A HORTICULTURIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION SAYS THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO PLANTING A FALL VEGETABLE GARDEN. 

WHETHER YOUR SUMMER VEGGIES ARE PAST THEIR PRIME OR YOU WANT TO ADD SOME NEW SELECTIONS, THE EXTENSION’S KEN JOHNSON SAYS FALL IS A PERFECT TIME TO START OVER.

JOHNSON SAYS VEGETABLES THAT CAN TOLERATE A LIGHT FROST INCLUDE BEETS, CARROTS, LETTUCE AND CAULIFLOWER. BROCCOLI, CABBAGE, SPINACH AND RADISHES CAN WITHSTAND A HARD FROST.

JOHNSON SAYS YOU NEED TO GIVE THE PLANT TIME TO DEVELOP BEFORE THE TYPICAL FIRST FROST IN YOUR AREA. MOST VEGGIES CAN BE STARTED FROM SEED IN THE GARDEN, BUT SOME, LIKE BROCCOLI AND CAULIFLOWER, SHOULD BE TRANSPLANTS.