What Plants Ripen in Autumn
The refreshing autumn breeze not only signifies a season of colorful foliage but also a golden time for the harvest of all things. From the heavy crops to the tender and delicious vegetables, to the fragrant flowers, nature presents its unique gifts during this season. This article will guide you through a systematic understanding of the typical plant types that ripen in autumn and their growth characteristics.
Crops That Ripen in Autumn
Maize
As an important grain crop, spring maize is usually sown from March to April, and after 120-150 days of growth, it enters the maturation period in mid-to-late September. In the northern corn belt and the southern hilly areas, golden corn fields can be seen at this time, with mature corn husks drying and turning yellow, and the grains showing a unique waxy luster.
Soybean
The maturation period of soybeans is concentrated from July to September, with the best harvest time being when the pods turn brown and the moisture content drops to 15%. The major soybean producing areas in the northeast often carry out mechanized harvesting around the time of the autumnal equinox. Harvesting too early leads to too many green grains, while harvesting too late causes the pods to split and results in losses.
Peanut
Peanuts planted in April enter the peak of maturity in September after five months of growth. When the lower leaves of the plant start to fall off and more than 70% of the pods have clear net patterns, it is the best time for harvest. Main producing areas like Shandong and Henan often use special harvesting machines for digging.
Autumn Seasonal Vegetables
Radish
Autumn radishes are usually sown after the start of autumn and reach the harvest standard after 80-100 days of growth, when the diameter of the root reaches 5-8 centimeters. Radishes harvested around the time of frost in the North China region are the sweetest, among which Tianjin's Shawo radish and Weifang radish are well-known varieties.
Broccoli
This cruciferous vegetable grows best at an average daily temperature of 15-20°C. The broccoli flower heads that mature in autumn are compact and dark green in color. Produce from high-altitude areas like Yunnan and Gansu is concentrated in October and is rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber.
Ornamental Flowers in Autumn
Osmanthus
Osmanthus flowers bloom all over the south starting from the eighth lunar month, with varieties like golden osmanthus and silver osmanthus emitting a strong sweet fragrance. Famous places for appreciating osmanthus, such as Hangzhou's Manjuelong and Suzhou's Guangfu town, are filled with a unique honey scent, and the blooming period can last for 20-30 days.
Chinese Chrysanthemum
This cold-tolerant flower blooms from late summer until the first frost. The red and yellow petals form a strong visual contrast. It is widely planted in the Inner Mongolia grasslands and North China regions, serving as an excellent nectar source plant and an important material for autumn landscape design.
From the abundant harvest in the fields to the creation of garden landscapes, the plants that mature in autumn build a complete ecological picture. Crops meet people's material needs, vegetables provide dietary nutrition, and flowers decorate the beauty of autumn. The growth cycles of these plants perfectly match the seasonal changes, displaying the exquisite timing rules of nature.