You might also want to consider planting rutabagas, but if so, katy_bug, you'd better do so pronto. I planted mine a couple of weeks ago--they need about 3 months till frost hits. Lamb's lettuce (aka corn salad or mache) is another good choice, and you can start that some time in September for a spring harvest. And if you like herbs, garlic is best planted in fall (probably October). Cilantro, parsley, chervil, dill, borage, etc., also like cold weather. Those could easily be started in September.

Hope this helps a little. :)

Oh, one more thing--I wouldn't plant broccoli or spinach from seed. It's best to start from plants.

Thanks for the suggestion. You are correct, it's too late for broccoli. I have never grown, or even eaten rutabagas. That is something I should check out.

You're welcome. I also wanted to mention that arugula, in case you've never grown it before, is a good choice. It's usually pretty easy. You can start it probably in late September.

Rutabagas aren't for everybody. They're actually sharper and more bitter than turnips. The best way to cook them is to chop them up and saute them in butter (or roast them) to bring out their sweetness.

Best wishes on your garden. :)

Oh, I also wanted to mention that if you live in Athens, you're now in Zone 8A! Congratulations!!

How do I know? Well, I'm 45 miles northeast of you, and we used to be in Zone 7B, but now we're in Zone 8A. So I guess we all got a promotion, huh? :)

I had no idea that we had been promoted a zone. Global warming in action

Here is what I have decided about what to plant where.

These will be planted in the area that can be covered with the cold frame for possible overwintering:
carrots, VIT, Minuta, Claytonia, arugala, radish, crunchy royale, spinach

These will be planted outside the coldframe for either early harvest or maybe they will survive:
beets, kale, lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, turnip, super sugar snap peas

Thoughts?

I haven't grown a lot of those, but it all definitely sounds like an ambitious selection. Radishes mature in about a month, so unless you want to continually plant them every month, it might be best to leave them out with the others for an early harvest. Arugula is pretty cold-tolerant as well. I've had mixed luck with turnips, but the cold doesn't really seem to harm them. I think I'm going to start mine in early September this year. They're supposed to mature in about 7 weeks, but mine always seem to take longer. Even if the roots don't get to proper size, at least you should have some nice greens. :)

Katy, do you plan only to cover if it frosts? I covered only once or twice all last year because of the warm winter. Unless it's really below freezing or we have an ice storm, I don't bother covering carrots, radish, vit, arrugula or spinach. They love a touch of the cold!
Good luck! I'm about ready to start my broccoli seeds.

Hi GGG,
I don't have any real plan yet for covering vegetables. I am interested in harvesting through the winter . . . . but i have no experience yet with winter gardening so we shall see. At the least, I want to separate the things that will more than likely need protection from those that won't so covering them will be easier. What are you planting in your garden this fall / winter?

Katy bug, here's a link to my blog. I just made a long list of things I normally plant in my garden

Here is a link that might be useful: The Electric Garden