10 Fall Vegetables to Grow
It’s not too late to plant some of your favorite vegetables and have time for them to mature before the first frost. As a matter of fact most of the following 10 Fall vegetables to grow prefer the cool nights and moderate daytime weather that season brings.
So grab the hoe and plant a few varieties for some great tasting fresh vegetables before your first frost and winter blankets us with snow.
Beets
A wonderful fall crop, beets are cheap, non-temperamental, and you can use both the root and the leaves. In addition, they are a wonderful source of vitamins A and C. Dig deep so the plants stay cool, and don’t let the roots get longer than three inches or else the beets will get tough and woody.
Broccoli
Broccoli is one of the least susceptible plants to pests, is rich in vitamins and minerals, and can flourish equally well in the fall and spring. Seedlings should be planted in late august as the plants take 90 days to mature.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are ideal for fall gardens because they really taste best when allowed to mature in cool weather. It will take about 3 months before the sprouts appear. Plant seedlings 8-10 weeks before the first frost, plants mature in 90 days.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a cold-tolerant member of the cabbage family, but can be tricky to grow. Rich soil and consistent watering are the keys. Blanch the heads by tying the outer leaves together over the heads when they are about 2 to 3 inches across to keep them from turning green and becoming bitter. Plant seedlings 6-8 weeks before the first frost, plants mature in 60 days.
Grow your own cauliflower then make this easy Cauliflower Rice!
Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is a member of the cabbage family, and requires similar planting methods. But is much easier to grow than the rest of the cabbage family. Kohlrabi can also be picked by the leaf, which makes it fresher and more continuous than other cabbage. Matures in 40-60 days.
Lettuce
Sow seeds in late summer, depending on the variety you choose lettuce will mature in 45-60 days. So this should be one of the first vegetables you plant for a fall garden. It doesn’t take a lot of room, and is fine with only about 5 hours of sunlight a day.
Onions
Onions should be grown in a well-weeded area, and they thrive in the presence of other vegetables, like peas and turnips. They are perfect for the fall garden since they can be left in the soil even after a killing frost and will stay firm until the ground freezes. Plant onion sets all the way until 4 weeks before the first frost.
Parsnips
Direct sow parsnips in the summer and plan on harvesting after frost when the flavor improves.
Peas
Not normally thought of as a fall crop, but they actually thrive in early fall. Direct seed them 6-8 weeks before a frost.
Radishes
Radishes are the ideal fall vegetable. Planting these in a fall garden is easy since they take up so little space, and they prefer the cooler weather of fall and develop a more robust flavor. Plant by seed 4-6 weeks before the first frost.
Have fun and enjoy squeezing a few more weeks out of the growing season and spend the last days of fall in your vegetable garden.
