Arugula

Prized by chefs and health gurus across the country, arugula can add a peppery kick of flavor to an ordinary salad and some fantastic health benefits. However, fresh arugula can be expensive to buy in the stores. So why not grow your own? Plant in a well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. To harvest, pull the leaves you want, leaving the rest to develop for the next harvest. Arugula provides ample doses of vitamin K. Plus, the sulforaphane found in cruciferous vegetables like arugula may help delay or impede cancer growth in the body.

Brussels Sprouts

Popularized in Belgium since around the Middle Ages, Brussels sprouts are a cool-weather vegetable that can provide a great harvest with a little patience. The plant looks like a miniature palm tree with tiny cabbages growing out of the thick trunk-like pods. It’s a fascinating sight! Like broccoli and spinach, Brussels sprouts prefer cooler temperatures, and a light frost actually will improve their flavor. To harvest, remove sprouts from the bottom of the stalk when they reach around 1 inch in diameter. They’re great for oven-roasting, as they keep the heads crisp and accentuate their sweet flavor. Remember only to wash them when you’re about to use them, not before to help them from getting soggy.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower has become the rage for people looking to cut out grains and starches from their diets. Everything from mashed cauliflower, cauliflower rice, and cauliflower mac and cheese has become the norm in healthy cookbooks and recipe blogs. Cauliflower is a cool-season vegetable that takes 8 to 10 weeks to produce, so it should be planted now for best results. They require constant soil moisture of about 1 to 1.5 inches per week. A single cauliflower is high in vitamins C and K and is also very high in antioxidants, which help improve inflammation in the body.

Kale

Everyone is talking about the health benefits of kale, and this is for a good reason. No other vegetable out there provides the range of nutrients that kale offers, over 19 in all! Kale is excellent fresh or cooked, and it’s surprisingly easy to grow. Kale is a “cut and come again” vegetable, so you can harvest young leaves fresh from the plant, or let them mature a bit to use for cooking down. With its curled leaves and shades of green and purple, kale also is an attractive ornamental plant.

Swiss Chard

Swiss chard is related to the beet, and you can identify it by its broad green leaves with veins and stems that are bright red to fuchsia. They make a great summer leafy green for planting in your garden now, but can still handle the cooler temperatures, making it a very versatile addition to your garden. You can cut the leaves for salads or in a pot of cooked greens, and use the ribs just like you would asparagus. Swiss chard is a powerhouse of nutrients, including vitamins A, B6, C, E, K, and riboflavin. They’re also a high source of magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, sodium, and copper. The consumption of Swiss chard can also help improve bone health and control the symptoms of diabetes.

Cool-Season Vegetable Varieties Available at Meadows Farms

Stop by your local Meadows Farms garden center for a wide selection of vegetables, expert advice, and all the supplies you need to keep your garden thriving this fall.

Please note: Not all varieties will be available at all stores. Please call your local Meadows Farms retail nursery for availability and pricing.

The post Fall Vegetables to Plant in Your Virginia Garden appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

Where to Plant Ornamental Cabbage and Kale

Ornamental cabbage and kale thrive in group plantings, garden beds, pots, and containers. They’re perfect for filling in spaces left by fading annuals. While related to the edible varieties found in vegetable gardens, these ornamental versions are grown solely for their decorative appeal.

What Makes Ornamental Cabbage and Kale Special?

Their bright centers – often in fuchsia, pink, or white – are surrounded by textured gray-green leaves, ranging from wavy to frilly edges. These cool-weather lovers maintain their vibrant hues from mid-September until prolonged temperatures drop below 10 degrees, often lasting through December and into January. For a creative touch, bring potted ornamental cabbage and kale indoors for a short-term centerpiece before returning them to the garden.

Planting and Care Tips

When planting, choose mature ornamental cabbage and kale for the best results. Plant them deeper than they were in their pots, ensuring they have loose, fertile soil with minimal lime. Remove any discolored lower leaves and press the base firmly into the ground. Maintain regular watering until roots are established, and if pests nibble on the leaves, apply a powdered insecticide like Sevin to protect them. Once settled, these hardy plants require minimal care, making them a hassle-free addition to your fall landscape.

Visit Your Local Meadows Farms for Fall Essentials

Looking to add a subtle touch of color and texture to your fall garden? Visit your local Meadows Farms garden center for a thoughtfully curated selection of ornamental cabbages and kales. Our team is here to offer simple, helpful advice and quality plants to enhance your outdoor space.

The post The Virginia Gardener’s Guide to Ornamental Cabbage and Kale appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

Have a Plan

Select a site in your yard that gets at least six hours of direct sun. Prepare
the soil by tilling in good composted matter. A well-prepared site and soil will greatly increase your yields.

Select Disease Resistant Varieties

Meadows Farms partners with growers that choose varieties suited to grow in our region. It is good to rotate crops from year to year to help reduce disease. For example, try not to plant tomatoes in the same portion of your garden each year. Remove any diseased foliage from the plants and discard them in a trash can. Do not compost diseased plants in your compost pile. Space plants help air flow. Good circulation reduces fungal disease.

Feed Your Plants

Use organic plant fertilizers such as composted manure to fertilize the garden. If manure is not your thing organic plant foods are also available. Organic fertilizers usually contain trace elements beneficial to the plants. A happy healthy plant produces better results at the table.

Mulch and Weed

Mulching the garden helps to control moisture and weeds. Straw is a good mulch for organic gardening. As it decomposes it will add to the organics of the soil. When weeds pop up, pull them from the garden. Weeds compete for light, water, and nutrients in the soil.

Water

Watering the soil and not the foliage helps to reduce fungal disease. Plants should not have wet leaves going into the night. Use a soaker hose to get water into the root zone.

Plants Some Flowers

Planting flowers like marigolds and geraniums will make your garden brighter. They have strong scents and can help keep animals like cats, dogs, and rabbits out of your garden plot.

Start your organic garden today!

Visit Meadows Farms for everything you need—from healthy plants to organic fertilizers and expert advice. Grow fresh, delicious produce right in your backyard!

The post Growing an Organic Vegetable Garden in Virginia appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.