Plant These Crops Now for a Bountiful Fall Garden

Embracing the Fall Harvest: A Gardener’s Guide

By the middle of July, most gardeners are often feeling the burnout from summer gardening. The routine of dragging hoses, watering pots, and staking tomatoes becomes tedious. There's also the constant battle against mildew, blight, and the ever-present mosquitoes. And let's not forget the raccoons, woodchucks, and deer that seem to have a special interest in your garden.

Even though my Louisville garden has had plenty of rain lately, it only takes a few hot, dry days for me and fellow gardeners to start complaining about the lack of rain, with some even wishing for an early frost! But this is exactly the time to think about the third season of vegetable gardening — the fall harvest.

The fall season offers a glorious opportunity for another round of planting and harvesting. However, many home gardeners miss out on this chance because they're too focused on the summer's challenges. The cooler nights of fall make autumn gardening feel refreshing, like a cool drink of water. The plants don't dry out as quickly, the mosquitoes are less active, and the colors of the garden are more vibrant without the haze of summer heat.

The biggest challenge with fall vegetable gardening is that you need to prepare for it when you're most tired — right in the middle of summer. But this is precisely the time to start planning for the fall. July and August are ideal months for sowing seeds of crops that thrive in cooler weather. If started now, these crops will be ready for harvest just as the heat begins to wane.

Starting Fall Seeds Indoors

July is the perfect time to fill seed trays and sow seeds of broccoli, cabbage, and leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, and Swiss chard. If you're up for the challenge, it's also a great time to plant seeds of more difficult crops like cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. These can be started indoors and then transplanted into the garden between early August and early September.

While some may find Brussels sprouts unappealing, they are easy to grow from seed and can be a rewarding addition to your fall garden.

Direct Seeding in the Garden Bed

If you prefer direct seeding over starting plants indoors, August is the best time to sow seeds directly into prepared beds. Many leafy greens can be sown in late August or early September, allowing for a later but equally productive harvest. Even if you get distracted by chasing deer out of the garden in July, you can still plant these crops in August or early September.

Late summer is also an excellent time for direct sowing turnips, radishes, peas, beets, carrots, and collard greens. These crops thrive in the cooler temperatures of late summer and early fall.

Perennial and Fall-Planted Vegetables

Fall is a great season for establishing perennial additions to your garden, as well as crops that can be planted in the fall and harvested in the spring. Garlic, especially hardneck varieties, is a perfect choice for fall planting. You can plant garlic as late as late September or early October, giving you a second chance if you missed earlier planting dates.

Sorrel, known for its zesty flavor, can be either fall-sown or planted as a container-grown plant for an excellent spring harvest. While Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and oregano might be tempting, they are generally better suited for spring planting to ensure they survive the winter.

Final Tips for Fall Planting

When planning your fall garden, it's best to focus on crops with shorter growing seasons. While large cabbage varieties may look impressive, they may not have enough time to reach full size before the first frost. Opt for varieties that mature quickly, and check seed packets or catalog descriptions for estimated growth times.

The most important tip for fall planting is to simply take action. If you've never grown fall crops before, start with one or two. With minimal effort, you'll be rewarded with a bountiful harvest that could become a new tradition.

Paul Cappiello is the executive director at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, located at 6220 Old Lagrange Road, yewdellgardens.org.