Looking for fall garden info...

So, planning to start a fall garden. Although here in Texas we are still wondering in fall is even going to happen... I am still looking for information on what can be planted in the fall successfully as well as a planting schedule so that I will know when to plant what. I have done plenty of spring/summer gardening but will trying fall gardening for the first time this year. Any resources and or success stories would be helpful. Thanks! John

Kale, cabbage, carrots, and turnips are good fall veggies around here, but we don't really get much frost. I hear turnips work pretty well anywhere.

Here's a couple Fall planting lists for our region:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/fallgarden/falldirect.html

http://www.gardenate.com/?zone=12

The difficulty is getting your Fall seeds to sprout and grow when it's a million degrees outside.  Some seeds need to be pre-chilled to germinate, such as lettuce.  I keep my seeds in the fridge so they're all pre-chilled anyway.  You might want to set up some beds under shade cloth in order to give the seeds a chance to sprout without being baked.  That's what I'm going to try, anyway.

Unless we have a very cold winter like last year most cold-weather crops will grow through the winter here. 

The northern Midwest is not a good place to start a Fall garden, but around here you can try bulbs (garlic, onion, flowers, etc.), spinach, chard, clover, mints, juniper, and grain grasses like rye. Its best to stick to perennials though or annuals if you want to harvest before the first frost.

Herbs for Fall:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/fallgarden/herbs.html

in Texas you should be able to plant just about anything..I hope and pray that you get rain

lost my fall garden overnight to a surprise 8 weeks early frost..31.1 degrees as i type..wah

I'm so sorry about your garden, Brenda, do you think you'll be able to replant?  It was unusually cold here last night too,  43F.

This is a pretty good guide. http://www.veggieharvest.com/Vegetable-Planting-Calendar/zone-8-vegetable-planting-calendar/

well we didn't LOSE everything, the fall beans and squash were touched by the frost but not dead, but we went to 31 again overnight so not sure...the hardy crops are of course fine like cabbage, peas, greens etc..and everything in my greenhouse is of course fine..they say the temps are going to moderate now again so maybe things will still make it through

Johnco: I suggest broad beans.  So easy to grow, improves soil, attracts bees, and creates a yield.  Should be a good winter crop in your location.

I grow Fava beans (Broad beans) and they do well here if it doesn't get too cold.  Some varieties are more cold tolerant than others.  I grow Broad Windsor, which is only moderately cold tolerant.

H Ludi Tyler wrote:
I grow Fava beans (Broad beans) and they do well here if it doesn't get too cold.  Some varieties are more cold tolerant than others.  I grow Broad Windsor, which is only moderately cold tolerant.

I've had luck with fava down to temps into the 40s range but 60's during the day here in the blue ridge foothills...I'd say you should be okay in Texas. I'm zone 7b. Microclimate.

They don't like hard freezing temps, though will stand a light freeze.