Fall Vegetable Crops

Planting seeds in the fall may sound counterintuitive, but believe or not, we still have two to three months of the growing season ahead of us. That is more than enough time to grow another delicious crop of veggies. With a few tricks, like row covers, a cold frame, or a greenhouse, you can even extend the fall season beyond the first frost and enjoy fresh greens right into winter. 

What Can You Plant in the Fall?

All of those tasty, nutritious greens and root veggies that you planted in the spring or late summer can be planted yet again. If you have doubts about whether they have enough time, simply count back from the first typical frost date in your area to see how many growing days you have. In the Lothian region, we can expect Jack Frost in our garden around November 1st. Alexandria is usually frost-free until November 15th.

Turnips and beets are two super nutritional veggies that thrive in the cooler days of fall. Their vitamin-loaded roots and leaves are ready in 45-65 days to boost our strength through the winter. Turnips actually sweeten after a frost.  

Carrots and radishes will be ready for fall salads and casseroles. Carrots need around 70 days, while radishes mature in two months or less. If the cold comes early, layer on some mulch to protect the roots.

Some onions can mature in 60 days, just as we start to crave hearty stews and roasted meat dishes.

Hardy greens like kale and collards will grow large leaves as the temperatures continue to dip. The sugars actually sweeten through the frost, and the leaves are so resilient that they can last into winter. They need 40-60 days to reach full size.  

Tender greens like lettuce and spinach can fill your salad bowl as though it was a second spring in November, but they won’t withstand frost unless you cover them.

Mustard greens and arugula will grow just as fast now as they do in the spring, offering leafy delights in as little as a month and a half.    

Kohlrabi can be planted 8-10 to weeks before the last frost, giving you a fresh bounty just as the trees turn red and gold. Challenge your home cooking by finding new ways to use it. 

Parsley is one of the faster-growing herbs. It’s ready to harvest in 70 days. Soak the seeds first for a greater success in germination.

Garlic is an important character in the fall garden, but it will not grow until the following year. Nevertheless, it needs to be planted somewhere from mid-October to mid-November for success in the spring.  

How Do You Extend Your Fall Growing Season?

There are simple ways to protect your plants from frost if they are not quite ready when the temperature dips or if you want to enjoy fresh vegetables throughout the colder months.

Row Covers are a simple solution to protect your plants from unexpected frost or extend the life of the garden. It can be as easy as laying a bed sheet over the garden at night and removing it in the morning. With this method, you’ll need stakes or some kind of support to prevent the fabric from touching the plants below. For a more elaborate cover, use PVC pipe and garden fabric to create a rounded dome above your veggies. A breathable material allows the moisture to get out, and still lets the sunlight in, keeping your plants buffered from those frosty nights.  

 A Cold Frame is a wooden box with a glass or plastic top. They act like miniature greenhouses to keep the warmth in and extend your growing season. Some of them fit over a section of your garden. Others are built right into the ground, like a raised bed with a removable cover, often strategically tilted toward the sun. They can keep the temperature 5 to 10 degrees warmer than outside. All of the vegetables above are excellent candidates for a cold frame.  

A Greenhouse is the most elaborate way to prolong the fall season and bring more heat to the growing days that you already have. 

All of these structures have many uses, like storing tender perennials over the winter or as a chilling space for forcing bulbs. But whether you use them or not, the fall itself provides an ample number of days for another round of cool-season vegetables. The perks of growing your own food are just as valuable in the autumn as anytime: from saving dollars, to reducing your carbon footprint, sharing meaningful projects with the family, and providing your loved ones with healthy, delicious food!

If your soil is looking tired from the summer, don’t forget to nourish it with some compost or other soil amendments. Feel free to stop by our garden centers for any other supplies or advice that you may need!