How, When & What to Plant for a Fall Garden

To get the most out of a garden space, many gardeners plan to plant vegetables for both a summer harvest and a fall harvest. This approach works well as some plants develop better during cooler weather as opposed to the hotter weather of summer. You can also plant a variety of flowers to bloom in the garden through the months of fall.

Chrysanthemums are colorful flowers that many people associate with fall gardens, as are asters and gladioli. These flowers can be started either from seed or from transplants. Perennial bulbs that bloom in the fall include crocus and colchicum. Plant fall-blooming bulbs in May to give them time to take root, absorb minerals from the soil and blossom. Many fall flowers can also be grown in container gardens should you not have open yard space. If starting with seeds, plant them in prepared soil in the middle of August. If using transplants, plant them directly into the ground or container in the beginning of September. Due to their limited soil capacities, potted plants generally require strict watering schedules to prevent drought-related issues. Water flowers planted in the garden about 1 to 2 inches of water per week.

Peas are easy-to-grow vegetables that work well as very early spring or fall crops. To plant peas as a fall crop, remove vegetation from the proposed area, till the soil and add any desired fertilizer. Plant the seeds directly into the soil in late August. To save space, sow two rows of peas about 6 inches apart with some form of trellis or fencing in between to help support the plants as they grow. Water with about 1 inch of water per week. Pick the peas when the pods feel full and firm. Turn the pea plants into the garden soil after harvesting in October or November to return much-needed nitrogen to your garden.

Some pumpkin and winter squash varieties take up to as much as 120 days to mature, especially the larger pumpkins. Choose squash varieties that are appropriate for your particular planting zone. Plant the pumpkin and squash seeds directly into the soil about 12 inches apart anywhere from the end of July to the end of August, depending again on how long of a maturation cycle the variety you have chosen requires. When the first produce appears, put a layer of straw underneath it to keep the vegetables off the ground and prevent rotting. Harvest pumpkins and squash when you can easily separate the stem from the vine.

In the early spring, it is easy to find starter plants of broccoli and cauliflower as they grow well in cooler weather. By planning accordingly, you can have a fall harvest of both. Start some seeds indoors in late July. The plants will need bright light to grow, but keep them out of the path of direct sun during the hottest part of the day. Move the transplants outdoors at the end of August or the beginning of September. To keep bugs off of the heads as they mature, cover them with netting.

Spinach, lettuce and other leafy greens are somewhat cold-tolerant. Some varieties are even frost-tolerant, which makes them ideal for planting in a fall garden. Plant seeds directly into prepared soil in late August. Keep the soil well-watered, about 1 inch per week. To keep bugs off of the greens, spray them with a homemade pesticide made from garlic and soap. When the lettuce is ready to eat, simply cut the leaves with a pair of kitchen scissors. Leave the rest of the plant to continue growing, giving you more lettuce, until the first frost.