In spite of the heat and contrary to common logic, early July is the time to put out new tomato plants. BILL SEVIER/Courtesy
Q: I was unable to plant tomatoes in spring but would like some for a fall crop. When should I plant them? G.J., Tulsa
A: In spite of the heat and contrary to common logic, early July is the time to put out new tomato plants. Often tomato growers will opt for new plants for fall, especially if the spring planted ones are damaged by spider mites or disease. They are not as easily found, and the selection is not as varied as it is in the spring, but they are usually available.
Tomatoes planted in summer will do better if you put out a thick layer of mulch on the planting site for a few days to allow the soil to cool a bit. Then the plants must be watered regularly, but don't overdo it to the point of sogginess.
Many other vegetables may be planted in July and August for a fall garden. Fall vegetables fall into two categories: ones sensitive to cold and ones more tolerant. Our average first frost is Nov. 3. The first hard freeze is two to three weeks later. Success depends on learning about each vegetable's cold tolerance and time to maturity.
OSU has an excellent fact sheet on fall vegetable gardening that suggests the dates to plant each type of vegetable based on these average frost times. This fact sheet (
tulsaworld.com/osufallgardening) covers what veggies to plant, how to plant them and time from planting to harvest. Tips are given on how to cope with the heat, using mulch, row covers and other types of shade.
Vegetables that may be planted in mid-July include pole beans, sweet corn, eggplant, peppers, pumpkin, squash, carrots, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.
Some veggies to plant later in August are green peas, lima beans, beets, cabbage, collards, cucumbers, Irish potatoes, leaf lettuce, radishes and turnips. Some cold-hardy veggies may be planted even later - garlic, leeks, onions and kale do well planted in September.
With our hot summers, fall vegetable gardening is becoming more popular. Success is achievable but requires some planning.
If you have a garden-related question you would like the Master Gardeners to answer in a column, call 918-746-3701.
Garden tips
For all your plants, ornamental or vegetable, mulching and correct watering are keys to surviving the heat of the summer. Mulch conserves water and reduces ground temperature.
Fescue lawns need 2 inches of water per week to survive summer; Bermuda needs about half that amount. Always water in the mornings. Watering less frequently and more deeply is better than daily shallow watering.
Brown Patch disease of fescue lawns is appearing now. Most fungicides available to the homeowner have been shown by OSU to not be an effective treatment, but commercial fungicides available to licensed applicators are effective in preventing new disease.
Original Print Headline: Now is the right time to plant vegetables for fall garden
Home & Garden
All Helenium species are native to North America and were introduced to Europe in 1729 and, by the 1940s, many cultivars were available from German and English breeders.
Q:I have enjoyed the blackberries available at the local farmers markets. Are blackberries practical for the home gardener? M.D., Tulsa
