What can I plant in the Midwest this time of year?
September 11th, 2011
I’m a little new to vegetable gardening – I’ve lived in apartments the past 10 years and haven’t had anywhere to plant one! I just moved into my first house (SOooo happy!), and I want to plant a big vegetable garden in my front yard (edible landscaping style).
Can I start anything now? I live in NE Kansas (which is on the edge of the eastern forested zone, for those who know about different climates). Right now it’s typical August weather – super hot and humid, lots of sun, very little rain. (We had a storm blow through (literally) last night – it lasted about 5 minutes and barely got the ground wet, but the wind managed to knock out power on the whole block and knock a tree branch down in my front yard!)
Also, I have 2 medium-sized tomato plants (about 1 1/2 feet tall) and a small pepper plant (about 3 inches tall) growing in pots. Should I put them in the ground, or leave them where they seem to be doing ok?
Thanks for the advice!
More Green Energy Facts:
Posted in Wind Power Energy | 
Tags: 10 years, apartments, different climates, edible landscaping, first house, little rain, ok thanks, pepper plant, pots, sun, tomato plants, vegetable garden, vegetable gardening, weather
With tomato plants the more space the better. Next year use my formula for great plants and lots of tomatoes (unless you already do it) dig hole about 5 in across and 5 deep put 1/2 dirt back in add about a cup of bone meal and water to make a thick paste then just put plant into it and cover with rest of dirt and water some more. Then surround plant with leaves or grass clippings that have dried out some to a depth of about 4 inches. This last step will keep soil moist and also will allow thes layers to rot into soil. You will see them diminish , so just add more.
Other plants for now can be beets, carrots, lettuce or kale. Then in last weeks of august plant peas. and more lettuce and broccoli, as these like the cooler weather. The carrots and beets can actually be dug up even after frost and even with snow on ground.
Get a subscription to organic gardening or see their website for some great growing tips.
Have fun. I have no place for a garden now, but sure loved being out in it in past years.
It’s a bit late in the season for planting anything! In August most people are harvesting the crops they planted in the early spring! If you have tulip bulbs or similar, you can plant them in the late fall and the flowers will come up in the spring, but for most veggies, the growing season is about over. I’d leave your potted tomato and pepper plants where they are.
Wait until next spring for planting, and spend the winter reading gardening books and planning your garden for next year!
This specialist website should be of help to you with more advice on that.
http://www.humeseeds.com/falwint.htm
In the upper Midwest it’s already too late to plant vine crops. In your location it might not be, but I know that pumpkins take a long time to mature. Tomato plants are good, as the plants are attractive and so are the fruits. I would leave them in the pots, as the pots can be moved around to suit your landscaping, and can be put in the garage if there is any more bad weather in your area. Otherwise, I would suggest quick-growing things like parsley or lettuce (some varieties are quite pretty to look at).
I am jealous of your little pepper plant — I’ve never had much luck with getting peppers to grow.
Congrats on the new place. You can plant a fall garden such as pumpkins. Check when the expected frost date is in your area b/c that will determine what you will be able to plant at this time.