fall planting in Connecticut

Can anyone tell me when to get broccoli started for the fall as I now realize I've missed spring planting of it? Also, winter squash would be nice too.

This is my first year growing broccoli, and I planted some in the spring for practice - I didn't expect success. Broccoli in general is happier in cool weather. What I have been told, is that for fall harvest, start seedlings in midsummer for transplanting into
the garden in late summer. To figure out exactly when, count backward from your average first
fall frost in your area, then add about 10 to the days to harvest from
transplants.
As far as I can tell, the "days to harvest" number on the package is from the time of transplant.
So, if my broccoli says 55 days (I'm guessing -the seed package is wayyyyy far away in the other room!), I would take as a guess my first frost date of Sept 19 (which is being very conservative), count back 10 days for the cooler weather, so now I am at Sept 9.

Then 55 days back from that - which means I want to put them out around July 14. (which seems weird, since we are just then going into the hottest part of the summer - ?)

So all of THAT means I want to start seedlings - oh,my, any time now??? So, after all that, I have also learned that my type of broccoli is a long-growing type - it takes about 110 days from seedling to harvest, so I really do need to start now.

The easier question is the winter squash - I think now is good. They take about 3 months to mature, and need to be harvested before frost.

Phew, all that counting and figuring has me worn out - and I ran out of fingers and toes a long time ago!

I'm not in New England, but I'm in a similar zone (5b). It seems it is, indeed, time to start the seedlings for your fall crop. Do you have the All New Square Foot Gardening book? Check the tables at the back of the book, and you'll find that broccoli should be started indoors at about 16 weeks before last frost, and transplanted outside at about 7 weeks before frost, with approximately 4 weeks after frost for harvest. (I'm guessing that the assumption is that the house is cooler than the outdoors - no A/C here though)

If it makes it easier for you (it does for me) take a pen in hand, go to the planting charts at the back of Mel's book, and write in your frost dates on all the pages (write small, up at the top of the chart where it shows how many weeks from frost)... then count off and fill in the dates for two weeks, four weeks after last frost, etc... do the same, counting back from your first frost. Do this at the top of all the pages of charts. You may end up with some dates that overlap both counts, or you may have a couple of weeks in between.

Where I am, the dates flow pretty much through the season ... July 24 is 10 weeks after last frost, and one week later (July 31) I'm at 10 weeks before first frost. I should be starting my seedlings at the end of this month for transplant outside in mid- to late-August.

Thanks for the info Martha and Wyldflower, I do have the sfg book but was confused with the charts in the back of the book. I have my frost dates marked and
understand now how to use the charts. Time to plant the broccoli and squash!

Even though I am not planning on broccoli this year the replies and ideas are a huge help! Thank you all. Now if I could figure out my leeks (already planted back in early April) and scallions....

I am glad I came upon this thread. I have been trying to figure out when to plant things and NOW NOW NOW seems to be the time. Also I am trying to find different things to plant besides the same old same old. Do you all have any ideas? I am pretty much game for anything that will grow well in the fall here in New England. Also I am trying to absorb as much info as I can, so trying something new would be nice.

here is a fall garden plan from the ladies at Little House in the Suburbs. Don't worry that it says 2009 - that's not important. You will need to know your frost dates and have a calendar nearby.

http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/01/free-printable-o-rama-herbs-fall-and.html

I love this! I printed it out, and marked my dates, and I still can do some fall broccoli and cauliflowers, which I scorched due to late planting in summer Yippee! Great post, thanks for sharing!

Let me just start by saying I can't directly quote my actual reaction lol but it was basically "this is awesome! Nancy rocks!" I just left out a word or two. I get very excited over things that I really enjoy. So when I run into something that makes it easier to enjoy I get VERY excited. I have run out of people to "share" my excitement with (they are sick of hearing about sfg ). Thank you so much for the link Nancy I REALLY appreciate it!

While checking out the fall planner I came across this handy tool for figuring out dates without to much trouble.

http://www.timeanddate.com/date/dateadd.html