As we say goodbye to summer, we reflect on the activities we enjoyed, and those we wished we had accomplished. This year’s summer wish list started with a respectably sized plot in a Baltimore City Garden. As May and June rushed by with their usual fervor, there came a determination to make the most of whatever time is left, and purchase a plot in late June. While approaching the not so modestly sized 10×15 plot allotted for a minimal $30 per year, several questions popped up where the answers may not favor someone with limited knowledge of gardening. For instance, how does one go about starting a garden from a plot filled with weeds the size of corn crops? Or, what do you do with the plot once the weeds are gone?

Most of these questions can be answered with a lot of dirt, sweat, and search engines. But once the ground is ready for a garden, what will grow this time of year? Excitement begins to turn into anxiety as these questions churn and leave any novice gardener wondering “was all that hard work for naught”? A quick trip to the hardware store and anxiety turns to panic after frantically speed reading seed packet after packet to discover that nearly every fruit, vegetable, and herb recommends planting “mid-spring” or “after the first frost”.

Discouraging as it may be, it takes a little more than imminent failure to forget about the weeks of hard work (not to say the back cramps and sunburns)! All things considered, the most interesting thing about gardening, or really about plants, is they are always growing. Take a look around during a winter hike and there is no doubt going to be spots of green foliage. So even though summer is nearing an end, there always an opportunity to make something of it.

Find a Master Gardener

The gardening crisis solution came from the local Master Gardener program, which collects data seasonally and maintains accurate records on planting conditions, soil quality, and seed growth so there’s never a mystery to which plants will succeed.  The information is open to the public and accessible via the local Master Gardener database (every state and most cities have their own programs), but it seemed appropriate to end with a list of seeds that do exceptionally well when started late summer, and many of which can be reseeded early fall for a nice winter harvest. Timing will vary based on geographic location, but for sunny warm climate areas this time of year, the dates should more or less follow a similar timeline. However, don’t hesitate to take a short cut and purchase potted vegetables, fruits, and herbs from a local hardware store, especially tomatoes and peppers—after all, there’s still plenty of sunshine left in the summer to grow!

Planting Dates for Vegetable Crops in Maryland

Data from MD Cooperative Extension UMCP Home & Garden Mimeo #HG16