Extend Your Maine Garden’s Harvest into Fall.
As you enjoy the fruits of your summer garden in Maine, with tomatoes, peppers, melons, and squash reaching their peak, you might think the growing season is winding down. However, there are still opportunities to extend your harvest into the fall.
By planting certain herbs, greens, and vegetables now, you can enjoy fresh produce well into the cooler months. Focus on plants that either grow quickly or can tolerate frost. It’s essential to ensure that your seeds have enough time to mature before the first hard frost. This date can vary by several weeks across Maine, so use an online calculator to determine the first frost date in your area if you’re unsure.
For plants that can endure light frosts, the cold can even enhance their flavor. Using a cold frame, caterpillar tunnel, high tunnel, or row cover can add extra weeks to your growing season by providing additional warmth if you’ve missed the optimal planting window.
Greens
Lettuce: Most varieties mature in just over a month, making them a great choice for fall.
Spinach: A reliable option for cooler weather.
Arugula and Salad Greens: These should fit within the growing window, but check your seed packets for specifics.
Mustard Greens: Tolerant of colder temperatures and mild frosts, they can be enjoyed fresh or cooked.
Radishes and Turnips
Radishes: Typically ready for harvest in three to five weeks.
Herbs
Cilantro, Dill, and Parsley: These popular herbs can be harvested in several weeks. Harvesting part of the leaves will allow the plant to continue growing, providing fresh herbs until frost.
Kale
Kale: This hardy green can survive frost and may even become sweeter after cold temperatures. A simple row cover can extend its growing season.
Carrots
Carrots: Unusually, carrots can remain in the ground through winter, becoming sweeter over time. Seeding them now may allow for a fall harvest, depending on your location.
Beets
Beets: Like carrots, beets get sweeter after frost. Even if it’s too late for a full harvest, you can still enjoy the greens, which can be cooked similarly to chard.
For those with extra seeds and a willingness to experiment, some Maine gardeners have successfully grown beans, peas, and dill into August. Asian greens like bok choy, tatsoi, and Chinese cabbage thrive in cooler temperatures and might mature with some extra care.
By planting these crops now, you can maximize your garden’s productivity and enjoy fresh, homegrown produce well into the fall.