Fall in the Garden

Shortly after the absolute explosion of summer vegetables, the garden begins to slow and the days get shorter and cooler. Yet, the growing luckily season still isn’t over! In order to yield more harvest though, you need to swap out those heat-loving veggies for ones that don’t need as much sun and maybe even will be a little frost hardy for those in Zone 6 and below. Those who can be hit by an unexpected frost at any time as the first frost date approaches, introducing fall garden vegetables. Some of these you will simply harvest in the fall, while others have very short days to maturity and can even be started in the fall months.

What Fall Garden Vegetables to Start Early

Pumpkins

Most pumpkin varieties take at least 100 days to reach maturity, and many take even longer. Because of this, pumpkins are going to be a fall garden vegetable that you will want to start well in advance of the fall season. As the fall season rolls in, monitor the pumpkin plants closely, providing adequate water, sunlight, and proper nutrition. With time, patience, and diligent care, your pumpkin vines will flourish, producing robust fruits that will be ready for harvest in the fall, just in time for the seasonal festivities and delicious pumpkin-based recipes.

Winter squash

Like butternut squash, acorn squash and spaghetti squash. Most of these winter squash varieties take 90 days or longer to reach maturity. Harvesting winter squash in the fall is a gratifying culmination of months of care and cultivation. As the season transitions, it is important to wait until the squash reaches maturity before harvesting. A key indicator is a hard rind that doesn’t puncture with a fingernail. Additionally, the stem connecting the squash to the vine should be dry and withered. Carefully cut the squash from the vine, leaving a small portion of the stem intact. Avoid any damage to the skin during harvest to ensure the best storage life. After harvesting, allow the squash to cure in a warm, dry area for a week or two to enhance flavor and increase storage longevity. With proper timing and attention to detail, you can enjoy the bountiful harvest of winter squash throughout the fall and into the winter months.

Brassicas: Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower

Harvesting brassicas in the fall rewards gardeners with a plentiful array of nutritious and flavorful vegetables. Brassicas thrive in cooler temperatures and can withstand light frost. When harvesting, look for firm heads or tight clusters of leaves. For cabbage and cauliflower, wait until the heads are fully formed and feel solid to the touch. Broccoli should be harvested before the florets begin to open. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to make clean cuts and minimize damage to the plant. By timing your harvest properly, you can savor the delicious and healthy flavors of brassicas throughout the fall season.

What Fall Garden Vegetables Can be Started in Fall

Carrots

Growing carrots in the fall can yield sweet and flavorful roots that are perfect for autumn recipes. Start by selecting carrot varieties suitable for cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours. Sow the seeds directly into well-prepared soil, ensuring they are planted at the appropriate depth. Provide consistent moisture and keep the soil weed-free. As the weather cools, carrots develop their best flavor. Harvest them when they reach the desired size, gently pulling them from the ground. Fall-grown carrots are a delightful addition to soups, stews, and roasted vegetable dishes.

Beets

Growing beets in the fall can result in a harvest of vibrant and tasty veggies that are perfect for all your autumn cooking adventures. Pick beet varieties that can handle the cooler temperatures like a champ. When the weather cools down, beets get extra sweet and delicious. Time to grab them when they’re just the size you want, giving them a gentle tug from the ground. Get ready to jazz up your salads, roasted veggie dishes, and even whip up some delicious pickled beets to preserve these nutrient-dense root veggies!

Radishes

Growing radishes in the fall is a quick and rewarding adventure. Choose radish varieties with shorter maturity times for a speedy harvest. Plant the seeds directly into well-prepared soil, ensuring they are sown at the right depth. With consistent watering, you’ll be crunching on fresh, peppery radishes in no time.

Lettuce, Spinach, Kale

Growing lettuce and spinach in the fall is a fantastic way to keep your salad bowl full of fresh greens. Choose lettuce and spinach varieties that are cold-tolerant for optimal growth. The cool temperatures help to keep these greens on the sweeter side, top them with some of the other root veggies listed or even some roasted winter squash and you can evolve your bright fresh summer salads into cozy satisfying autumn salads.

Bok choy

Growing bok choy in the fall is a flavorful and nutritious endeavor. Select bok choy varieties that thrive in cooler temperatures. These cabbage-like vegetables can grow quite quickly in the right conditions and are so tasty in stir-fries. Enjoy a bountiful harvest of tender and delicious bok choy in the fall season.

Fall Growing Tips

Mulch and protect your soil

In the fall your temperatures may swing fairly significantly from nighttime lows to daytime highs. This can cause some stress for your plants. One way to reduce this is by covering the soil in a layer of mulch to help better regulate the soil temperatures, even if the air temperature is changing a lot each day.

Extend your season with row covers

You can take this as far as creating mini cold frames over crops that you want to protect and really elongate the season for. Alternatively, you could also do something like throwing on a frost cloth. This provides much less protection for the plants but is likely an easier and less expensive way to get some additional length out of your growing season.

Prep for spring

Fall is an excellent time to begin thinking about next spring’s garden! You can amend your soil with compost or even pile the leaves from your yard on your garden beds. Another way to prep for the following garden season is by planting your garlic. If you intend to grow hard neck garlic, the garlic cloves need to be planted into the soil in the fall for harvest the following late spring/summer.

Conclusion

Fall can sometimes feel like the beginning of the end of the garden season. In many ways, it just may be but there is no shortage of food to grow and things to do this time of the year. From your fall favorites like pumpkins and butternut squash both for decorating and eating. To the fall salads and side dishes made from root vegetables and cold hardy greens like spinach and kale; the closing chapter of fall gardening can still bring more than enough joy and harvest to your heart and table.