It’s mid-August here and the temperatures have already dropped significantly! In zone 3/4 we have short summers and even shorter fall seasons! This is my first year attempting to grow a fall garden so I thought I would share the process of what to plant in your fall garden!
If you’re starting your first garden EVER, or just need some more beginner tips, this blog post might be helpful!
DETERMINE YOUR FIRST FROST
Before you decide what to plant in your fall garden, you need to make sure you know your first frost date.
As I mentioned, we have early frosts so planting this week is pretty risky and there’s a good chance I won’t actually get a harvest. But that’s ok!
The ideal time to plant your fall garden is about 6-8 weeks before your first frost date!
Determine your gardening zone here (American) or here (Canadian) to find your first frost date.
ASSESS YOUR GARDEN
The difference between planting a fall garden compared to a spring/summer garden is that you likely already have many plants growing!
If you have a long summer and a late frost date, you may be able to wait for all of your summer harvests to be completed.
If, like me, you still have plants from your spring and summer garden still producing, you’ll have to be strategic when deciding what to plant in your fall garden.
Assess the space available. Does it get lots of sun? Is it shaded by large tomato plants? Does the soil need amendments? How much space is available?
PREPARE YOUR FALL GARDEN
If you’re planting in an area where you grew something during the spring/summer, you’ll likely need to add nutrients to your soil!
One of my favourite ways to do this is by adding a few inches of my homemade compost! If you don’t have your own compost pile, try finding a source for AGED manure (It has to be aged – fresh manure will burn your plants).
I find it so helpful to have physical reference books. Here’s a few of my favourite gardening / homesteading books that I think you’ll love!
WHAT TO PLANT IN YOUR FALL GARDEN
If you live somewhere with the risk of early frost, you’ll have to keep that in mind while planting. If you live somewhere with a long, warm autumn you may be able to plant another round of heat-loving plants!
Vegetables that are tolerant to frost:
Of course what you plant in your fall garden will depend on how much space you have available, what you like to eat, and the other factors I mentioned above!
KALE
Kale can be planted in late summer and actually becomes sweeter after it endures a light frost.
SPINACH
Spinach grows well in cool temperatures and typically bolts during summer heat. It can easily tolerate a frost as I often have spinach poking through the snow in early spring!
SWISS CHARD
Swiss Chard is a beautiful crop that you could even add to a flowerbed! It will continue to grow and thrive in freezing temperatures!
CARROTS
Carrot seeds like a moist, warm soil to germinate. But once they are established, they’ll actually thrive in cool weather! Carrots taste sweeter after a light freeze.
BEETS
Beets have always been a crop that thrive for me! I grow them all summer, but in late summer I’ll replant more in any free spaces I have.
RADISHES
Radishes are one of the quickest growing vegetables and the perfect addition if you’re wondering what to plant in your fall garden.
BEANS
While beans aren’t frost tolerant, they are quick growers! You can likely get a harvest of bush or pole beans in before winter comes.
BROCCOLI
Broccoli is a cool-weather loving plant. I find it tricky to fit into my fall garden because it takes up a lot of space! Broccoli is a heavy feeder, so ensure that you’ve properly amended your soil!
CABBAGE
Cabbage is another cold hardy crop, like broccoli! It can grow for several weeks even after night-time temperatures drop below freezing.
Brussel Sprouts
Brussel Spouts grow similarly to Broccoli, cabbage and other brassica vegetables!
I hope this helped you plan your fall garden!
