Fall Growing in
NEW JERSEY
THE BEST CROPS FOR a
Successful Fall Harvest
Boost Your Garden's Productivity with These Ideal Fall Crops for New Jersey's Climate!
Cucumber
How To Grow: Sure, here's a guide on how to grow cucumbers in New Jersey:
Choose the Right Variety: Select a cucumber variety suitable for your needs, such as slicing cucumbers or pickling cucumbers. Consider disease resistance and growth habit.
Timing: Cucumbers are warm-season crops. Start seeds indoors 2-4 weeks before the last expected frost date (around mid-April) or sow seeds directly in the garden after the danger of frost has passed.
Soil Preparation: Cucumbers prefer well-drained, fertile soil. Amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve its texture and fertility.
Planting: Plant cucumber seeds 1 inch deep in mounds or rows, with about 2-3 feet of spacing between plants. If you're using mounds, place 4-5 seeds per mound and thin to the strongest 2-3 plants.
Support: Consider using trellises or stakes to support cucumber vines. This keeps the fruits off the ground, reduces disease risks, and saves space.
Watering: Cucumbers need consistent moisture. Water deeply, keeping the soil evenly moist, but avoid waterlogged conditions. Drip irrigation is preferable to reduce leaf wetness and disease.
Fertilization: Apply a balanced fertilizer according to the manufacturer's instructions. Too much nitrogen can lead to excessive foliage growth and fewer fruits.
Mulching: Mulch around the cucumber plants to help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and maintain even soil temperatures.
Carrots
How To Grow: Growing carrots in New Jersey is definitely possible. Here's a guide to help you get started:
Select the Right Variety: Choose a carrot variety suitable for your soil type and preferences. Varieties like 'Nantes', 'Danvers', and 'Chantenay' are good options.
Soil Preparation: Carrots prefer well-drained, sandy or loamy soil. Clear the soil of rocks, stones, and debris to ensure straight growth. If your soil is heavy or clay-like, consider adding sand or compost to improve its texture.
Timing: Carrots are a cool-season crop. Sow seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring, around 2-4 weeks before the last expected frost date (around mid-April). You can also plant a fall crop in late summer.
Planting: Plant carrot seeds about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and space them according to the variety's recommendations (usually around 1-2 inches apart). Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
Thinning: Once the carrot seedlings have grown a few inches tall, thin them to provide enough space for proper root development. Thinning is crucial for ensuring good-sized carrots. Space the thinned seedlings according to the spacing recommended for the variety.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist until the carrot seeds germinate, which can take up to a few weeks. After germination, water deeply but less frequently to encourage the roots to grow deep.
Mulching: Mulch around the carrot plants to help retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and prevent weed growth. Avoid thick mulch layers that might inhibit carrot root growth.
Fertilization: Carrots don't usually require heavy fertilization. A balanced fertilizer can be applied before planting. Too much nitrogen can lead to lush foliage and small roots.
Eggplant
How To Grow: Growing eggplant in New Jersey is quite feasible. Here's a guide to help you get started:
Select the Right Variety: Choose eggplant varieties that are well-suited to your growing conditions. Common varieties include Black Beauty, Ichiban, and Listada de Gandia.
Timing: Eggplants are warm-season crops. Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost date (around mid-April) or purchase young seedlings from a nursery.
Soil Preparation: Eggplants thrive in well-drained, sandy loam soil. Prepare the soil by incorporating compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and drainage.
Planting: Transplant eggplant seedlings into the garden after the last frost date. Space the plants about 24-36 inches apart in rows that are 2-3 feet apart.
Sunlight: Eggplants require full sun to thrive. Make sure they receive at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, but avoid waterlogged conditions. Water at the base of the plant to prevent wetting the leaves, which can lead to disease.
Mulching: Mulch around the eggplant plants to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.
Fertilization: Apply a balanced fertilizer before planting and side-dress with additional fertilizer as needed. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can lead to lush foliage and fewer fruits.
Support: While not always necessary, supporting eggplants with stakes can help keep the plants upright and prevent heavy fruits from touching the ground.
