UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- It's not too late to plant vegetables this year. Pennsylvania gardeners can plant a second harvest on Aug. 1, says an extension specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

"Some vegetables even taste better when harvested in cooler weather," says Peter Ferretti, professor of vegetable crops. "And you'll have fewer problems with weeds."

Ferretti suggests watering thoroughly twice each week -- if dry -- until the rains begin in September. Lower the incidence of insects and disease by not planting certain vegetables in the same place twice.

"Don't plant beans where you previously had beans or their relatives; cucumbers where you previously had cucurbits (cucumbers and melons); or cole crops (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kohlrabi) where you previously had cole crops," he says.

To select the proper crop variety, take the first frost date (usually between Sept. 20 and Oct. 10), then subtract "the number of days to harvest" plus 10. "This gives you a 10-day stretch of picking," Ferretti says.

"Plant greens now, such as collards, endive, escarole, turnip greens (fall types), kale, mustard greens (Savanna hybrid is one of the best) and spinach (fall types). You also can put in beets, carrots, cauliflower (early fall types only, like Snow Crown), kohlrabi, parsnip, radicchio, radish, rutabaga, shallots and turnip."

Some vegetables, like carrots, have trouble germinating in crusty soil. Ferretti suggests adding 1/2 inch of vermiculite or sand over the soil, then spreading some regular radish seed along with what you're planting to break up the crust. "Radishes will germinate through anything," he says.

For a list of suggested varieties, see the College of Agricultural Sciences publication "Pennsylvania Vegetable Variety Recommendations for the Home Gardener and Bedding Plant Grower/Garden Supplier." Additional information on culture, handling, harvest and storage for selected vegetables can be found in the "Culture and Varieties for the Home Gardener" series.

Free copies are available for Pennsylvania residents from county Penn State Cooperative Extension offices. Out-of-state residents can contact the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Distribution Center (call 814-865-6713). Publications also can be previewed or printed on the web at http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/.

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EDITORS: Contact Peter Ferretti at 814-863-2313.

Contacts:

Kim Dionis KDionis@psu.edu 814-863-2703 814-865-1068 fax