You may wonder why should you start a fall garden. But why not? Maybe your summer garden was an epic failure or you just want to enjoy more produce from your garden.
Fall is a great season for vegetables because the growing season is short and the cool weather allows for the plant to form a nice root system. It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, you can start planning your fall vegetable garden.
Creating your very own fall vegetable garden is an excellent way to ensure that you’ll have fresh produce throughout the winter months. If you’ve never done it before, it can be intimidating at first. There are so many types of vegetables to choose from, and where should you even begin?
But once you get started, you’ll find that growing your own vegetables is easier than you think. In fact, it’s not hard at all.
Pros of Stating A Fall Vegetable Garden
There are many reasons you should start growing fall vegetables. Many of the vegetables that are listed below do better in cooler temperatures and when exposed to a light frost tastes better than compared to when planted in the spring. No one likes their veggies tough and bitter!
Secondly, fall gardening helps to lengthen your gardening season so you can continue to harvest produce after earlier crops have faded. A win-win for sure!
Starting a fall vegetable garden is easy and fun. You don’t need any special equipment or tools to get started either.
Con of Starting A Fall Vegetable Garden
There are few problems that you may face, such as difficulty in seed germination, extreme heat, and drought depending on where you live, for example Texas.
Difficulty in seed germination
Seedlings take longer to sprout up, and they also require much attention. This means that you must keep checking on them every day until they reach maturity. Also, some seeds do not tolerate high temperatures well, which makes it difficult to sow them outside.
Extreme Heat
Summer heat can affect your garden negatively by causing stress to the roots of your crops. As such, you might experience stunted growth.
When to Start A Fall Vegetable Garden
The best time to start your fall garden depends on where you live. To know what vegetable to plant and when you have to find out the average first frost date in your area.
Go here to find out that!
But why is this important? Because some vegetables can withstand frost and continue growing without protection, while others simply can’t.
After you find out the first frost date, count backward the days it will take for that vegetable to mature.
How To Grow Fall Veggies
Fall gardening requires patience and persistence. If you’ve never grown a vegetable garden before, then now would probably be a good time to learn how to properly care for your new plot. Here are some helpful hints:
Start with quality seedlings
Choose healthy transplants from reputable nurseries with no signs of disease or pest damage or simply grow your own. Working with transplants for your fall garden can be a lot more futile compared to planting seeds directly into the soil.
Planting seeds is still a great option for growing fall crops.
Water regularly
Watering your plants is important, especially during the hot summers where the soil can get dry and form a crust. This may hinder your seeds from germinating. So before you start planting, ensure the soil is moist.
It’s also recommended that you plant your seeds much deeper than you would for your spring vegetable garden to reduce the chances of the seed drying out. You can also add mulch over it to help retain moisture.
Fertilizer
Applying fertilizer to your vegetable garden encourages faster growth. It’s also essential to apply fertilizers according to the needs of each crop. For instance, if you’re planning to grow tomatoes, you’ll need nitrogen-rich composts, whereas broccoli prefers phosphorus-rich materials.
Keep weeds under control
Weeds compete with other vegetation for nutrients and water, so their presence hinders the proper development of your plants. They also spread diseases and pests. Therefore, a weed-free environment is necessary for successful vegetable gardens.
18 Favorite Fall Vegetable To Plant
Tender Vegetables (Damaged by light frost)
Beans
1. The estimated days to harvest beans are 50.
2. Beans require full sun exposure but do not tolerate heat well.
3. Bean varieties include pole types like snap bean, bush types such as lima bean, runner bean, sugar pod bean, shelling bean, and climbing types.
