Fall Growing in

PENNSYLVANIA

THE BEST CROPS FOR a

Successful Fall Harvest

Boost Your Garden's Productivity with These Ideal Fall Crops for Pennsylvania's Climate!

Radish

How To Grow:

Select a Location: Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil for planting radishes.
Sowing Seeds: Plant radish seeds directly in the garden about half an inch deep and 1 inch apart.
Thinning: Thin the seedlings to about 2-3 inches apart once they develop their first true leaves.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist to ensure tender roots. Avoid waterlogging.
Harvesting: Radishes mature quickly, usually in 20-30 days. Harvest when the roots are firm and reach the desired size.
Succession Planting: Plant radishes in successive batches every 1-2 weeks for a continuous harvest.

Peas

How To Grow:

Choosing Varieties: Select pea varieties suitable for your region and purpose – shelling, snap, or snow peas.
Soil Preparation: Work in compost and well-rotted manure to improve soil fertility and drainage.
Sowing: Plant peas as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring. Install trellises or supports at this stage.
Spacing: Sow seeds about 1-2 inches apart and 1-2 inches deep, with rows 18-24 inches apart.
Watering: Maintain consistent soil moisture, especially during flowering and pod development.
Harvesting: Peas are ready to harvest when the pods are plump but still tender. Regular picking encourages more pods.
Support: Peas need support to climb. Provide trellises or stakes for the plants to grow vertically.

Potato

How To Grow:

Seed Potatoes: Start with certified disease-free seed potatoes. Cut larger ones into pieces with at least 2 eyes each and allow them to dry for a day or two.
Soil Preparation: Choose well-draining, loose soil. Incorporate compost or well-rotted manure for fertility.
Planting: Plant seed potatoes about 4-6 inches deep and 12-15 inches apart in rows, with 2-3 feet between rows.
Hilling: As the potato plants grow, gradually mound soil around the base of the plants to encourage tuber formation.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the flowering and tuber development stage.
Harvesting: Potatoes are ready to harvest when the tops die back. Carefully dig them up to avoid damaging the tubers.

Turnips

How To Grow:

Sowing Seeds: Plant turnip seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring and again in late summer.
Soil: Choose well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. Incorporate compost for improved fertility.
Spacing: Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart. Thin seedlings to 3-6 inches apart.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry periods.
Harvesting: Turnip greens can be harvested when they are young and tender. Turnip roots are ready to harvest when they are about 2-3 inches in diameter.
Succession Planting: Sow turnip seeds in successive plantings every 2-3 weeks for a continuous harvest.