Start Your Fall Vegetable Garden Now

by Lydia Holley July 22, 2024

The middle of summer does not seem like the time to think about fall vegetable gardening. But in East Texas, it is. July is when you need to start planting vegetables for cooler weather later on and harvests that can extend until frost, possibly later depending upon the vegetable.

In July, you want to plant tomato, pepper, and eggplant transplants. Plant seeds for cantaloupe, lima beans, okra, southern peas, summer squash, pumpkin, watermelon, and winter squash.

In August, plant bush and pole beans, cucumber, and sweet corn. From mid August through the latter part of September, plants seeds for carrots, collards, English peas, kale, kohlrabi, parsley, Swiss chard, and Irish potato starts. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower transplants can be put in the ground then, too.

Work mainly in the mornings or when the days are cool. Be aware of the signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion and do not push yourself too hard. You have plenty of time to get these seeds and transplants into the ground. Watch the heat index instead of only the temperatures.

Many wonder which are the best varieties of tomato plants to grow in East Texas. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Vegetable Variety Selector, Better Boy, Big Beef, Brandywine, Early Big Red, Floradade, Mountain Glory, and Pik Rite are good large-size tomatoes for this region. Recommended medium-size varieties are Carnival, Celebrity, Golden Jubilee, Mountain Spring, Porter Improved, and Ultra Sweet.

Recommended small tomatoes for this area are Cherry Grande, Small Fry, and Sunsugar. They suggest growing Chico III or Roma for paste. Check the Vegetable Variety Selector online for additional recommendations for most vegetables specific to this region. However, do not be afraid to experiment. Some of my favorite tomatoes do not grow as well here, but their taste is worth the trouble.

Even though hot summer days can lead you to believe cooler weather will never arrive, it will. Then you will be happy you have taken the effort to plant vegetables for an enjoyable and productive harvest in the fall.

For more information on growing vegetables, herbs, trees, shrubs, flowers, and lawns, consult the Henderson County Master Gardener Association’s Monthly Gardening Guide. That way, you will always know what to plant when.

For more information, call 903-675-6130, email [email protected].