Pull out old crops as soon as they finish producing. Don't let those peas hang on just because there are a few fruits on the vine. Pull old lettuce and spinach plants as soon as they show signs of bolting. By being a little hard-hearted, you'll create lots of room to grow a second and third crop. It takes a little planning in advance, but you'll be amazed at where you can tuck in a few broccoli or pak choi plants or a small row of beans.
In spring: Once your cool-weather crops are finished producing, pull the spent plants and prepare the bed for round two. Start by adding a layer of compost to replenish nutrients used by the first crop. Then incorporate this organic matter into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil. Although you can do this with a garden fork, a mini rototiller makes the job easy. A few passes will thoroughly mix and loosen the soil so it's ready for planting.
In summer: In late summer when days begin to grow shorter, it's time to start your fall garden. When summer plants begin to flag, remove them and repeat the early summer ritual: Add compost to the bed and rototill lightly to mix it in. Then replant with seeds or transplants of the cool-season crops.You can go back to the crops you had in spring or try something new. Beets, radishes, and turnips are perfect for the fall garden, and are especially tender and flavorful when they mature in cool weather.
In Fall: For an extra-long season of fresh, young greens, try this method. Every two weeks, sow a small section of the garden bed with lettuce or spinach seeds. Or try a mesclun mix — these special seed mixes contain a variety of "cut-and-come-again" greens that you harvest when the plants are just a few inches tall. They'll regrow enough for several weekly or biweekly harvests.
These cool-season crops will continue growing well into fall. If a hard freeze threatens, harvest the remaining plants. Or cover the planting with a floating row cover, which keeps plants a few degrees warmer than air temperature.
Arugula: Plants bolt quickly in the heat of summer, so make repeat sowings every two weeks until about a month before the fall frost date.
Bush Beans: Make repeat sowings every 2-3 weeks until 8-12 weeks before the first fall frost date.
Beets: In cool season areas, make repeat sowings every 2-3 weeks all summer long. In warmer areas, plant 8-10 weeks before fall frost for a late season crop.
Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower: These crops mature well in the cooler weather of fall. In many areas, there is still time to start plants from seed for fall harvest, about 12-14 weeks before your fall frost date. If you are in a short-season area, now is the time to be setting out started transplants.
Carrots: Carrots that mature in the cooler weather of fall will be sweet and mild. Sow carrots up until about 12 weeks before your fall frost date. In the warmest areas, you can grow them right through the winter months.
Annual Herbs: Sow small amounts of seeds of dill and coriander/cilantro every couple of weeks to have a continued supply of young leaves for harvest.
Kale: Sow seeds for a fall crop of mature leaves 10- 12 weeks before your fall frost date. If you are growing kale as "baby" greens, you can sow seeds as late as a few weeks before frost.
Kohlrabi: For fall harvest, start seeds 10-12 weeks before your fall frost date.
Lettuce and other Salad Greens: Make small repeat sowings at 1-2 week intervals. In many areas, it may get too hot in summer for a good crop; use heat-resistant varieties and shade plants to increase the chances of a successful crop, or take a break from planting starting about a month before hot weather hits until late summer. Lettuce seeds germinate poorly in warm soil (above 60 degrees) so if you are starting plants in summer, cover beds with shade cloth after planting or start seeds indoors and transplant. Plant for fall harvest up until about 6 weeks before your fall frost date.
Peas: Plant 12 weeks before your fall frost date for a fall harvest. Peas grow well in the cooler fall weather, but can be damaged by frost, especially the developing pods. So try to time your fall pea sowing so plants mature a week or two before the fall frost date, and be prepared to cover plants if an early frost threatens. Keep the seed bed well watered at planting time to ensure good germination.
Radishes: Plant regular radishes starting in late summer up until about 6 weeks before your fall frost date. Larger winter radishes also make a good fall crop. Plant 8-10 weeks before your fall frost date.
Spinach: Sow seeds 6-8 weeks before the fall frost date. Gardeners in cool climates may be able to grow spinach through the summer. Look for bolt-resistant varieties and sow where plants will get some shade from taller plants in the garden.
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