Six vegetables you can plant in late summer for a bountiful fall harvest.
Fall gardens are an overlooked opportunity to extend your growing season. With proper planning, they can also be used to grow almost any vegetable. Although, there are some crops that do especially well when grown in autumn.
What are fall garden vegetables?
Fall garden vegetables are like the crops for early spring. The main differences are the planting times and varieties. For example, in spring or summer you can grow yellow crookneck squash. In fall and winter it is better to plant a winter squash or cold-hardy variety, like butternut squash.
Some plants taste different when grown in fall. For example, kale grown in fall has a less bitter taste, making it a popular option.
Cabbage
Purple cabbage is my favorite to grow in fall since it is hard to find in stores and has a lovely color. Plus, my husband loves the flavor.
The main drawback with cabbage is its time to maturity. It needs to be planted about eight weeks (56 days) before the first frost. Although some varieties mature faster.
Cabbage grown in the cool season has a sweeter flavor to it. There also tend to be less cabbage worms and other insects due to the less favorable conditions.
Pak choi is also perfect for fall gardens because it matures quickly. Mini pak choi can be ready for harvest in as few as 25 days, but full varieties take longer. If you forgot to plan and make enough time to grow cabbage, they are a good alternative.
Pole or bush green beans
Beans are one of my favorite fall garden crops. They are easy to grow and are nitrogen fixing, which will help your garden thrive in the spring.
Plant most varieties 75 days before a fall frost. They tend to grow a bit slower in the fall, so be patient. If possible, succession plant them to maximize your harvest.
Even if it is too late to grow beans, it can be beneficial to plant them or another legume as a ground cover. They help the soil keep its nutrients and make nitrogen more available. So it can be beneficial to plant them, even if it is too late.
Leeks
Leeks are an unusual but wonderful crop for your fall garden. Most are frost tolerant around 75 days of growing.
If directly sowing leeks, be careful when you water them. Young leek plants are tall and thin, so they do not hold up well to excessive watering or wind. I have success starting mine indoors then moving them outside.
I enjoy growing leeks because they are expensive and hard to find in stores. They are great for fall gardens because they taste delicious in soup.
Kale
Kale does great when grown in Autumn because the cool temperatures give it a mellow flavor. Some varieties are "hardened off" and frost tolerant around 50 days.
Small varieties, like dwarf blue curled, are easier to protect if there is a cold snap. It is handy to have a small or portable greenhouse, but a sheet or other protection can also do well in a pinch.
Pro Tip: kale has small seeds, so put them on a piece of paper to count them out. The seeds stand out against the paper, making them easier to see.
Turnips and other root crops
Turnips and other root crops do well in the fall and winter because the soil insulates them. However, the leaves are still susceptible to frost damage. So, plant them three weeks before the first frost.
If you aren't a bit turnip fan, you can grow other root crops in the fall. Carrots, beets and parsnips are other good options.
When to plant fall crops
To decide when to plant your fall crops, you need to know your first frost date and the plant's days to maturity. Then you can work backward to find the final planting date.
For example, my first frost date is around October 20. I know from the seed packet that my kale takes 55 days to reach maturity. So, the last day I could plant kale directly outdoors is August 26. Because I like to have some wiggle room I would probably plant them anywhere from August 1 to August 20.
If you aren't sure of your planting dates, use online resources like The Old Farmer's Almanac. You can also ask your local master gardeners or Extension agent.
No matter how you decide your fall planting dates, experience is a great teacher. Don't be afraid to try and fail.
Are you planting a fall garden? What varieties are you growing?
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