Fall is the time to sow many spring-flowering seeds and bulbs, as well as cover crops to enrich the soil.
There is a complete printable fall garden task checklist here.
I love that in recent years we’ve really broken away from the old idea that the gardening season ends in late summer. Not only can we continue planting a variety of plants so long as the ground is soft, but there’s lots of food crops that will survive throughout the winter months with just a few protective measures. And, of course, it’s the best time of year to plant cold-loving bulbs for spring flowers.
Here’s 7 ideas for things to plant in the fall garden. Timing depends on your location and how long you have before first frost (if you get frost!) but this list should give you some ideas. Always consult local seed and bulb sellers to find the best choices (and timing) for your area.
I’ve divided these suggestions into two groups: bulbs and seeds.
Related: When to force bulbs indoors for gorgeous winter blooms.
Bulbs
1. Garlic
Now is the time! Garlic does best when planted in the fall, enjoying a good winter chill, before maturing for harvest in the summer.
You’ll want to get the garlic bulbs in the ground while the weather is cool (not warm or freezing). They’ll establish roots and be ready to multiply in the new year.
2. Onions
This one is just for those of you in warmer climates with fairly mild winters: plant onions now. Find a local seller to learn which varieties do best in your area.
Fall-planted onions have a unique sweetness that makes this task totally worthwhile.
3. Spring and Summer-flowering bulbs
Now is the time to plant cold-loving flowering bulbs both in the ground and containers. Flowering bulb
In general, you want 16 to 18 weeks of cool temperatures before blooming time.
After a long winter, there is nothing quite as sweet as a container spilling over with gorgeous tulip flowers.
Seeds
4. Cut and come again salads
If you can provide some protection with a cold frame
This post tells you how: How To Grow Cut-And-Come-Again Salads
5. Radishes
Best sown in spring or fall (not hotter months), you can plant some radishes now if you’ve got a few weeks before first frost. If the colder weather comes sooner than expected, just have frost covers ready to protect your darlings.
Radishes are a fun crop to grow with kids because they’re super fast from seed to table.
Also, you can grow radishes in jars the same way I grow “fairy” carrots.
6. Flower seeds
There’s a simple trick for starting delphinium seeds in the fall (they like it!). You can read the steps here (it’s simple): Delphiniums: Growing Tips and Tricks.
And there’s over 30 types of flower seeds that benefit from cold weather sowing.
7. Green Manure / Cover Crops
NEW! Click play to listen:
Subscribe to our free podcast here: Two Minutes in the Garden.
What is green manure? I know, it doesn’t sound so pleasant but there’s really nothing manure-ish about it….
Green manure is the nickname for crops used to enrich the soil.
Farmers grow green manure crops in the fall or winter for two purposes:
1. It keeps precious top soil from blowing away (which happens when soil is bare).
2. Blended in, the decomposed plants then add nutrients to the soil.
You can do the same thing with your home garden beds.
- Sow the seeds in fall a few weeks before first frost.
- Some crops will die with winter cold, others will go dormant until spring.
- Before the plants mature, dig them into the soil. You don’t want it self-seeding in your veggie bed.
Green manure cover crop suggestions include:
- Alfalfa
- Buckwheat (fast-growing and decomposes quickly)
- Clover: red, white, Dutch
- Peas and Oats (combination)
- Rye: fall, winter
If your garden beds have provided a lot of produce, feed your depleted soil with a winter cover crop.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
