You may be in full summer-harvest mode, picking zucchini, tomatoes, and basil every night. Or maybe you got sidetracked this spring and your plans to get the vegetable garden going just never went according to plan. Well, here's some good news: Just because fall is on its way doesn't mean it's time to pack away your gardening gloves.
While the crisp fall weather may make it trickier to grow crops, there are still many vegetables that you can plant. Fall crops typically need a little extra time to mature because they receive less daylight as the season winds down. In most temperate growing zones, fall-planted crops will be ready to harvest in September and October. In very mild climates like the Pacific Northwest, many of these crops can survive through the winter, providing much needed garden love in the gloomiest months of the year. Fortunately, a successful fall garden hinges on only a few simple rules:
1. Get started early.
By the time many people start thinking about fall crops, it’s already too late. To ensure a successful fall and winter harvest, you need to start many of your late-season crops in the peak of summer. In most regions, this means planting in the heat of August to give your crops time to size up while growing conditions are still good. Some fast growing fall crops like lettuce and radishes can be planted into late September, but many desirable fall crops like broccoli and carrots need several months of prime-growing conditions to mature before frost and low light levels set in. When in doubt, plant your fall crops a little early.
2. Know how long it takes fall crops to grow.
Each crop has a relatively predictable lifespan, meaning that you can anticipate approximately how long it will take to reach harvestable size. The lifespan of the crop is usually defined by the phrase "days to maturity" which will be listed on the seed package or plant tag. Days to maturity will vary a bit by environmental conditions, but these numbers should be fairly accurate. As a general rule, you should plan your planting so that the crops have time to reach maturity before the first frost. (Find your local frost date here.)
3. Harvest summer crops ASAP.
Get out there and harvest your spring and summer crops. Planning a successful fall garden hinges on the proper management of spring and summer plantings. In most gardens, where space is limited, it is imperative that early-season crops are harvested and removed from the garden in a timely fashion. This clearing makes room for the new fall plantings. Crops that may be finishing up in your garden midsummer include:
You might also still have some spring salad greens that are exhausted and ready to come out.
When choosing which fall crops to add to your garden, start by making an inventory of currently harvestable crops. This will allow you to determine how much space you will have available and prioritize the fall plantings you care about most.
4. Know that crops last longer in fall.
Fall and winter gardening turns your vegetable plot into a giant refrigerator. During the fall season, cool weather allows crops to hold longer in the garden once mature. Crops like broccoli, cabbage, and kale can live for months in the garden after they reach maturity. Even fast-growing crops like spinach, cilantro, and lettuce will hold their quality for much longer when planted for fall harvest. If you plan properly, you may be able to harvest from the garden all through the cold season and into the early spring.
Now that you are primed to select crops that still have time to mature in your region and have opened up space in the garden for new crops, it’s time to decide which fall crops you'll be planting this year.
The Best Vegetables to Plant in a Fall Garden
Beets
You can plant beet seeds about eight to 10 weeks before the first expected frost, and harvest them in time for the holidays. The main difference: Beets harvested in fall have stronger colors than spring-planted beets. Since they aren't fond of crowds, plant seeds about 1 inch deep and 3 to 4 inches apart, or sow them closer together and use the thinnings later for salad fixings.
Carrots
Direct-sow carrots into the garden in rows spaced 6 to 8 inches apart. If your garden has drip irrigation, sow the seeds along the drip lines. Carrot seed is very small and can be hard to sow precisely, so aim for five to eight seeds per inch.
Onions
Depending on where you live, plant onion sets two to four weeks before the average last-frost date. Place the sets in a shallow furrow, space four to six inches apart, and cover with just enough soil to leave their pointed tips at the soil surface.
Broccoli
Transplant broccoli into the garden, spacing plants 12 to 18 inches apart. Broccoli loves nitrogen, so an additional application of a nitrogen source like blood meal or alfalfa meal will help it thrive.
Salad Greens
Obviously salad greens are a category, but most kinds can thrive during fall growing conditions. Greens need a relatively short amount of time to mature, so you can plant them through August and into September.
Asparagus
Once the temperatures cool down, dig trenches 12 inches wide and 6 inches deep in your garden beds. Soak the asparagus crowns before planting them in the trenches nearly feet apart and then top them with 2 to 3 inches of soil. Winterize these greens to ensure that you'll have a fresh crop come springtime.
Garlic
In mid-fall, plant garlic cloves four to six inches apart. Push each clove at least one inch into the ground before covering with soil and six inches of mulch for winter protection. While you may be lucky enough to see some garlic sprout before winter, you're more likely to get a fresh crop in spring.
Scallions
Scallions can be directly sown or transplanted into your August garden. If sowing seeds directly, sow four seeds per inch in rows 6 to 8 inches apart. Their tiny "bulbs" come in both white and deep purple and, like purple onions, purple scallions hold their color when cooked.
Hilary Dahl is a co-owner of the Seattle Urban Farm Company, where she helps beginning and experienced growers create beautiful and productive gardens.
