Preparing Autumn Garden | Choices of Seeds & Timing Strategies
The autumn season presents a perfect opportunity for gardening enthusiasts to cultivate a bountiful harvest. Cool-weather crops, such as leafy greens, root vegetables, and brassicas, thrive during this period, making fall an ideal time to plant.
The Roots & Herbs garden, for instance, is a delightful assortment of herb and root plants that not only support each other in growth but also pair wonderfully on the plate. Soaking seeds overnight before planting can help speed up germination, ensuring a quick start to your fall garden.
When to Plant depends largely on your USDA zone and your local frost dates. For USDA Zones 3–4, plant early August to mid-August, focusing on fast-maturing leafy greens, root crops, and brassicas (preferably covered). Garlic should be planted in late fall for harvest next summer[1]. In USDA Zones 5–6, plant late August to early September for leafy greens, root vegetables, brassicas, and herbs. Adding mulch and using row covers can extend harvests[1].
In warmer zones such as the Southwest or Southeast (Zones 8–11), fall planting begins typically in late September after summer heat subsides. Succession planting every 2–3 weeks helps ensure continuous harvests well into winter. These regions favor leafy greens and root crops that thrive in cooler temperatures with minimal frost risk[5].
Key tips for success include using row covers, cold frames, or shade cloths to protect young seedlings and extend the growing season[1][2][5]. Choosing fast-maturing, frost-tolerant varieties is crucial to fit the window before the first frost. Monitoring soil moisture and mulching to retain heat and protect roots is also essential[1][3]. For climates with a shorter fall growing period, starting some crops indoors for earlier transplanting outdoors can be beneficial[1][2].
Fall is a favourable season for container gardening as well. Container gardens are great for fall planting as they can be moved indoors or chased for sunlight during shady days. Gardenuity offers a variety of container combo kit options for fall planting, including the Taco Toppings, Asian Greens, Antioxidant Salad Garden, Fall Culinary Herb, Fall Cocktail Herb, Impatient Gardener, Wellness Tea Garden, Roots & Herbs, and Simply Lettuce gardens.
Each combo kit contains plants that are specifically curated to grow well together and thrive in fall weather. Arugula, green lettuce, kale, spinach, bok choy, collard greens, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, celeriac, carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, rutabaga, and potatoes are some of the vegetables that can be planted in the fall.
The first step in planning a fall garden is finding the first frost date, which can be calculated using the First and Last Frost Calculator on The Farmer's Almanac. Buying seedlings from a reliable source is another option for planting transplants directly into the garden. The Impatient Gardener combo kit is suitable for fall growing procrastinators and beginners, containing fast-growing plants that mature quickly before the frost arrives.
For tea and wellness lovers, the Wellness Tea Garden contains 4-6 herb plants perfect for brewing soothing concoctions. The Fall Cocktail Herb garden, on the other hand, contains 4-6 herb seedlings for creating fall-themed cocktails. The Antioxidant Salad Garden contains immune system boosting greens and veggies that taste crisper and more flavorful when grown in the fall.
In conclusion, focus on cool-weather crops planted in late summer to early fall, timed to mature before the first hard frost, adjusting for your local climate and frost dates. This strategy will maximise your chances of a successful fall garden. Happy planting!
[1] Gardenuity: Planting Guide [2] The Old Farmer's Almanac: Fall Gardening [3] Michigan State University Extension: Fall Gardening in Wayne County [4] The Spruce: Fall Vegetables to Plant in Your Garden [5] Gardenuity: Fall Planting Guide
- For those who appreciate wellness and home-and-garden lifestyle, fall is an excellent season for gardening, particularly container gardening.
- Specialty gardens like the Antioxidant Salad Garden, Wellness Tea Garden, and Fall Cocktail Herb garden are ideal for enhancing your fall gardening experience.
- To ensure a successful fall garden, key tips include choosing fast-maturing, frost-tolerant varieties, monitoring soil moisture, and using protective covers like row covers or cold frames.
- The autumn season offers a perfect opportunity for fall gardening, with cool-weather crops like leafy greens, root vegetables, and brassicas thriving during this period.
