What Are Cole Crops?

Cole crops are members of the Brassica family and include many of the vegetables that become sweeter after cool autumn temperatures arrive.

Popular fall favorites include:

• Broccoli

• Cabbage

• Cauliflower

• Brussels sprouts

• Kale

• Collards

• Kohlrabi

• Mustard greens

These vegetables thrive during Michigan's cooler weather and often develop better flavor than crops grown during the heat of summer. Cool temperatures encourage the plants to convert starches into sugars, creating sweeter, more flavorful harvests.

When Should You Plant Fall Vegetables in Southwest Michigan?

Gardeners in USDA Zone 6 (including much of Kalamazoo County and Van Buren County) typically begin planting fall vegetables from late July through August.

Because every vegetable matures at a different rate, check the "Days to Maturity" listed on the seed packet or plant tag. Count backward from our average first frost date (around mid-October) to determine your ideal planting window.

*This is guideline. Check your specific seed packet or plant tag for a more exact planting time.

Feed Cole Crops for Bigger Harvests

By midsummer, your soil has worked hard producing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash. Cole crops are considered "heavy feeders." They appreciate nutrient-rich soil and steady fertility throughout the growing season.

Adding high-quality compost helps:

• Improve soil structure

• Increase water retention

• Feed beneficial microbes

• Encourage strong root development

  
  

Instead of relying on synthetic fertilizers, we recommend enriching your garden beds with quality amendments that feed plants naturally while improving the soil. At Westside Garden Center, we proudly carry and highly recommend Dairy Doo® composts and soil amendments, made locally right here in Michigan. For gardens with compacted or sandy soils common throughout our Southwest Michigan region, mixing in compost before planting can make a dramatic difference in fall harvests!

Companion Crops for Your Fall Garden

Your fall garden doesn't have to stop with cole crops.

Many cool-season vegetables perform beautifully alongside broccoli and cabbage, including:

• Lettuce

• Spinach

• Swiss chard

• Carrots

• Beets

• Radishes

• Turnips

• Green onions

These vegetables mature quickly and provide fresh salads and side dishes well into autumn.

There's still plenty of growing season left. Stop in today and let us help you grow a productive fall vegetable garden that you'll be harvesting long after summer comes to an end!

IMAGE CREDITS:

• COVER: Image by Anonymous from Pixabay 

• Fall cole crop infographic: Created with DALL·E by OpenAI

• Basket of vegetables: Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay