Leviticus 26:3-5
“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit. Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.”
God’s abundance can definitely be seen in the food that he provides for us in the garden.  Not working has brought me back to the garden and the fresh bounty that it can provide.The mornings have been so cool lately that it definitely feels like autumn is coming and that creates in me the desire to work in the garden, clean out the old withering plants and get a fall crop in.  I found this little article on the “Homemade Simple” website and thought that I would share it!  Enjoy!

Vegetable Gardening: Fall
Many fall crops take little work and love the shortened days and cooler temperatures. Learn how to plant, grow and maintain a garden full of fresh vegetables like turnips, beets, Swiss chard, potatoes and radishes so they’re ready for fall recipe preparation.

The temperatures are turning cooler, and summer plants are beginning to wither. Now’s the perfect time to plant these vegetables:

Turnips
Planting & Spacing: Plant seeds in full sun and loose soil, 1/4-1/2” deep, 4-6” apart, in rows 24-30” apart. Turnips love regular feedings of water-soaked compost.
*Harvesting: Harvest when the tops are approximately 3” in diameter.
Beets
Planting & Spacing: Plant beet seeds in full sun, 1/2-1″ deep, in rows 8-12″ apart. Sow in light, well-drained soil, and water regularly to avoid tough produce.
* Harvesting: Pull beetroots when they reach approximately 2-3″ in diameter and don’t toss the leaves! Beet greens make a delicious addition to salads.
Swiss Chard
Planting & Spacing: Swiss chard loves full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. Plant seeds about 1/2” deep, 1-3” apart, in rows 12-24″ apart.
*Harvesting: Harvest leaves as soon as they’re big enough to eat, and you can eat the stalks too. Plucked regularly, the leaves will continue to grow, even through the winter in mild climates.
Potatoes
Planting & Spacing: Plant small tubers whole, and cut large tubers into sections with 2-3 eyes (small indentations where roots sprout) on each piece.* Sow pieces 3-4” deep, 10-12” apart, in rows 2-3’ apart in deep, fertile soil with good drainage. When they reach 1’ tall, mound hills of soil (6-8”) around the plant at the soil line. Water evenly to avoid rough, deformed potatoes.
*Harvesting: Dig potatoes when they reach an acceptable size, approximately 3-5 weeks after flowering.
*Tip: For best results, after cutting the tubers into pieces, leave them in a cool, moist room with good        ventilation for a couple days before planting.
Radishes
Planting & Spacing: Plant seeds in full sun, 1” apart, 1/2” deep, in rows 12” apart. When seedlings form, thin plants to 3” apart. Water regularly and evenly, and sow every 5-7 days to keep a constant supply on hand.
*Harvesting: Radishes mature quickly and abundantly, sometimes just a couple weeks after planting. Pull them as soon as they look big enough (bigger than grapes). Kept in the ground too long, they can develop pungent flavor.

Enjoy your Garden!
Lisa

Thank you Lord for your great bounty and the opportunity to see the beautiful colors and taste the wonderful flavors.  I pray that I am being a good steward of the things that you provide of the earth. Praise Jesus!!

~Next week - Peaches!! My peach tree is overflowing and I will need to harvest soon……a peach crisp recipe I think!