4. Grow from seeds in early summer through to late autumn.
5. Keep well watered throughout the season.
6. Pick beans when they’re firm and plump. Avoid picking too soon or they won’t develop flavor.
Cucumber
1. The estimated days to harvest cucumber are 60.
2. Cucumber grows best in cool weather. But will produce fruit even in warm temperatures.
3. Start seed indoors 4 weeks before you plan on transplanting them in the ground.
4. Use a trellis for support or if you have limited space.
Squash
1. The estimated days to harvest squash are 50.
2. Varieties differ based on size, shape, taste, and yield.
3. Like most root vegetables, squash requires ample amounts of water.
4. Harvest time depends on how big the fruits become.
5. Seeds are sown directly into the ground.
Tomato
1. The estimated days to harvest tomatoes are 70.
2. Tomatoes require lots of sunshine and heat to ripen properly.
3. Tomato plants do not survive frosty nights. If this happens, cover young plants with plastic wrap until morning.
4. Tomatoes prefer warmer climates. However, some varieties can withstand cooler areas.
5. You are going to need a trellis, stake, or cage for support.
6. Choose varieties suited to your climate.
Semi Hardy Vegetable (tolerate light frost)
Beets
1. The estimated days to harvest beets are 60.
2. Beets thrive in cool weather.
3. Beets are grown for both the top and root.
4. Water regularly as needed.
Carrots
1. The estimated days to harvest carrots are 60.
2. Carrot grows well in raised garden beds.
3. Plant in a location where it gets full sun.
4. Carrot does best in soil that’s loose and well-drained.
Cauliflower
1. The estimated days to harvest cauliflower are 50.
2. You can start cauliflower either by direct seeding or transplants.
3. Do not grow cauliflower where you have grown related crops such cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprout, collards, cauliflower, etc. in the past four years.
Lettuce
1. The estimate days to harvest lettuce is 50.
2 Lettuces need plenty of sunlight and good drainage.
3. Lettuce likes fertile soils which contain organic matter.
4. Can be grown in containers.
5. Plant lettuce in raised beds to avoid soil-borne diseases, such as clubroot, and to improve drainage of excess water.
Swiss chard
1. The estimated days to harvest swiss chard is 60.
2. Swiss chard is a cool-season crop.
3. Keep the garden bed moist and harvest when the leaves are about six inches tall.
4. This plant grow best in a well-drained soil.
Potato
1. The estimated days to harvest potato is 90.
2. Potato plants require 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day.
3. Buy certified disease-free potato tubers in early summer and plant them immediately.
4. Prefers loose fertile soil.
Hardy vegetable (tolerate hard frost)
Broccoli
1. The estimated days to harvest broccoli is 60.
2. Broccoli prefers cool weather but will tolerate hot weather.
3. It’s important to keep your broccoli free from weeds so they don’t compete with each other.
4. Broccoli is an easy-growing vegetable that many gardeners love.
Collards
1. The estimate days to harvest collards are 80.
2. They enjoy rich soil and full sun.
3. Collards have thick stems and large leaves.
4. Collards are very nutritious and high in vitamin K.
5. Collards are often called Southern Greens because they are common throughout the South.
6. Harvest when leaves are about 3 inches long.
Kale
1. The estimated days to harvest kale is 60.
2. Kale is a cool weather crop that can be grown in cooler climates.
3. Kale is easy to grow and requires little maintenance.
Mustard greens
1. The estimated days to harvest mustard greens is 60.
2. Grow them in a sunny spot with good drainage.
3. Water regularly but not too much.
4. They are easy to grow.
5. Harvest mustard greens when while they are young and tender.
Spinach
1. The estimated days to harvest spinach is 60.
2. Plant in full sun.
3. Water regularly.
4. Harvest when leaves are large and bright green.
Turnip
1. The estimated days to harvest turnip are 60.
2. Turnips grow well in cool weather.
3. They need lots of sun.
Radishes
1. The estimated days to harvest radishes are 30
2. Plant them in full sun with good soil.
3. Radish seeds germinate quickly.
4. They are easy to grow
Brussels sprout
1. The estimated days to harvest is 100.
2. Thrives in full sun and moist soil.
3. Harvest when sprouts are 1-2 inches in diameter.