Those of us who have a vegetable garden are finding that many vegetables have reached the end of their growing period. Tomato and bean plants are pretty much finished and have to be picked whether we like it or not. So, what can we plant now in Surrey, BC, which is approximately a USDA horticultural zone 8b? Plenty. Here are our tips for what to plant right now.

Perennials

Now is a good time to plant perennials. There are not a lot of perennial vegetables, but there are a few. Planting in the fall allows them time to establish a good root system before next summer.

Asparagus crowns can be planted now. They will need at least two years before you can harvest the vegetable. Rhubarb can be planted now. While we think of rhubarb as a fruit, technically, it is a vegetable. Blueberry and raspberry bushes can go in now, also.

Winter vegetables

You can plant several kinds of leafy vegetables like lettuce and kale which do not mind cool weather. If necessary you can always cover them with plastic when it gets colder. You can also plant root vegetables like beets and carrots. Some you can harvest this year, and some can even overwinter.

Amend Your Beds

Before planting anything new, you may want to take advantage of the relatively mild weather to top up your beds before planting anything else. Most beds need some attention before you seed in the spring, and this chore will not be a lot of fun in the snow. And don’t forget to rotate your planting, and plant something different in the space you used this past summer. Crop rotation is one of the easiest things you can do to prevent problems.

Now would be a good time to add some fresh high-quality dirt and fertilize before doing anything else. We have everything you need at our Surrey store on King George Boulevard.

Art Knapp has 15 locations across British Columbia and is well known as the go-to garden centre for everything garden-related. Art Knapp, himself, began the business in the 1940's, and now, 80 years later, you can find more than he ever dreamed of in our stores. Come and see us on King George Boulevard in Surrey.

If you have any questions about this article or want to talk to us about gardening, just give us a call at (604) 596-9201.