The original plan for the Ford House landscape included gardens and orchards to provide fresh vegetables and fruit for the family. In keeping with this history and the modern “fresh food” movement, Ford House has established a Kitchen Garden adjacent to the Cotswold Café. This garden provides fresh herbs and edible flowers for the menu.

For those interested in fresh food, it’s not too late to plant a vegetable garden, even for the consummate procrastinator.  There are a variety of vegetable plants that if planted now, will be ready for a fall harvest. Root and leaf crops are the most favorable vegetables to plant in the summer. Procrastinate no more! The good news about planting these crops is that you can reap the benefits just as you would if you had planted in the spring.

90-Day Harvest Crops-Plant these crops by mid-July for a September harvest

• Globe onions
• Parsnips
• Carrots
• Beets
• Rutabaga
• Fava beans
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower

60-Day Harvest Crops-Plant these crops in early August and you’ll have a harvest in the fall.

• Turnips
• Leeks
• Kohlrabi
• Collards
• Beans
• Eggplant
• Pepper

30-Day Harvest Crops-Plant these crops in late August and you’ll still be able to reap the benefits of a garden this year.

• Radishes
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Leaf lettuce

Another possibility for the 90-day crops is to plant them in the late fall before the first frost. The plant will survive during the winter months and will be ready for an early spring harvest. Prepare for the cold winter months by remembering to keep the soil moist and retain heat by using a good mixture of compost and mulch. Doing so will allow you to be ahead of the gardening game, but you will be able to reap the benefits sooner in the season.