Many new gardeners mourn summer’s end thinking it means gardening season is over, but gardening doesn’t have to stop when summer does! There are many plants that can withstand the cold, so your homegrown yumminess can stretch far beyond the summer months if you start planting in fall.
Some Reasons Why I Love Fall Planting:
Um, hello, cooler temps! Goodbye sweat, see ya later! Ever since I got diagnosed with skin cancer at such a young age I try to protect myself from the sun. This means in the heat of summer I find myself in the garden with a long sleeve shirt, pants, and large sunhat sweating my butt off. Needless to say, gardening isn’t as peaceful and relaxing as it is in cooler weather.
Cooler temps means less time spent watering! If you have a drip system, life is pretty easy. But when you’re hand watering, you can form a love hate relationship with gardening real quick, I’ve been there!
Fall weather protects from many warm weather loving garden pests, though you’ll still want to keep an eye out for the leafy green lovers. If you see one, just pick it off and put it in some soapy water. Often times you’ll find them on the undersides of the leaves.
Frost can actually sweeten cool-season crops like brussel sprouts and kale. Yum!
How to Plant a Fall Garden:
Sunlight: Choose a spot that has the most sunlight. Many fall vegetables will tolerate some shade, but they still need some sun to grow and thrive!
Great Soil: Use good soil! I usually always use Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Vegetables & Herbs. So, make sure you mix some of this in where you’re planting to get your plants off to a strong start.
Water consistently: Water thoroughly when you plant and after your plants are settled in the soil. If it’s not raining yet, I typically water every few days when it starts to cool down. If you can see that your soil is still pretty wet, you don’t need to drown your plants with more water. Just water when your soil looks like it’s getting less moist.
When to Plant a Fall Garden:
Check your first frost date! Look up what planting zone you’re in by visiting
https://garden.org/nga/zipzone/ and entering in your zip code. According to my zip code I’m in zone 9B.
Once you find your planting zone, google “First frost date for Zone 9B (or whatever zone you’re in).” The first frost date for zone 9B shows the end of December. You typically want to start planting 10 weeks before the first frost date, so if you’re in this zone, you still have time to plant!
What to Plant in a Fall Garden:
Beets – sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in soil and 2 inches apart. Space rows 1 ft apart
Broccoli – sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in soil and 3 inches apart. Thin to 12-20 inches apart. Space rows 3 ft apart
Brussel Sprouts – sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in soil and 3-4 inches apart. Thin to 18-24 inches apart. Space rows 24-36 inches apart
Cabbage – sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in soil and 1 inch apart. Thin to 12-24 inches apart. Space rows 24-36 inches apart
Carrots – sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in soil and 2 inches apart. Space rows 1 ft apart
Cauliflower – sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in soil and 18 inches apart. Space rows 30 inches apart
Celery – soak seeds overnight in warm water. Press seeds 1/8 inch in soil 6 inches apart. Barely cover them with damp soil by sprinkling on top. Space rows 24 inches apart
Chard – sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in soil and 12 inches apart. Space rows 18 inches apart
Collards – sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in soil and 6-8 inches apart. Space rows 30 inches apart
Garlic – plant clove root side down 1/2 deep in soil 4-6 inches apart. Space rows 1-2 ft apart
Kale – sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in soil and 8-12 inches apart. Space rows 18-24 inches apart
Lettuce – sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in soil and 6-8 inches apart. Space rows 12-18 inches apart
Onion – sow seeds 1/2 deep in soil and 4-6 inches apart. Space rows 12 inches apart
Parsley – sow seeds 1/4 deep in soil and 6-8 inches apart. Space rows 8-12 inches apart
Spinach – sow seeds 1/2 deep in soil and 5 inches apart. Space rows 14-18 inches apart
Turnip – sow seeds 1/2 deep in soil and 4-6 inches apart. Space rows 12 inches apart
Now that you know what to plant, get planting! Don’t let the cooler weather fool you into thinking you can’t have fresh food from the garden during every season. Trust me, you’ll enjoy planting during the Fall and harvesting in the Winter. There’s nothing like walking out to your garden on a cool crisp morning gathering what you need to make an amazing winter soup. Happy Planting Friends! Be sure to tag @campbellscountrycharm on instagram with your Fall Garden pictures!
