As summer winds down, I start getting excited about my fall vegetable garden. There’s something extra special about growing cool-season crops that thrive in the crisp autumn air before the cold weather hits.
Planning a fall garden might seem daunting, but it’s actually easier than you might think. Let me walk you through my process. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these simple steps will get you ready to make the most of your fall planting season.
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BENEFITS OF FALL GARDENING
Planting a garden now means enjoying a fall harvest, plus two other priceless benefits.
Cooler Temps
It’s such a relief to be able to work comfortably in the garden after making it through the heat of summer. Not only do I love being outside this time of year, some of my most favorite vegetables thrive in this cooler growing season.
Fewer Bugs
Cool weather means less pest pressure. I find that pests are not as prevalent in the fall, even compared to spring gardening. That means I can spend less time worrying about pests and more time enjoying my garden.
Extra Nutritious Plants
Everything you grow in your garden is really good for you, but fall plants are extra good for you. Kale, beets, carrots, spinach—these are some of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. They’re packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that boost your immune system, along with so many other benefits.
So as you’re taking care of your fall garden, think about how the plants you’re growing now are going to help take care of you during the winter cold and flu season.
WHEN TO PLANT YOUR FALL VEGETABLE GARDEN
Planting a fall vegetable garden is all about timing. You’ll want to start in late summer or early fall, roughly 6-8 weeks before the first frost date is expected in your area. This gives your cool-season veggies, like kale, spinach, and broccoli, a chance to thrive in the cooler weather they love.
Check the seed packets for the days to maturity to help know the planting dates you need to plan for in your growing area. You can do some seed starting indoors at least 8 weeks before planting or plant directly in the garden, depending on the crop.
BEST VEGETABLES FOR FALL PLANTING
Here are the leafy greens, herbs, root crops, and flowers I look forward to growing all year.
Cool Weather Veggies
- Artichokes
- Asian greens
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Collards
- Garlic
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Leeks
- Lettuce
- Mustard
- Onions
- Peas
- Radishes
- Swiss chard
- Turnips
Herbs & Flowers
- Borage
- Calendula
- Chamomile
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Dianthus
- Dill
- Fennel
- Marigolds
- Nasturtiums
- Parsley
- Petunias
- Poppies
- Snapdragons
If you’re new to fall gardening and want quick wins, several of these — like radishes, lettuce, spinach, arugula, and peas — can be ready to harvest in under 30 days. Check out our guide to 5 cool-weather veggies you can grow in under 30 days.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR FALL GARDEN
Follow these steps to come up with your fall garden plan.
1. DRAW OUT YOUR SPACE
Start off by figuring out just how much space you have available for fall plants. Use a piece of graph paper to draw out your raised beds, in-ground space, or container gardens to scale.
2. PICK YOUR FAVORITE FALL SEASON CROPS
Write down your favorite veggies, herbs, and flowers from the list above. I recommend growing 2-3 different herbs, root crops, leafy greens, and flowers each, plus whatever else got you feeling excited for fall gardening.
3. MAKE NOTE OF HOW MUCH SPACE/TIME EACH VEGETABLE TAKES TO GROW
Group the plants you want to grow into 3 different categories: small, medium, and large. Then, check the time to harvest on the back of each seed packet.
For veggies like broccoli that are large and take a lot longer than something like lettuce to produce, you should either start them indoors about 8 weeks ahead of planting, or purchase little plant starts from your local nursery. Other fall plants—namely small leafy greens, root crops, and peas—are best sown by seed as soon as you’re enjoying cooler temps.
Set yourself a calendar reminder to get your seeds and young plants in the garden about 6-8 weeks before your first frost date.
4. ADD THE PLANTS YOU WANT TO GROW TO YOUR DRAWING
Use the drawing of your garden space to map out where you’ll plant your fall vegetables. I like to use small circles for small plants like carrots, medium circles for medium plants like mustard, and large circles for large plants like cauliflower. I typically place large plants first and fill in around them with medium and then small plants. Your flowers will do great right on the edge of your space.
These steps can be easily done with my LGS Garden Planner and Journal!
HOW TO PLANT YOUR FALL VEGETABLE GARDEN
Now that you’ve got your plan in place, it’s time to actually plant up your fall garden. Follow these steps.
1. START SEEDS INDOORS
If your garden planning includes growing some of the bigger plants such as kale, cauliflower or broccoli, make sure to count back about 14 to 16 weeks from your first frost date so you can get those started indoors. Otherwise, plan to buy plants from a nursery instead.
Learn more about starting your own seeds indoors with my seed starting guide.
2. REMOVE SUMMER CROPS
As summer comes to an end, it’s time to prepare your garden for fall planting by getting rid of summer crops. Start by harvesting any remaining vegetables, then remove the plants from your garden beds. Next, prune any herbs or plants you plan on keeping (like kale and Swiss chard) by removing dead foliage.
Once the old plants are cleared, rake the soil to remove any remaining leaves and debris. This step helps prevent diseases and pests from overwintering in the soil.
3. AMEND THE SOIL
Add a layer of compost and some organic all-purpose fertilizer to enrich the soil and provide essential nutrients for your fall vegetables.
4. PLANT SEEDLINGS, THEN SEEDS
Whenever you plant your garden, it’s always best to start with planting the largest plants first, such as broccoli or kale. Then move to medium and small plants. After all seedlings have been planted, then end by sowing any seeds for plants you would like to start in the garden.
5. WATER
Water everything really well, making the soil moist like a wrung-out sponge. Even better if you can water in with some Microlife Super Seaweed to give your new plants a little boost. Learn more about how to water your garden.
Helpful Tip: Use a frost cloth or row cover to protect plants if an early frost creeps up on you.
That’s all there is to planning and planting your fall garden. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments!
LETTUCE GROW SOMETHING PLANNER AND JOURNAL
Take all the guesswork out of planning your garden each year.
