For some people, fall is the time to start tearing out your warm weather crops and prepare your garden beds for winter. It’s a time of harvest, rest, or a time to start planning for the abundance of next year.
I choose to use this season as a time to start another garden.
Although the weather may be getting cooler, the change in temperature is ideal for starting cool weather crops. There are many different root vegetables and leafy greens that simply thrive when temperatures cool down. We will be going over a few that are ideal for our zone.
Kale
Kale is one of my favorite crops to grow regardless of season. You can use it to dehydrate into a powder or for fresh eating. It is known to be fairly cold tolerant and can over-winter with a proper season extension. It actually tastes sweeter when grown in the fall as the starches in the stem and leaves turns into sugar when the weather cools.
I have tried both direct sowing and starting indoors; my preference for this crop is to just go ahead and direct sow in late August when temperatures are no longer in the 90’s. I like to plant Blue Scotch Kale as well as Dinosaur Kale.
Carrots
Carrots are another favorite and we try to grow as many as possible for ourselves as well as our livestock. We use carrots primarily for fresh eating as well as in soups and stews. The only drawback to carrots, along with most root vegetables, is you only get one crop instead of a continuous flow, such as with tomatoes. So that you don’t have all of your carrots ready at one it is best to succession sow one to two weeks a part at the beginning of August.
Carrots are another crop where it is better to direct sow. Some people will use the board method to make sure their seeds sprout but I have had the same luck with planting normally when the temperature is still in the 90s. We like to plant Danvers Carrots and Nantes.
Spinach
Spinach is the perfect, multi-use crop that thrives in cooler weather. We use the leafy greens for fresh eating, smoothies, soups, and cooking in omelets. I will dehydrate it and sneak it into my daughter’s sandwiches to make sure she is getting her greens.
I prefer to direct sow spinach six weeks before the first frost in our zone. It is fairly cold-hardy and can over-winter if covered. We typically only plant Winter Bloomsdale Spinach.
Peas
Peas are not my family’s favorite, but they have a place in the fall garden. Not only are they easy to grow but you can use them in soups, as a side, in stir frys, and you can even dehydrate them to make them last longer. Peas need a trellis so make sure you plant them with one as they need to climb.
Not to be a broken record, but peas do best when you direct sow six to ten weeks before the first frost. If you do plant them earlier, you can mulch so that the roots stay cooler when they are over two inches tall. We only plant Sugar Snap Peas as we don’t like to take the time to shell.
Lettuce
There are countless different types of lettuce that are suitable for fall growing. Lettuce is often used in salads or as a sandwich/burger topping. It is fairly easy to grow but struggles in the heat and will “bolt” which changes the chemical compound and makes it taste bitter.
You can direct sow four weeks before your first projected frost. They do best when they aren’t planted deeply and are barely covered with soil. We enjoy growing Buttercrunch and Red Romaine.
Rutabaga
Rutabaga is one of our experiments of the season as 1. we have never grown it and 2. we have never cooked with it. They are similar to turnips but have a sweeter flavor and larger roots. They can be mashed (similar to mashed potatoes), roasted, added to soups, or eaten in salads.
They are typically easy to grow. This crop doesn’t transplant well and does best when direct sown outside ten to twelve weeks before your first frost. We chose to give American Purple Top Rutabagas a try.
Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is our final experiment of the season. Similar to Rutabagas, they can be put in salads for fresh eating. They can also be used in stir fries, can be sauteed, or steamed. The taste is similar to broccoli stems but sweeter.
This is the one plant I chose to start indoors this year as none of the seeds I direct sowed ended up sprouting. Kohlrabi does need at least 6 hours of sun and should be started at least ten weeks before your first frost. We are trying out luck with Purple Vienna Kohlrabi.
Pak Choi
Pak Choi, or Bok Choy has by far been our easiest vegetable to grow in the fall garden. It can be grilled or used in salads, stews, and stir fries. It has a slight cabbage taste, crispy texture, and is a truly versatile crop.
As stated, Pak Choi has been our most low-maintenance plant. It does best when direct-sown in moist soil six to eight inches a part. Similar to lettuce, it does “bolt” and needs to be planted when temperatures are begining to cool.
Garlic
If there’s one thing I buy almost every time I go grocery shopping it is garlic. Garlic makes the perfect fall crop as takes nine months to mature; it does best planted in the fall, can overwinter, and be ready the following summer summer. We use garlic in everything from stir fries to spaghetti sauce.
Garlic does best when planted in October. We direct sow and, when the weather gets cooler, mulch can be placed around the stem to cut back on weeds as garlic can easily be overtaken. This year, we are planting California Soft-Neck Garlic.
In Conclusion…
While this certainly doesn’t cover all of the crops available, this is a glimpse of what plants can survive in cooler temperatures. Even when fall is be fast approaching, there are many options out there that can help you continue to garden. With a little determination and some work you can continue to eat out of your garden for months to come.
What are your favorite plants to grow in your fall garden? What have been your best producers?
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