Fear not! The approaching end of summer does not mean your gardening activities have to follow suit. Here are some tips and ideas for successful fall crops outdoors as well as some easy ways to bring your gardening project indoors for an endless gardening season.

Good Fall Crops
With reduced insect activity, fewer weeds, less irrigation requirements and more ideal growing conditions, fall crops can be significantly less work and quite the joy with abundant awards. Planting times and what to plant will vary depending on your zone.
Keep in mind that the flavor of some crops will benefit from a light frost so plan accordingly. With the addition of a simple cold frame you can successfully harvest salad greens all thru winter. Nothing like walking through the snow to pick salad greens, eh? (OK, that may be subjective). To get you started, collard greens, spinach, kale, mustard greens, mache, cabbage, arugula, leeks, chard, bok choi, chives, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, endive, turnips and carrots are all excellent choices for a fall garden. You can replant for a second crop of squash (as if you didn’t get enough the first time), cucumbers, beans and peas.

Winter Prep Goes a Long Way
Utilize the comfortable fall weather to prepare your garden for winter. This ensures your plot will be fertile and productive. A little planning will ensure huge success come spring. When preparing your plot for winter, be sure to dig up as many weeds and existing vegetation as possible. Remove all garden stakes, trellises, cages and other items. Work in a good amount of compost from the pile you finally got started this year (right?). Finish up by planting a cover crop that will not only help the plot overwinter but provide humus and nitrogen the following spring. Good cover crops include clover, alfalfa, winter rye and fava beans to name a few.

The Ceiling’s the Limit
A small investment of an indoor gardening setup can provide plenty of fresh produce all year while lowering your carbon footprint. Also, upon spring’s return you can get ahead of the game by starting your outdoor plants inside. Keep the work to a minimum with a simple hydroponics system. Smaller spaces aren’t a problem with a system like the Garden of Ease. The heat generated by an HID system can easily be vented with the help of a fan. Also, some growers use the heat generated to cut down on their heating bill during the colder months. Want the perfect space that requires very little setup? Check out a portable garden room. By opting for a fluorescent lighting system you can keep electricity consumption and heat to a minimum while still harvesting an abundance of tasty produce. With the help of timers your garden can be completely automated (with the exception of harvesting and preparing your produce – sorry!). Keep the feeding schedule simple with a two part nutrient line such as Dyna-Gro and Dyna-Bloom for excellent results that are easy on the wallet.