These vegetables to plant in the fall –radishes, onions, collards, and more — will give hardy fall dishes their fresh element.
Don’t despair if your summer garden didn’t go according to plan. First of all, know you are not alone. It was a wet, soggy, soaking summer around our parts and the gardens grew fungi instead of tomatoes this year.
I have great news if this was your garden: It’s time for fall planting. Squeal!
I have had the most wonderful time the past couple of weeks putting in my fall garden. It’s been cool and refreshing, and I have found complete and utter joy in ripping out my soggy, sad, dilapidated summer plants. Good riddance! There is nothing like a fresh start, especially in the garden.
Vegetables to Plant in the Fall
1. Radishes
Radishes are a quick and easy crop. Children love to grow them because it’s almost instant gratification. Simply sprinkle some seeds in the ground and cover with a little dirt. Sprouts will appear in a couple days and harvest comes in four short weeks. Just make sure they get some water a couple of times a week.
2. Onions
We go through bushels of onions. I plant onion sets in spring for a summer crop and again in fall. Onions are great for the novice or anyone who thinks they can’t garden. Onions attract few pests, diseases and troubles.
3. Swiss Chard
I put in some Swiss Chard this fall. It will add some color to my salads (and my garden).
4. Sugar Snap Peas
I have four children who eat sugar snap peas like candy. This is another cool season crop that can be grown in spring or fall. Sugar snap peas like to have something to climb and are another low maintenance crop.
5. Collards
Collards are a must in the South. We eat them as a side dish with vinegar around these parts. We also eat turnip greens and mustard greens, but I decided to give the collards a try this fall.
6. Zucchini and Yellow Squash
If you are like me and haven’t had your fill of squash casserole, zucchini bread and stir fry veggies, it may not be too late to stick another squash plant in your garden.
Here in Kentucky, we can have warm temperatures throughout fall. I stuck some new squash plants in for a fall harvest. It may be too late depending on when the first frost hits your area. Squash plants are simple to grow from seed and if they don’t work out – it’s not a huge loss.
7. Broccoli
I also put some broccoli out this year because I’ve lost my mind and must be in the mood to scream at fat green worms. I have a real cabbage worm epidemic here at my little farm. I have been using a little diatomaceous earth on the broccoli hoping to keep the cabbage worm army away. We’ll see!
8. Lettuce
My oldest daughter planted a few rows of lettuce in her bed (each of my four children have their own bed). Lettuce grows quickly and as long as the slugs haven’t found it, you shouldn’t have too much trouble.
9. Kale
10. Beets
11. Spinach
I also put in some kale, beets and spinach seeds. There is not much to see just yet, but give them a couple weeks and they’ll be coming along.
Fall Planting
September is a beautiful time. It is out-with-the-old in-with-the-new time. If your summer garden was a bust, a failure, a disappointment – take heart: There’s always fall! Don’t be afraid to get back on the horse, dig in the dirt, and plant something today.
