How to Plant a Fall Garden

How to Plant a Fall Garden

You may be in full summer-harvest mode or maybe you got distracted this season 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. 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. Follow along with the tips below to get the most out of the coming months.

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.

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. This will vary a bit by environmental conditions, but these numbers should be fairly accurate. Use this rule to plan so that the crops have time to reach maturity before the first frost.

Harvest summer crops ASAP

Planning a successful fall garden depends on the proper management of spring and summer plantings. In most gardens, where space is limited, it’s imperative that early-season crops are harvested and removed from the garden in a timely fashion.

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.

Crops last longer in fall

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 than your summer produce. If you plan properly, you may be able to harvest from the garden all through the cold season and into the early spring.

The best vegetables to plant in a fall garden
  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Onions
  • Broccoli
  • Salad greens
  • Asparagus
  • Garlic
  • Scallions

Tips adapted from goodhousekeeping.com

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