Hey everyone! I'm pretty new to gardening and just finished harvesting some delicious beets. I love adding them to my salads and want to plant another batch. I read online that I can plant beets again now, but I'm wondering if there are any special tricks for planting beets in late summer. Should I just go ahead with it? Also, I'm interested in planting garlic. Can I plant that now too, or do I need to wait a bit? Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
I'd hold off on garlic planting until mid to late October. If you're using certified seed cloves, most suppliers won't even ship them until late September for your zone. You want your garlic to establish roots before the freezing weather hits but don’t want it to grow too much top foliage either, as the leaves can survive winter but should stay modest. For your beets, get those in the ground ASAP! Consider a quick-harvesting variety like Early Wonder, as you have roughly 65 days before the days get too short and temps drop. Just a heads up; with the shorter days, you may need to add around 10 days to the seed packet's estimate on maturity. Make sure to plant in a south-facing area for maximum sunlight!
When it comes to garlic, the timing can really depend on the variety. Generally, I like to plant mine in October, aiming to harvest around July or August. Since you're in zone 6b, you'll want to do some research on whether soft neck or hard neck garlic grows best in your area. Most places that sell garlic will ship according to your planting zone, which is super handy! Personally, garlic is a breeze to grow and yields great results with minimal effort!
Thank you for the tips!