Choosing fall vegetable crops to align with the weather

Q. It's probably too late for this year, but what are some suggestions for fall vegetable crops next year?

A. A vegetable needs either warm or cool weather. Crops can be distinguished by cool season (spring and fall) and warm season (summer). Planting in the correct season is necessary for a bountiful crop.

Plant hardy and semi-hardy vegetables in early spring for spring harvesting and again in late summer for fall harvesting. Hardy vegetables tolerate hard frosts, usually 25 to 28 degrees. Semi-hardy vegetables withstand light frosts, usually 29 to 32 degrees.

Examples of hardy vegetables include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, mustard greens, parsley, radish, spinach and turnip.

Examples of semi-hardy vegetables include beets, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, endive, Irish potatoes, lettuce and gourmet salad greens, radicchio, rutabaga, salsify and Swiss chard.

Here are planting dates for Northern Illinois gardens that produce a fall harvest. The University of Illinois Extension Service compiled these dates.

June 1-5: Plant Brussels sprouts, direct seeded cabbage, collard, kale, kohlrabi, pepper, Irish potato, summer squash and tomato. You can add additional plantings of snap beans, corn and cucumber, too.

June 25-July: Plant snap beans, beets, broccoli plants, cabbage plants, carrot, cauliflower plants, Chinese cabbage plants, endive, okra and rutabaga.

July 15-25: Plant Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, head and leaf lettuce, mustard greens, winter radish and turnip.

Aug. 10-20: Plant leaf lettuce, mustard greens, spring radish and spinach.

We have been thinking about vegetables to plant in the ground. Let's not forget a few delicious offerings that can grow easily in containers in fall, namely leaf lettuce, spinach and radishes.

Hmmm. In fact, I find myself enthused to purchase some fresh seeds and plant up a container right now!

Good luck with your fall harvest for next year. When it comes to gardening, rarely is it too late to find something to enjoy.

- Holly Schmidt

• Provided by Master gardeners through the Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines. Call (847) 298-3502 or email northcookmg@gmail.com.