15 Vegetables You Must Grow in Fall: A Complete Guide
As summer comes to an end, it's time to start thinking about your fall garden. Many people assume that gardening season is over once the temperatures start to drop, but fall can actually be a great time to grow certain vegetables. In fact, some vegetables even prefer the cooler temperatures of fall.
In this guide, we'll cover 15 vegetables that you must grow in fall. From leafy greens to root vegetables, there's something for everyone.
Garlic is one of the easiest and most maintenance-free vegetables to grow, which provides good value as well. You can buy seed garlic or use organic garlic bulbs from grocery stores. Do not buy conventional garlic to grow, as it is usually sprayed with growth suppressant chemicals. To start your garlic plants, use bigger garlic cloves. To figure out the depth and spacing, all you need is a thumb and a hand. Garlic should be planted about a thumb's length deep and a hand's length apart. This basically corresponds to planting garlic cloves at least two inches deep and six inches apart, with row spacing also being six inches apart.
Potatoes love cool weather below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. You can plant potatoes in spring and fall. When planting in fall, make sure you give potatoes at least three months of growth before the first frost. Plant the whole potato one inch below the soil, with plant and row spacing should be 12 to 18 inches apart. Harvest potatoes after three months and you will get a lot of potatoes.
Onions can also be harvested as green onions as well. If you have mild winters, you can grow onions in fall and grow them all the way up to maturity in late spring. Zones above eight are suitable for planting onions in fall to grow them all the way up to maturity. However, if you live in an area with cold winters, below zone 8, and you want to grow onions to maturity, you must grow onions in early spring. However, you can always grow onions in fall and use them as green onions. You can grow onions and green onions directly from seed by sewing seed quarter of an inch down, and the row spacing and plant spacing should be four inches apart. The type of onions you should grow in fall are called short day onions.
Green beans take about two months before producing, so plant green beans at least two to three months before the first frost. This could be in August or September depending on your zone. When starting green beans, plant the seeds one inch deep. Plant spacing should be three inches and row spacing 24 inches apart. While bush beans grow on their own, pole beans require a trellis or some sort of support structure. You can start harvesting green beans just two months after planting.
Cilantro loves weather below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. So, as soon as the weather cools in summer and the temperature starts to dip below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, you can start planting cilantro. You can start harvesting cilantro just one month after planting. Plant cilantro seeds quarter of an inch deep. Plant spacing should be six inches apart and row spacing 12 inches apart. Cilantro is one of those plants that does not like to be transplanted because it develops a taproot. So, if you do want to transplant cilantro, you can use the rain gutter idea. You can also grow cilantro in containers or pots as well.
Radish only takes one month to harvest, so if you start planting your at least three months before the first frost, you can do succession planting and get at least three crops of radish before the frost hits.
Turnips take two months to harvest, so plan accordingly.
Carrots and beets: Both carrots and beets take three months to harvest, so start planting them in the summer to enjoy them in the fall.
Lettuce likes cool weather and will bolt in warm weather, so plant lettuce seeds in the fall as soon as the temperature drops below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant lettuce seeds a quarter of an inch deep, with both plant spacing and row spacing at 12 inches apart. You can harvest lettuce leaves as the plant is growing, or you can harvest a whole head of lettuce in about two to three months depending on the variety.
Spinach can also be grown in the fall. Plant spinach seeds at least two months before the first frost, which could be in September or October depending on your zone. Plant spinach seeds a quarter of an inch deep, with both plant spacing and row spacing at 12 inches apart. You can start harvesting spinach leaves as soon as they're big enough to eat, which is about 30 to 40 days after planting.
Kale To grow kale in the fall, plant kale seeds at least three to four months before the first frost, which is in August or September depending on your zone. Kale is frost-hardy and can tolerate frost very well, so even if you plant kale a little bit later in October, it will still work. Plant kale seeds about a quarter of an inch deep, with plant spacing at 12 inches apart and row spacing at 18 inches apart. Once the kale leaves develop about six to eight sets of leaves, you can start harvesting kale leaves, leaving at least three to four sets of leaves.
Swiss chard also makes a really good fall vegetable. You can start growing Swiss chard about two to three months before the first frost, which is usually August or September depending on your zone. Plant Swiss chard seeds half an inch deep, with plant spacing at 12 inches apart and row spacing anywhere from 18 to 24 inches apart. Just like kale, you can start harvesting Swiss chard leaves as soon as the plant has about six to seven sets of leaves, leaving at least three to four sets of leaves.
Mustard is really good to sauté along with spinach. You can start growing mustard in the fall at least two to four months before the first frost, which is anywhere from August to October. Plant mustard seeds half an inch deep, with plant spacing at three inches apart and row spacing at nine inches apart. This will yield the maximum harvest as the mustard plants are growing. Top off the flowers to encourage the plant to grow more leaves. You can start harvesting mustard leaves in about one and a half to two months after planting.
Fenugreek You can buy fenugreek seeds from an online store or even a spice store. Before planting, soak the seeds in water for two hours. Plant fenugreek seeds half an inch deep, with plant spacing anywhere from one to three inches apart and row spacing at 12 inches apart. After two months, the whole bed starts to fill in, and you can start harvesting fenugreek.
Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are among these vegetables that deserve honorable mention for fall gardening.
Broccoli is a cold-tolerant vegetable that can withstand temperatures as low as 20°F (-6°C). It is a member of the brassica family, which also includes cabbage and cauliflower, and is known for its high nutritional value. Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate and fiber. To grow broccoli in the fall, it is best to start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the first expected frost. Once the seedlings are 4-6 inches tall, they can be transplanted into the garden. Broccoli plants require full sun and well-drained soil, and can be harvested 60 to 90 days after planting.
While broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are excellent fall vegetables to grow, they do come with some challenges. They are more susceptible to pests and diseases, such as cabbage worms and clubroot, and require consistent moisture and soil fertility to thrive. However, with proper care and attention, these vegetables can be a great addition to your fall garden.
In Conclusion, these 15 vegetables are great to harvest and plan for your Fall season harvest! Happy Gardening! I hope these tips have helped. We look forward to hearing your feedback either on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or even better, in person at Daisy Creek Farm!