I was not sure the best place for this question but since it solely deals with vegetables, I'll try here. I am starting to think about planting for fall crops in western Pennsylvania. This year I have purchased a lighting system to start seedlings and had great success with it for spring.
I would like to start getting ready for the fall plants, but I don’t want to plant too late. I was thinking of starting the Cole crops on the 26th and some of the bigger head forming lettuces. Is this too late, or will I have enough time to get them going enough?
Fall Seed Starting for Western PA
I have been thinking about this, too, and wondering if the very cool nights we have been experiencing this whole spring/summer so far will lead to even cooler nights in Aug./Sept. I live in the Eastern Panhandle of WV, 100 miles or so from Pittsburgh, in zone 6a. My tomatoes have been in the garden since the first of May and are just now starting to get ripe. We have had nights recently with low temps of 53 degrees. It's almost never above 65 at night. Very unusual.
That leads me to believe that starting fall plantings earlier rather than later is a good idea. It's too early for crops like turnips but cole crops should be fine to start now. Most of what I put in for fall crops, I just direct seed. My cabbages are started in the spring because they take 110 days or so. They are looking pretty good.
I'm thinking of putting in some fall peas this year because of the cool weather.
We are a bit warmer than you are, but I've been wondering about the optimal time to start fall seeds, too. I'll be watching this thread with interest. We've been getting cool nights, too, and it makes us think about fall although I'm not at all ready for it to arrive!
It depends on your average first frost date and the time it takes for your variety to mature. Here's a chart for the Northwest from Territorial seeds -- http://www.territorialseed.com/images/winter_chart.jpg . You can plant later and extend your harvest with row covers or frost protection.
Mel Bartholomew's "Ca$h from Square foot Gardening" has a good chart that says to direct seed Broccoli and Cabbage 18 weeks before your first frost date (repeat in 2 weeks) and transplant outdoors after 5 weeks, Cauliflower 16 weeks (repeat in 2), set out 5 weeks. Direct sow Carrots 11 (repeat in 2), Peas 10, Beets 8 repeat 2 wks, lettuce & spinach 7 repeat 2 wks, radishes 4 repeat in 2.
"4 Seasons Harvest" by Elliot Coleman is another great book for fall winter harvest.
Picture from 11/01/2008 - Broccoli far row, Brussel Sprouts middle, and lettuce/spinach right.
Jozeeben, I have Elliot Coleman's books and I've seen the Territorial Seeds chart. It's just helpful to hear other people talk about what dates they're planning to sow which crops, especially if they're in a zone similar to mine and have some experience with three- or four-season gardening. I've never had much luck with it but I'm planning to try again this year since I seem to be a bit more organized now.
I've seen quite a range of frost dates for my area, which is another reason it's a bit confusing.