13 Fall Vegetables To Plant In Summer For A Bountiful Fall And Winter Harvest
While we may currently enjoy the amazing summer harvests from our gardens, now is also a good time to think about which fall vegetables to plant to enjoy when fall and winter come around.
July and August are the perfect months to plant fall vegetables to be ready to harvest before the icy winter temps and frost hit.
Gardeners in hardiness zones 8 and up, where it is much hotter, can finally plant tender veggies such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Whereas gardeners in the cooler northern regions will have success growing vegetables such as root vegetables, cabbages, broccoli, and kale.
When fall arrives, your veggies should be settled enough to handle the cooler temperatures and frost. For this reason, it's imperative to start planning for and planting some of these lovely autumn veggies in the latter half of summer. This will ensure they are well developed when the cooler temperatures and frost arrive.
Scroll down for fall planting tips and 13 fall vegetables to plant in summer to enjoy them in fall and winter!
FALL GARDEN PLANTING TIPS
Most cool-season crops will do very well in the fall. Some veggies can tolerate frost to a degree during the winter months, and others not necessarily, depending on where you live. You might need some level of protection, such as burlap when the temperatures drop below certain levels.
Collards, cabbage, kale, and turnips can actually benefit from some light frost that may even end up making them taste sweeter and crispier.
I would advise researching your first frost date and date back the number of days to maturity to know when you need to plant your vegetables.
here is a fun printable for you to download, summarizing what and when to plant, with the average veggie maturing times.
Planning ahead for your fall garden is also the ideal time to reassess your garden beds. Remember, you don't want to plant crops from the same family consecutively. Crop rotation with different species is necessary to continuously introduce new nutrients into the soil and prevent the buildup of common shared pests.
You will probably plant where previous vegetables have already been growing, so I would advise adding some extra compost and fertilizer for optimal growing conditions for the new veggies.
If you live in a hot region, start by planting your seedlings in containers or pots and place them in semi-shaded areas. When the temperatures start to cool down, you can transplant the seedlings into your beds.
I would also advise starting cool-season crop seedlings, such as kale and broccoli, indoors. During these hot summer months, the soil and outside temperature might still be too hot for them. Then, when they are about 3 weeks old, you can transfer them outdoors, preferably on a cloudy day.
When you have sown or transplanted your veggies, top up the mulch in your garden beds. Since the days are still hot, mulch will protect your seedlings from excessive heat, pests, moisture loss, and possible flooding from rain. And during winter, mulch will keep your soil and plant roots warm.
If you want to plant seeds directly in the ground, you can speed up the germination process by dipping your seeds in water and leaving them in the refrigerator overnight. Then sow them in your garden the next day. This helps to keep your seedlings moist in these beginning stages while the temperatures are still high.
Read more HERE for more details on planning your fall garden, such as when, where, and how to plant, and deciding whether direct sowing or transplanting is better.
13 fall VEGetables TO PLANT in summer
Here is a free guide you can download for a quick reference on which veggies to plant in which zones and their average maturing times.
Beets
Beets are a fantastic fall crop. Sow late summer to early fall directly into the ground under your summer crops, such as tomatoes or peppers. This will provide some shade and protection against extreme heat. Beets can grow deep into winter and can handle some light frost.
Broccoli
Broccoli takes several months to mature, so choose a quick-growing variety and plant mid-to-late summer. Broccoli is quite sensitive to cold and frost, so it may need additional protection during the colder months.
Brussel sprouts
Brussel sprouts love the cooler weather in the fall and can grow through the winter into early spring under favorable conditions. Start your seeds indoors and transplant them outside when the weather starts to cool down. Brussel sprouts are not frost-hardy, so cover or bring them inside during frigid months.
Cabbage
Transplant your winter cabbage seedlings from now until late summer. Cabbage takes around 90–120 days to mature and can handle some light frost. With some cover, they can be harvested well into the winter.
Carrots
Carrots take a longer time to mature, so choose a fast-maturing or smaller variety. As with any root vegetable, direct sow from mid-summer to early fall. Carrots can stand some slight frost.
Cauliflower
Fall is a great time to grow cauliflower. It prefers mild temperatures, so plant outdoors when temperatures are consistently in the 70s and below. Cauliflower can tolerate little frost, so I advised planting soon enough to be ready to harvest mid-fall.
Herbs
Some herbs, like parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives, and mint, like the cooler, but not freezing, weather. Plant from late summer to early fall in containers to be able to move them around as needed.
Kale
Kale is one of the easiest cool crops to grow, and it can grow throughout the winter. Kale can tolerate frost, which can even improve the leaves' crispness and flavor. Direct sow mid-to late-summer.
Lettuce
Lettuce loves cool weather. You can transplant or easily grow lettuce from seeds from mid-August through the fall. It takes less than 50 days for lettuce to mature. Lettuce will require some protection against frost during the winter.
Peas
Peas love cold weather and will be ready to harvest within 50 to 60 days. Sow or transplant them mid-to-late August, when the temperatures are 70 degrees Fahrenheit or below. They’ll be ready to be harvested just before the first frost.
Pumpkin
Pumpkins need to be planted ASAP as they need 75 to 100 frost-free days to mature. They are sensitive to cold and frost, so you better get planting to have your pumpkin ready by October!
Spinach
Spinach seeds are perfect for winter sowing from mid-to late August. Spinach can tolerate the cold if protected. You can expect a harvest within 5 to 11 weeks, so harvesting can continue a few times into the fall months.
Tomatoes
For warmer southern regions, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant can still be planted in late summer to harvest crops until early winter.
There you have it, friends, gardening is not over! Now you know which fall vegetables to plant in July and August for an amazing fall and winter harvest.
Mother Nature allows us to grow almost right throughout the year, and that’s what I love about gardening!
Love, Annette xx
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I hope this helps and gives you some ideas!!!