The advice comes from Guy Kilpatric, who runs Terp Farm, a University of Maryland operation named after the school's terrapin mascot. NPR host Debbie Elliott visited the farm, walking through a recently harvested cornfield, to learn what home gardeners can still get into the ground this fall.
The segment ties into a broader conversation about food recalls and rising grocery costs this summer. More people are thinking about growing their own produce as a result. Elliott, who keeps a deck garden, wanted to know what fall planting still made sense.
For anyone with a small plot or even a few containers, the timing matters. Greens like Swiss chard can handle cooler weather, and garlic planted now sets up for a harvest next year. That gives budget-conscious gardeners a low-effort way to keep growing food past the traditional cutoff.
Turns out the fall garden clock hasn't run out, it just needs the right crop.