Gardening isn’t exclusive to spring or summer. The cool temperature of fall is perfectly suited for many of the same cool-season crops that are planted in early spring and harvested just as summer arrives.

That being said, many gardeners may find it tricky trying to sustain a garden in the fall. Frost, poor soil health and more limited daylight can all spell doom for a budding fall garden.

Tips for planting a fall garden

If you’re one of those gardeners thinking about planting in the fall, then these tips are for you.

Plant ahead of fall

It isn’t uncommon for gardeners to start their fall garden a little too late. Ideally, you should aim to start yours by later summer, just before fall sets in. Doing so gives you ample time to avoid the first hard frost that can kill your crops before harvest time.

Even cold-hardy crops like broccoli and carrots need several months to mature. Planting these crops a little too late guarantees they mature just as the frost creeps in. To avoid this mishap, plant your seeds ahead of fall. It also pays to look up the frost date/s in your area and count back the time it takes for your veggies to mature.

Plan your planting

Planting seeds early is essential, but it’ll be useless if you don’t keep track of your crops’ maturation period. This should be listed on the seed package or plant tag. While environmental factors will affect a crop’s maturation period, the number on the package or tag should be accurate and reliable enough to get by.

Clear the garden

Don’t rush to plant your seeds or seedlings if your planting space has already been used for spring and summer crops. It is important to clear the garden first to ensure good plant growth.

Take the time to pull out old plants, dig out dead bulbs, remove weed and till the soil to revitalize it before your fall planting takes place. This is also the perfect time to prep the soil with compost or organic fertilizer, especially if your fall garden is your first garden for the year.

Crops last longer in the fall – plan accordingly

Hardy crops last longer in the fall, even after they matured! That’s because the colder temperatures practically turn your garden beds into a large refrigerator, perfect for keeping your crops incubated.

For example, frost-tolerant cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and kale may stay fresh and crisp for months in the garden even after their harvest season has gone past. Leafy greens like spinach and lettuce may also last for much longer in a fall garden provided you had planned adequately beforehand.

Crops to “fall” in love with

Not all crops can withstand the tough soil conditions and colder temperatures that mark fall. You’ll want to opt for crops that are suited to fall growing conditions to ensure a good harvest just before winter sets in, or during the first few weeks of spring. Here are 12 of the best fall crops to choose from:

1. Beans – Beans are fast-growing vegetables that can produce abundant harvests throughout the season up until the first frost. Just sow them outdoors in the soil and add a trellis if growing pole beans.
2. Beets – The frost-tolerant nature of beets makes them an ideal choice for a fall garden. Sow the seeds outdoors in late summer under tall crops like tomatoes, peppers or beans to give them shade.
3. Radish – Radish is another fast-growing plant that can be sown under taller summer crops for a bit of shade from direct sunlight.
4. Broccoli – The tough head of broccoli can withstand moist soil and cooler weather. Sow broccoli in late summer for a fall harvest or during fall for a spring harvest. Broccoli can survive a light frost, but its growing buds need to be covered for protection in the event of a hard or killing frost in winter.
5. Brussels sprout – Brussels sprout loves cool weather and can take a little frost. In warmer climates, Brussels sprout is best sown indoors and then transplanted outside once the temperature drops.
6. Turnip – Turnips are frost-tolerant root crops that will continue to grow upon thawing out in between freezes. Sow turnips outdoors in late summer and harvest once the heads pop up from the soil.
7. Collard greens – Collard greens are suited to the cool and crisp temperatures of spring and fall.
8. Green onion – Green onions will survive the winter and are edible before their flowering period in the spring. You can harvest them through late fall and winter.
9. Lettuce – This fast-growing salad green is well-suited to cool weather. Plant it in late summer for a nice fall salad best paired with a heartwarming pumpkin soup.
10. Peas – Peas have no trouble thriving in cool weather. Provide a trellis and watch them mature in two months’ time.
11. Kale – Kale grows well in cool temperatures and stops producing its best flavors once the heat sets in.
12. Parsnip – Parsnip makes its first appearance in the fall. It also turns sweeter the more it is exposed to cold weather, so fall is the best time to relish this root crop.

Fall is the perfect time to plant bulbs and perennials before the ground freezes up. Just follow the tips above to get off to a strong start. You’ll be looking forward to a bountiful fall harvest in no time.

Sources:

GoodHousekeeping.com

HGTV.com