September marks the start of planting your fall vegetable garden.

Candidates you might want to consider include potatoes, green (bush) beans and fall squash, according to Fort Bend County Master Gardeners Steve Hicks and Lauren Martin, both of Richmond.

Planning is required before the planting begins, however. Questions to consider include who will work in the garden. what do people like to eat and how many people will eat what the garden produces. The garden needs to have well-drained soil and sun. Avoid building your garden near septic drains and trees and shrubs. Does it have access to water? Hicks and Martin recommend organic gardening. To help determine what your soil needs, a soil test is recommended. Visit https://soiltesting.tamu.edu/ for more information.

Both Hicks and Martin also recommend adding mulch to your garden. Mulch regulates soil temperature, helps retain moisture and retards bolting and weeds. They suggest visiting local nurseries for gardening needs from seeds and transplants to a good soil germination soil mix to use for starting seeds. Plant seeds in early September and transplants later in the month. Check the planting guide at https://fbmg.org/.../2019-Vegetable-Planting-dates-FBC.pdf.

Don't plant vegetables in the same place they grew last year. Martin and Hicks stressed crop rotation.

Specific vegetable plants discussed include:

· Beets: Ruby Queen and Early Wonder

· Broccoli: Packman, Rapini and Green Comet

· Brussel Sprouts: Jade Cross

· Cauliflower: Early Snowball and Snow Crown

· Cabbage: Ruby Ball and Wakefield

· Lettuce: Oak Leaf, Red Salad Bowl and Buttercrunch

· Spinach: Bloomsdale

· Swiss Chard: Bright Lights and Ruby Learn more at https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/.../fall-vegetable.../.