Sweet Orange

Do you like the idea of having fresh vegetables that you can pick right outside your door but don’t feel you have the time to do the planting? Well, if that is the case, Harvest to Home has an answer for you. They will do the planting for you.

Of course, if you did the planting yourself, it would be cheaper. But if your time is more of the deciding factor, the services that Harvest to Home offer provide an answer. They will deliver and install either boxes that can be placed in your yard (or on a balcony) or raised-bed vegetable gardens.

If you choose the vegetable-box option, you will pick from their list which vegetable boxes you want delivered. If you choose the raised-bed option, then you will be able to work with the company to create a custom vegetable garden. For an additional charge, one-time or on-going maintenance is available. In addition, you can buy or rent accessory equipment.

Harvest to Home delivers to Orange and Los Angeles counties as well as Arizona. To learn more about the services provided, watch the Harvest to Home videos.

So Harvest to Home offers an option for getting the health benefits that fresh-picked, organic produce can provide you and your family. It’s a matter of your time or your money. Which would you choose?

According to Cindy McNatt, a columnist with the Orange County Register, Orange County’s first frost date is “sometimes never, but occasionally around Dec. 1.” Based on this date, Peaceful Valley, an organic gardening company, recommends the following general fall planting schedule for the Orange County.

When you scan down the list, you will see that according to the guide if you live in Orange County (at least most O.C. locations) and haven’t already planted, you missed most direct-sow and start-in-tray dates. However, these things are not written in stone, so you can always give it a try anyway. Or tuck the information away for next year and plant from seedlings that you buy locally or online. I like the list because it gives you an idea of what is possible for a fall produce garden.

• Beets-direct sow in the beginning of September
  varieties: Chioggia, Cylindra, Detroit Dark Red, Early Wonder Tall, Golden, Bull’s Blood, Green Top Bunching
• Broccoli-start in trays in August and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Di Ciccio, Calabrese, Rapinni
• Cabbage-start in tray in late August or early September then transplant a few weeks later, some varieties direct sow in early September
  varieties: Napa, Express Red, Pak Choi
• Carrot-direct sow in late July to mid-August
  varieties: Danvers, Kuroda, Little Finger, Scarlet Nantes, Chantenay
• Cauliflower-start in trays in late August and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Snowball
• Chard-direct sow in September
  varieties: Red Ruby, Fordhook Giant, Rainbow Beet, Yellow
• Endive-direct sow in August
  varieties: Batavian, PV Org Endive Tres Fine
• ArugulaGreens-direct sow in September
  
• Mustard-direct sow in September
  varieties: Giant Red
• Mizuna-direct sow in September
  varieties: Mizuna
• Tatsoi-direct sow in September
  varieties: Tatsoi
• Mesclun-direct sow in September
  varieties: Spicy Mix
• Spinach-direct sow in September
  varieties: Bloomsdale
• Dandelion Greens-direct sow in June
  varieties: Catalogna
• Mustard-direct sow in September
  varieties: Southern Giant Curled
• Mesclun Mix-direct sow in September
  varieties: Organic Mesclun Mix
• Kale-start in trays in August and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: LacinatoKale, Red Russian
• Lettuce-direct sow in August to mid-September
  varieties: Royal, Sunset, Tango, Flame, Freckles, Little, Red Deer Tongue, Speckles, Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Gourmet Mix, Merveille Des 4 Saisons, Parris Island Cos, Rouge D’Hiver, Green Salad Bowl, Red Salad Bowl, Dark Lolla Rosa, Red Oakleaf, Rubin   Organic Lettuce, Silvia Red Romaine, Summer Bibb, Iceberg Superior
• Onion-start in trays in June and early to mid-July and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Valencia, Rossa Di Milano, Torpedo Red Bottle, Walla Walla, Evergreen Bunching,
• Leek-start in trays in late June and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Varna
• Pea-direct sow in August
  varieties: Mammoth Melting, Oregon Sugar Pod, Progress #9, Sugar Snap
• Radish-direct sow late September to mid-October
  varieties: White BeautyRadish, Cherry Belle, China Rose, French Breakfast, White Icicle, German Giant, Pink Beauty, Sparkler, Easter Egg Mix
• Turnip-direct sow in late August to early September
  varieties: Purple Top, Seven Top, Golden Globe
• Kohlrabi-direct sow in early September
  varieties: Purple Vienna
• Rutabaga-direct sow in July

For more detailed information on the planting dates, the various plant varieties, and growing conditions for each plant, click on the Peaceful Valley Fall Planting Guide Calculator. Also, if you don’t live in Orange County, you can find the planting guide that is suitable for your area by entering the anticipated first-frost date for your location.

Graphic courtesy Peaceful Valley