The Best Veggies and Herbs to Grow in the Fall
Fall is a great time for vegetable gardening; here's a list of what to plant in late summer.
I’ll be honest — this summer gardening season has been a near bust. I planted late, and then it quickly got hot and wet here in Tennessee. In past years, I’ve harvested and posted photos of colorful tomatoes and peppers so bountiful that Martha would be jealous, but this year, not so much. No worries, though, because there’s always fall, my favorite gardening season of the year, and I’m starting my fall garden planning now.
Why Is Fall Gardening So Great?
Let me count the ways. It’s cooler, so you’re not watering your garden with your own sweat. (I know, gross.) And speaking of water, that cooler weather means less evaporation, so you’re watering more efficiently too. Edibles that grow in fall aren’t typically eaten for their fruit, but for their leaves and roots instead, and that’s an easier job for the plants. Fall gardens are generally less susceptible to pests, diseases and general problems than summer gardens.
Image courtesy of Farmer D Organics
What Can You Plant in the Fall?
My favorites to eat are beets, radishes, garlic, cilantro, kale and other greens, so that’s what I’ll be planting first, but here’s a more comprehensive list of vegetables and herbs you can grow in your fall garden.
Veggies
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Garlic
- Greens (collards, mustard, etc.)
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce (all kinds — look for cold tolerant varieties that will last until winter)
- Parsnips
- Radishes
- Scallions (green onions)
- Spinach
Herbs (all of these are perennial and can survive a mild winter)
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
I use a mix of seeds and transplants for planting in fall (and any time of year for that matter). Here’s that same list divided by seed and transplant. Many of the plants I’ve listed under the transplant section can be grown from seed, but with frost looming, growth time is a major factor, so I suggest planting fast growers from seed and slower growers from transplant.
Grow From Seed
- Beets
- Chives
- Greens (collards, mustard, etc.)
- Kale
- Lettuce (all kinds — look for cold tolerant varieties that will last until winter)
- Parsnips
- Radishes
- Spinach
Burpee
Plant From Transplant
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Cilantro
- Garlic (bulb/clove)
- Kohlrabi
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Scallions (green onions)
- Thyme
Jane Colclasure/P. Allen Smith
When Should You Plant Fall Vegetables?
Mid to late August is the best time to plant. I’ll have some hard decisions to make — take out and compost my sad peppers, eggplant and tomatoes to make room for fall planting? Or give them a chance to thrive for a while in cooler weather? Space is limited in my garden, so not everyone can stay. At this point, I’m betting on a couple tomatoes plus some okra and beans, but the rest of my droopy summer garden will be replaced with fresh plants for fall and a new season of garden promise will begin.
