From arugula to swiss chard: Plot fall garden by checking out Leon County Seed Library

Molly Jameson
·2 min read
Many varieties of Swiss chard are highly ornamental.
Many varieties of Swiss chard are highly ornamental.

To kick off the Fall 2022 Season of the Leon County Seed Library Program, UF/IFAS Extension Leon County will be at the LeRoy Collins Leon County Main Library (200 W. Park Ave.) Program Room on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Participants can learn information on raised bed gardening and get their hands dirty at the vegetable seeding station. There will also be an Ask-a-Master-Gardener booth and a healthy cooking demonstration.

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Although we are still in the full swing of summer’s heat, gardeners know it is time to start thinking about planning the fall garden. As fall approaches, it is time to pull those pesky summer weeds, add fresh compost to the soil, and gather seeds to soon be planted in the garden.

And luckily, the Leon County Seed Library Program can help you jump-start your garden, as it includes vegetable seed varieties that do well in our area in the fall.

Starting Aug. 13, you can go to any of the seven Leon County libraries to check-out three sample vegetable seed packets per month per library card!

Learn about seeding and square foot gardening at the Fall 2022 Leon County Seed Library Kickoff on Aug. 13, 2022.
Learn about seeding and square foot gardening at the Fall 2022 Leon County Seed Library Kickoff on Aug. 13, 2022.

The Leon County Master Gardener Volunteers have been busy labeling and packing each of the seed varieties that will be distributed to the seven libraries.

There will be 10 vegetables varieties this season, including a few varieties that have never been featured in the program.

If you like to save seeds from your garden, know that all varieties in the Seed Library Program are open-pollinated (by insects, birds, wind), which means if they are not crossed with another variety, the seeds they produce will grow true to form.

The Fall 2022 selection includes:

  • Common Arugula: Deep green with a spicy, peppery, mustard-like flavor

  • Cylindra Beets: Heirloom with long cylindrical roots, good for slicing

  • De Cicco Broccoli: Central light green head and side shoots to extend season

  • Scarlet Nantes Carrots: Sweet, crisp, bright red-orange, seven-inch roots

  • Vates Collards: Slow bolting, large blue-green leaves

  • Lacinato (Dinosaur) Kale: Cold tolerant, sweet dark green narrow leaves

  • New Red Fire Lettuce: Crisp and flavorful, green base with red ruffled leaf edges, bolt resistant

  • Peione Parsley: Large flat leaves with sweet flavor

  • French Breakfast Radishes: Mild, spicy flavor with a red top and white bottom

  • Bright Lights Swiss Chard: Rainbow stems, burgundy and green leaves, very mild

See you at the Leon County Main Library this Saturday, Aug. 13!

Molly Jameson is the Sustainable Agriculture and Community Food Systems Extension Agent with UF/IFAS Extension Leon County, an Equal Opportunity Institution. For gardening questions, email the extension office at AskAMasterGardener@ifas.ufl.edu.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Plot your fall garden with packets at the Leon County Seed Library