Fall Crops Indiana

Fall Growing in

THE BEST CROPS FOR a

Growing Pumpkins in Indiana:

Variety: Choose pumpkin varieties suited for Indiana's climate, like Howden, Jack O'Lantern, or Connecticut Field.
Planting Time: Plant seeds after the last frost, typically in late May or early June.
Location: Select a sunny, well-draining spot with at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Soil Preparation: Prepare soil by tilling it to 12-15 inches, incorporating compost or manure.
Planting Seeds: Plant seeds 1 inch deep and 2-4 feet apart in rows. Thin weaker seedlings.
Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, especially during germination. Switch to deep, infrequent watering once established.
Mulching: Apply organic mulch to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate temperature.
Fertilizing: Use balanced fertilizer at planting and when vines start to run.

Variety: Select cauliflower varieties suitable for Indiana's climate, including white, green, or purple types.
Planting Time: Cauliflower is a cool-season crop. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost or plant outdoors in early spring or late summer.
Transplanting: Transplant seedlings when they have true leaves and reach 4-6 inches in height.
Soil Preparation: Improve soil with compost or manure, aiming for well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
Planting Depth: Plant seedlings at the same depth as their containers, spacing them 18-24 inches apart in rows 2-3 feet apart.
Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, especially when young. Avoid overhead watering.
Mulching: Apply mulch to retain moisture and control weeds.
Fertilizing: Use balanced fertilizer before planting and consider side-dressing with nitrogen.

Variety: Choose Brussels sprouts varieties suitable for your growing zone, selecting shorter maturity types.
Planting Time: Brussels sprouts are cool-season crops. Start seeds indoors 12-14 weeks before the last frost or plant outdoors in early spring or late summer.
Transplanting: Transplant seedlings when they have true leaves and reach 6 inches in height.
Soil Preparation: Improve soil with compost or manure, aiming for well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5.
Planting Depth: Plant seedlings slightly deeper than their containers, spacing them 18-24 inches apart in rows 2-3 feet apart.
Watering: Maintain consistent soil moisture, especially when young. Avoid overhead watering.
Mulching: Apply mulch to retain moisture and control weeds.
Fertilizing: Use balanced fertilizer before planting and consider side-dressing with nitrogen.

Variety: Choose tomato varieties suited to your climate and purpose, such as slicing, cherry, or paste tomatoes.
Planting Time: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost or plant seedlings outdoors after the last frost, typically in late spring.
Transplanting: Transplant seedlings when they have a few true leaves and reach 6-8 inches in height.
Location: Select a sunny spot with 6-8 hours of sunlight daily and good air circulation.
Soil Preparation: Prepare soil with compost to enhance structure and fertility, aiming for slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8.
Planting Depth: Plant seedlings deep, burying part of the stem. Space them 2-3 feet apart in rows 3-4 feet apart.
Prolonging Harvest into Fall: To prolong your harvest into the fall, make sure you fertilize often in early to mid August to promote flowers, hand pollinate flowers using a paintbrush. About a month before the expected first frost, prune the leaves from the plant to conserve energy for the fruit. Should it freeze before the fruit is ripe, cover with burlap or blankets. Alternatively, you could harvest the tomatoes and place them in a closed paper bag to ripen.