From LSU AgCenter County Agent Henry Harrison of Washington Parish
Winterize your lawn now to help toughen the grass for the winter. Use 60 percent potash at the rate of 2-3 pounds per 1,000 square feet. This fertilizer will not cause the grass to green up or grow, but it will give the grass a stiffer stem/straw to withstand cold temperatures. The grass will come back healthier for the spring.
Now, since our thoughts are on vegetables, there are many plants that can be grown for fall production. A short list of those crops includes beets, broccoli, cabbage, collards, English peas, garlic, mustard, shallots, turnips---just to name a few.
Green Shallots: Shallot sets can be planted any time in fall or winter. Replant several as you harvest by separating plants and re-transplanting. They’ll continue to divide and make several more plants. By doing this, you can have shallots through spring. The largest shallot bulbs for sets are made by transplanting in mid-November to December.
Greens: Keep the soil moist. Avoid planting greens too thick. A 3- to 4-inch spacing between plants is recommended. For weed control, Treflan can be incorporated before planting. Double drills may be planted on one row, allowing 10 to 12 inches between drills.
English Peas and Snow Peas: Plant English peas, snow peas and other peas with edible pods in September. The key to success is to plant early enough so they bloom before frost and late enough so they aren’t blooming when temperatures are too high. Plant peas about 1 to 2 inches apart in the row. About 2 to 4 ounces of seed will plant a 100-foot row. Then 70 to 80 days are required from planting until harvest. Staking or trellising peas, even the bush types, will help to increase the chance of success.