What to Plant in the Fall - Garden Design (2024)

FAQs

When should I start planning a fall garden? ›

10 to 12 weeks before your first frost

In some areas, even fast-maturing peas and potatoes will do well in the fall garden.

Generally speaking, here's the rule of thumb: 10-12 weeks before first frost: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, celery. 8-10 weeks before first frost: Arugula, Chinese cabbage, collards, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, spinach, Swiss chart, turnips. 6-8 weeks before first frost: Beets, radishes.

- Avoid planting evergreens in mid-late fall. Because they keep their foliage all winter, they are more susceptible to drying out when the soil is frozen and the winds are blowing. Having several months (rather than several weeks) to develop a sizeable root system better prepares them to face these challenges.

Fast-Growing Fall Vegetable Crops

Some of the fastest growing veggies: leafy greens, bunching onions, turnips, baby carrots, and more!

The date to plant depends on the date of the first fall freeze in your area and how long it takes the individual plant to mature. As a general guide, USU Extension suggests if your first fall freeze is in October or November you can plant as late as August. If your first freeze occurs in September, plant in July.

The answer is you can plant as late into the season as you are able. That is, as long as you are able to get a spade into the ground you can plant or divide.

Adding the manure or compost to the soil in the fall will ensure that the nitrogen is broken down in time for the plants to use them. It also helps prevent the soil from becoming to fertilizer rich, or 'hot' and burning the roots of your plants.

Colorful leaves, dried seed pods, and bittersweet will add a touch of color and autumnal whimsy. Use miniature pumpkins, gourds, or winter squash in creative ways to accentuate that autumn flavor.

September and October are prime months to plant perennial plants that are not frost tender. It's not too late to plant fall vegetables and herbs. Vegetable starts for cool season vegetables continue to be in great supply.

How do you garden in November? ›

You can transplant perennials anytime until the ground freezes in the fall, or wait to transplant them in the spring. Fall is an excellent time to transplant herbaceous perennials because your plants will then have three seasons to establish a good root system before hot summer weather sets in next year.

Vegetables to plant in November: Beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collards, kale, kohlrabi, onions (seed & sets), radishes, spinach and strawberries. Vegetables to plant in December: Beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, kale, onions (seed & sets) and radishes.

No matter which fall gardening project you choose, be sure to make plant roots super-happy by using Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix (for containers) or Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Vegetables & Herbs (for in-ground).

Plant Flowers and Vegetables

If you live in a frost-free region, October is a great time to plant cool-weather flowers and vegetables in your garden. Crops such as kale, cabbage, collards, lettuce, carrots, mustard, onions, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beets, and garlic can all be planted in early to late October.

Answer: Timing is somewhat critical to producing good cucumbers. They like to grow during the warmish weather of spring and fall. Successful plantings are made during March and September.

Healthy soil means healthy plants and FALL is the best time to feed your garden soil—before winter sets in. Here's why fall is the best time to improve soil and what to do this fall to build healthy garden soil!

What root vegetables can you plant in the fall? ›

Fast-growing root crops including radishes, beets, carrots and turnips are a perfect fit for the fall growing season, because they start life in warm soil and mature under cool soil conditions. Most can be left in the garden until freezing weather is around the corner.

Give these a try to liven up your late fall and wintertime produce list. Spinach – You can plant spinach 6 to 10 weeks before the freeze. It'll continue growing during the winter, and you'll be surprised at the resurgence in the spring. Kale – With a little protection, you can harvest kale throughout the winter.

With cooler temperatures, this is one of the nicest times to garden and spend time outside. However, as you can tell from some recent mornings, frost and freeze are not too far away. Now is the time to prepare your garden and landscape for survival.

Examples include winter field beans and peas, clover and vetch. These are all types of legume and are a great choice for sowing before nitrogen-hungry brassicas such as cabbage.

What to add? Compost, raw organic matter, and organic nutrients. Autumn is a good time to improve your soil by adding raw organic matter, such as shredded leaves.

Salts in fresh manure also tend to be high — especially in chicken, turkey, or other poultry manure. To avoid salt damage, wait 3 to 4 weeks after application before planting anything in the area. Fresh manure may contain high amounts of viable weed seeds, which can lead to a weed problem.

Eucalyptus leaves

The light gray shape and slim leaves of eucalyptus is a great choice to use for fall decorating. The leaves are understated and a very subtle shade of green and look great in Halloween vignettes.

There are so many ways to decorate your home in a tasteful and festive way for fall. Pumpkins, gourds, fall foliage, and pinecones are a handful of popular themes that can serve as inspiration.

What plants should be divided in the fall? ›

Perennials with fleshy roots such as peonies (Paeonia spp.), Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) and Siberian iris (Iris siberica) are best divided in the fall. When dividing plants in the fall, time it for four to six weeks before the ground freezes for the plants roots to become established.

Cover Up the Garden Beds

Add a couple inches of compost or manure on top of your beds any time before the ground freezes. Then, add a light layer of straw or mulch to prevent soil erosion, nutrient leaching, and weed development. Read our article on preparing soil for planting to find out what constitutes healthy soil.

There is no need to cut back hardy geraniums, heucheras, hellebores, dianthus and moss phlox. Tidy them in the spring as needed.

The best time to prune your lavender is in the fall, at least 6 weeks before your first frost date. In our part of the country, that means we start pruning the fields as soon as we're done with the essential oil distillation at the end of September, with the aim of finishing by mid-October.

What to add? Compost, raw organic matter, and organic nutrients. Autumn is a good time to improve your soil by adding raw organic matter, such as shredded leaves. When the garden season winds down, the average gardener is heading for the hammock.

Turning the fresh soil is next to heaven! Fall soil preparation gives one a jump start on spring planting as soil is ready except for a small amount of raking. Spading or tilling the soil in the fall allows for the winter conditions of freezing and thawing to naturally break the soil into its particles.

The first – and probably the most common – time to prune hostas is in the fall. This should be done any time after their leaves are damaged by the first hard frost.

Many gardeners build raised beds right on their lawns, and line the bottoms with cardboard to smother the grass – a technique that makes it possible to fill the beds and start gardening right away.

How do I transition from summer garden to fall garden? ›

To transition your garden from summer to fall, clear out any spent crops. Remove bolting greens and early plantings of summer squash, cucumbers, and beans that are nearing the end of their cycle (do not discard insect infested and diseased plant debris into your compost pile).