Fall Brassica Crops - Get Ready Now!
Compiled by Brian Caldwell, Extension Educator
December 2001

Nothing beats fall crops of cold hardy brassicas to extend the vegetable season. Cauliflower, broccoli, kale, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, collards, brussels sprouts, and other mustard family crops like turnips, rutabagas, Daikon radish, and arugula can keep your offerings lush into November.

You will probably need to grow your own transplants for broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, and cabbage, since these are not usually available at the right time from other sources. Luckily, this is pretty easy. "Seeding dates" listed in the table below for these crops, are for when transplants should be seeded (about 4 weeks before transplanting). Broccoli can be direct-seeded at the same times, then thinned to 6" in the row. This is how many California and Maine producers grow the crop for bunching.

Seedlings can be grown in a small area in the soil (seeded thickly), or in flats outside if a greenhouse is not available. The brassica plants don't need the greenhouse protection that tomato and other early tender transplants need, and as long as they are well-watered and growing in a good medium, they will do well. They may need extra protection against flea beetles if grown in the soil.

Field-grown transplants are generally dug within 24 hours of transplanting and held with their roots in water to prevent wilting. It is best to irrigate right away after any mid-summer transplantings or seedings.

Many pest problems are greatly reduced in the fall, and quality and yield are almost always better than for the spring crop. As the crop matures in cool weather, it often keeps better too. Flea beetles are usually present only until mid August, and may be negligible if there are no mustard family crops nearby or in the field earlier in the season. Similarly, root maggot problems are much less for late-season plantings. Daikon and turnips may still need protection from root maggots.

Diseases can be problems for many brassica crops. Be sure to rotate fields with at least three seasons between brassica plantings. Use clean seed and reject any diseased transplants. Don't plant late brassicas nearby early plantings. Scout your fields for alternaria, head rot, downy mildew, black rot, and other diseases frequently, so that you can apply controls if you need them.

More exotic brassica crops for the oriental market can also be grown in the fall and deserve some experimenting with if you've got a market for them.

Other crops that can be seeded later for fall harvest include beets, carrots, herbs such as dill and cilantro, lettuce, greens, radicchio, and spinach. Don't overlook them!