Fall Crops Kentucky

Fall Growing in

THE BEST CROPS FOR a

Growing Potatoes in Kentucky:

Choose Potato Varieties: Select potato varieties suitable for Kentucky's climate, such as Yukon Gold, Kennebec, and Red Pontiac.
Prepare Seed Potatoes: Obtain certified disease-free seed potatoes. Cut larger seed potatoes into pieces with at least one "eye" (sprout).
Planting Time: Plant potatoes in early spring, around 2-4 weeks before the last expected frost date.
Soil Preparation: Opt for well-drained soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. Enhance soil quality with compost.
Planting: Dig trenches about 4 inches deep, placing potato pieces with eyes facing up. Space them 12-15 inches apart in rows about 2-3 feet apart.
Hilling: As plants grow, gradually mound soil around the stems to protect developing potatoes from light, which can make them toxic.
Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, especially during tuber formation.
Fertilization: Incorporate balanced fertilizer before planting. Avoid excess nitrogen to prevent excessive foliage growth.

Choose Kohlrabi Varieties: Select kohlrabi varieties suited for Kentucky's climate, like 'Early White Vienna' and 'Purple Vienna.'
Planting Time: Kohlrabi is a cool-season crop. For spring planting, sow seeds 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost. For fall planting, sow in late summer.
Soil Preparation: Use well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Add compost for improved fertility.
Sowing Seeds: Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, spacing them 6-8 inches apart in rows.
Sunlight: Kohlrabi prefers full sunlight but can tolerate partial shade.
Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, especially during germination and growth.
Fertilization: Apply balanced fertilizer before planting, and side-dress with nitrogen-rich fertilizer during growth.

Choose Pea Varieties: Select pea varieties suitable for Kentucky, such as 'Sugar Snap,' 'Snow Pea,' and 'Shelling Pea.'
Planting Time: Peas are cool-season crops. Sow seeds outdoors 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost for spring planting. For fall planting, sow in late summer.
Soil Preparation: Opt for well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Add compost for soil fertility.
Sowing Seeds: Plant pea seeds 1-2 inches deep, spacing them 2-4 inches apart in rows.
Sunlight: Peas prefer full sunlight but can tolerate light shade.
Watering: Maintain consistent moisture, especially during flowering and pod formation.
Support: Provide trellises or support for climbing varieties to keep pods off the ground.
Fertilization: Apply balanced fertilizer before planting. Peas can fix nitrogen, so additional fertilization may not be needed.

Choose Kale Varieties: Select kale varieties suited for Kentucky, like 'Curly' kale and 'Lacinato' kale.
Planting Time: Kale is a cool-season crop. Sow seeds outdoors 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost for spring planting. For fall planting, sow in late summer.
Soil Preparation: Use well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Add compost for soil enrichment.
Sowing Seeds: Plant kale seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, spacing them 12-18 inches apart in rows.
Sunlight: Kale prefers full sunlight but can tolerate partial shade, especially in hotter areas.
Watering: Maintain consistent soil moisture, especially during germination and growth.
Fertilization: Apply balanced fertilizer before planting and during active growth. Thinning may be necessary for proper leaf development if seeds were sown densely.