How to plant a fall garden

There is something so invigorating about it my hands are dirty In the garden. It's become part of my (almost) daily routine and the kids love helping out too. Not only does it help reduce stress and improve the immune system, but I also get delicious and healthy vegetables. However, gardening should not be reduced to summer crops. Here's how to extend your growing season with fall gardening!

Growing summer crops

When you think of a vegetable garden, you likely envision watering zucchini and cucumbers in the summer heat. Seeds start in late spring depending on your climate and what is growing. And then by fall, after the zucchini has turned into zucchini bread, it's time to let it go.

However, you don't have to wait until next year to grow more plants! Some vegetables and herbs will also grow in the cool fall and winter seasons.

The benefits of a fall vegetable garden

Our family tries eat seasonally as much as possible. That means cold watermelon slices in the heat of summer and pumpkin pie in October. There are some plants that grow just as well (or even better) in cooler weather. For example, spinach grows heavily in early spring and fall. However, as soon as summer comes, it can become blighted and practically inedible.

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

Vegetables like Brussels sprouts and kale produce more sugars after frost. The result is sweeter vegetables. Dandelions are another plant that is sweetest in the fall months, which is an ideal time to harvest them for dandelion root tea.

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 (and can) grow. You'll want to choose plants that have a shorter growing season or are specifically listed as fall vegetables. The best vegetables are frost tolerant and can withstand colder weather. certain plants, like spinachthey do well with a fall planting and can overwinter.

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

beet
radishes
Brussels sprouts
Collars
Swiss chard (frost protected)
horse
Turnips
Arugula
spinach
Bush beans (will need to be grown first 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 delicious dishes, they are also good companion plants for your vegetables. You'll find basil nestled between my tomato plants and nasturtiums bordering my pumpkins. Some herbs and flowers have a short growing season, but some will last in cool weather.

Another tip is to plant your garden with potted herbs so they can come inside for the colder months. Plants that are annuals in some climates can be grown as perennials with a little care. Many pollinators rely on these plants to give them the nutrients they need before winter migration or hibernation.

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

Parsley
Chervil
Rosemary
sage
chickpeas
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 to start seeds and planting dates depend on your USDA hardiness zone and first frost dates. You can claim yours frost dates here. You'll also want to add an extra 2 weeks to the growing time since plants mature more slowly in cooler weather. For example, if your seed packet says the plant is ready to harvest in 60 days, expect it to take closer to 74.

Some seeds can be started indoors and then transplanted. Examples include beans and lettuce. Others can be planted directly in the ground (like root vegetables). By starting plants indoors, you can have summer vegetables in the ground while starting fall ones. Transplants should be put into the ground in late summer or early fall for fall crops.

This is one really useful chart that tells you exactly when to plant different vegetables for your fall garden harvest.

Rotate crops for healthier plants

It is also a good idea to rotate your plant families so you are not planting the same thing in the same land year after year. This depletes nutrients in the soil and causes poor plant growth. Here is more than why. If you plant tomatoes in a designated garden bed for the summer (one night), you can grow beans (legumes) there for the fall.

Grow 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 light frosts. And if you're lucky enough to have a greenhouse, these work even better for extending crops well into winter.

Cold frames are an economical way to insulate plants and work as a mini greenhouse. They are great for smaller plants. For larger spaces, row covers may be a better option. Those with heavier fabric can raise the temperature up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.