gardening?
 Planting cover crops on unused beds to increase soil fertility and minimize winter weeds

What Do We Mean By
Fall Gardening?
 Extending the season by using a cold frame, greenhouse or low tunnel.

 Remove waste from previous crop.
 If ground is dry, give it a thorough soaking.
 Work compost into top few inches of soil.
 Add recommended amount of Nitrogen
(.20#/100 sq. ft. of garden.

 Soybean meal – 7-3-1
• .2/.07 = 2.85 #/100
• Organic Nitrogen is less effective in cool/cold weather since soil microorganisms are less active
 Blood Meal – 15-0-0
• .2/.15 = 1.3 #/100
• Blood meal contains 50% water soluble nitrogen so it is effective in cool weather
 10-10-10
• .2/.1 = 2 #/100
• all water soluble nitrogen

 Cool nights slow plant growth but you can speed up growth using row cover or plastic.
 Vegetables take longer to mature. Days grow shorter, less sunlight energy for plants. Add
14 days to maturity time for so called short day factor
 These environmental conditions add sugar to cole crops.
 Lettuce and spinach will not bolt.

• Check out GIEI website for info on cover crops
– GE006_CoverCrop2.pdf
• Different cover crops do different things
– Break up clay soil (forage radish)
– Deep root systems to capture nutrients (winter rye)
– Add nitrogen to the soil (legumes)
• Plant a legume and cereal together to get additional benefit.
• Cover crops can be planted in any unused beds at anytime of year but no later than mid-October.

• September
– Pull up and compost undiseased spent plants
– Plant spinach and kale for spring harvest
• October
– Pull up and compost undiseased spent plants.
– Cover pepper and tomato plants to prolong production.
– Remove and store stakes and cages.
– Plant cover crop in empty areas. Till in organic matter.
• November
– Cover empty beds with shredded leaves to stop winter weed growth.
– Mulch overwintering carrots, leeks, winter onions, strawberries, radishes and parsnips with clean straw.
• December – Get soil sample for spring planting

Compost and Leaves Covering Beds

• Leaves are available through the Howard
County “Rake and Take Program” or you can just pick them up from your neighbors.
• Register with Pat Hooker, Howard County MG
– E-mail: phooker9440@gmail.com
– 410-489-4314
– Leaves may require shredding.
• Takers pick up bags curb-side.

• Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC)
– 800-342-2507
– www.extension.umd.edu/hgic
• Grow-It-Eat-It website
– www.extension.umd.edu/giei
• Master Gardener state website
– www.extension.umd.edu/mg

This program was brought to you by
Maryland Master Gardener Program
Howard County
University of Maryland Extension