How to Plant a Fall Garden

How to Plant a Fall Garden

Introduction

There’s something invigorating about getting your hands dirty in the garden. It’s become a part of my (almost) daily routine, and the kids love helping too. Not only does it help reduce stress and improve the immune system, but I get tasty, healthy veggies too. Gardening doesn’t have to be relegated to summer crops though. Here’s how to extend your growing season with fall gardening!

Benefits of a Fall Vegetable Garden

Our family tries to eat seasonally as much as possible. This means cold slices of watermelon in the summer heat and pumpkin pie in October. There are some plants that grow well (or even better) in cooler weather. For example, spinach grows great in the early spring and fall. Once summer hits though, it can bolt and become practically inedible.

Fall gardening certainly has its benefits. In the summer, I try to tend my vegetable garden in the early morning to avoid the heat. Fall crops grown in cooler temperatures don’t have that problem. They also experience fewer pests and weeds than summer season vegetables. Not only do certain plants grow better in cooler weather, but they taste better too.

List of Plants to Grow in a Fall Garden

If you want to start a fall garden, the first step is to decide what you want to (and can) grow. You’ll want to pick plants that have a shorter growing season or are specifically listed as fall vegetables. The best vegetables are frost-tolerant and stand up to colder weather. Certain plants, like spinach, do well with a fall planting and can overwinter.

Here are some plants that do well in a fall garden:

• Beets
• Radishes
• Brussels sprouts
• Collards
• Swiss chard (protect from frost)
• Kale
• Turnips
• Arugula
• Spinach
• Bush beans (will need grown before or protected from frost)
• Mustard greens
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Broccoli
• Kohlrabi
• Asian greens
• Peas

Herbs and Flowers for a Fall Garden

Herbs not only make for tasty dishes, but they’re also good companion plants for your veggies. You’ll find basil nestled in between my tomato plants and nasturtiums bordering my squash. Some herbs and flowers have a short growing season, but some will last in cool weather.

Here are some herbs that grow well in a fall garden:

• Parsley
• Chervil
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Chives
• Thyme
• Mint
• Lavender
• Cilantro
• Marjoram

Flowers:

• Nasturtium
• Calendula
• Marigold
• Joe Pye Weed (good for pollinators)
• Black Cohosh
• New England Aster

When to Start Seeds for a Fall Garden

When you start seeds and your planting dates depend on your USDA hardiness zone and first frost dates. You can look up your frost dates here. You’ll also want to add an extra 2 weeks to the grow time since plants mature slower in cooler weather. For example, if your seed package says the plant is ready for harvest in 60 days, expect it to take closer to 74.

Some seeds can be started indoors and then transplanted. Examples include bush beans and lettuce. Others can be sown directly in the ground (like root veggies). By starting the plants indoors you can have the summer veggies in the ground while you get a head start on the fall ones. Transplants should go into the ground in late summer or early fall for a fall harvest.

Rotate Crops for Healthier Plants

It’s also a good idea to rotate your plant families so you’re not planting the same thing in the same soil plot year after year. This depletes nutrients in the soil and causes poor plant growth. Here’s more on why. If you planted tomatoes in a certain garden bed for the summer (a nightshade), you could grow bush beans (legumes) there for the fall.

Grow for Even Longer

There are ways to extend your growing season even longer (especially if you live in an area with short summers). Cold frames and row covers can insulate plants from cold weather or a light frost. And if you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, these work even better to extend harvest well into winter.

How to Plant a Fall Garden

After you’ve determined your area’s frost dates and what you want to grow, it’s time to plant!

1. Get your garden beds ready. Add organic matter and compost as needed for healthier garden soil.
2. Start any seeds indoors that will need to be transplanted. You may be able to find start plants at your local garden store, but many only sell them early in the growing season.
3. Consider using row covers and/or cold frames for your plants for when colder weather hits.
4. Once your plants are in the ground, cover the soil with mulch and water/weed regularly.
5. Enjoy the delicious fruits of your labor!

Fall Gardening Tips

• Raised beds stay warmer than planting directly into the ground and can further extend your growing season. It’s also easy to attach row covers or a transparent cover to the top of the bed to make a cold frame.
• Mulch around plants to cut down on weeds. The mulch breaks down and feeds the soil and helps it retain moisture. Mulch also helps moderate soil heat.

Conclusion

Since I live in a warmer area, I can grow plants practically year-round now. Once the summer crops are winding down for the season, they’re replaced with frost-hardy ones. Even if you don’t live in the south like me, there are plenty of ways to extend your gardening season!

FAQs

Q: What are some good plants to grow in a fall garden?
A: Some good plants to grow in a fall garden include beets, radishes, Brussels sprouts, collards, Swiss chard, kale, turnips, arugula, spinach, bush beans, mustard greens, lettuce, carrots, parsnips, broccoli, kohlrabi, Asian greens, and peas.

Q: What are some good herbs to grow in a fall garden?
A: Some good herbs to grow in a fall garden include parsley, chervil, rosemary, sage, chives, thyme, mint, lavender, cilantro, and marjoram.

Q: How do I start a fall garden?
A: To start a fall garden, first determine your area’s frost dates and what you want to grow. Then, get your garden beds ready, start any seeds indoors that will need to be transplanted, consider using row covers and/or cold frames, and plant your crops. Finally, cover the soil with mulch and water/weed regularly.

Q: How do I extend my growing season?
A: There are several ways to extend your growing season, including using cold frames and row covers, starting seeds indoors, and planting frost-hardy crops. You can also use a greenhouse to extend your growing season.