Gardens...

Improving the soil must be done before and during the gardening season. Depending on the natural state of the soil, various fertilizers and organic matter are necessary for plant growth. Hillock said these variables improve waterlogging and root growth, which strengthen nutrient availability.

When planting, gardeners can choose between direct-planting seeds or using transplants. Opposed to directplanting, it can be easier to plant seeds early and protect them under partial shade and with insect protection, then transplant the seeds into the garden.

“Gardeners who want to grow their own transplants will have a larger selection of seeds to purchase as opposed to the availability of transplants at the nursery,” said Casey Hentges, host of “Oklahoma Gardening” OSU Agriculture’s television program. “Seeds left over from the spring garden can be used in the fall garden as long as they were stored in a cool, dry location or in a refrigerator or freezer.”

When choosing which plants to grow during the fall, gardeners need to remember that plants grown in the spring can be continued into the fall, including tomato, okra, spinach, pepper, sweet potato and cowpea. Some of the best crops for fall gardening include broccoli, pole and lima beans, cauliflower, cilantro, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, leaf lettuce, pumpkin, summer and winter squash, tomatillo and sweet corn.

“Some plants, such as radishes, mature in as little as 20 days, but other vegetables like broccoli and pumpkin can take 100 days or more before harvest,” Hentges said. “Gardeners need to make sure they have enough time between planting and harvest before winter sets in.”

While Hentges warns gardeners to be aware of the maturity rate of plants before harvest, Hillock warns gardeners of the overall quantity of plants and how certain factors may impact the numbers of a good crop.

Leading into the fall months, the weather causes high soil temperatures, high light intensity and rapidly dry- ing soil. In order to avoid these issues and bring forth a full stand of plants, the crop needs an abundance of shade and water for germination.

“In order to germinate, viable seeds must have the proper temperature, adequate moisture and sufficient oxygen,” Hillock said. “Consider drip irrigation to make the watering process easier and more efficient.”

The conditions that favor seed germination also favor the growth of grass and broadleaf weed plants, which take valuable soil nutrients and moisture. To eliminate this problem, gardeners must mulch the soil or cultivate the soil when the weeds are small and can be easily destroyed.

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To eliminate damage to plants caused by insect pests, Hillock suggests frequent checks and immediate protective measures be used. In order to control the damage, gardeners must determine what kind of pests are at fault by using the fact sheet EPP-7313.