August always seems a bit early to be thinking of our fall vegetable garden. Something about the sweltering weather makes autumn seem so far off. It also can feel overwhelming when you feel like you’ve just gotten a handle on growing summer vegetables when it’s already time to be planning for the next season!
If this is your first time considering a fall garden, we’ve got a simple step-by-step plan with 3 easy-to-grow cool weather vegetables so you can try your hand at fall gardening. Up for a bit more of a challenge? We have some suggestions to take your fall gardening skills to the next level.
To help take the overwhelm out of your first time, we’ve created a printable 4-week garden plan to help you stay on track for your first time.
Why a fall vegetable garden?
Many people take a break from gardening during the cooler months. But if your goal is to eat more local food or become more self-sufficient, learning how to grow beyond summer is a useful skill to have! Even a small fall vegetable garden is great for a consistent supply of fresh vegetables well into the colder months. Depending on your growing zone, you may even be able to grow your veggies year-round! Extra benefits to a fall garden? Less bugs, weeds, and sweat! It’s hard not to love growing in the autumn.
Be kind to yourself. Start Simple!
Set yourself up for success by starting simply your first year. Prevent overwhelm by limiting how many new crops you try to grow at once. It’s not easy even for a seasoned gardener to keep everything organized while trying to manage and preserve your summer vegetables AND plan for and plant your fall vegetable garden.
Fall Garden Considerations
Two things you’ll need to keep in mind when planning your fall garden is your local frost date and the amount of daylight you have. Fall vegetables need just enough time to mature before the nippy nights and shorter days arrive as both slow the growth process. For example, you want your kale ready to harvest when your first frost arrives so that you can be eating your kale during the fall rather than waiting for the plant to very slowly mature over the course of the season. Starting seeds indoor to transplant outside later is a great way to jump start your fall garden while your summer vegetables finish up.
Beginner Fall Vegetable Garden Plan
First things first, check your local frost date and then count back 12 weeks. Now you know when you need to start planting your fall vegetable garden. For example, our first frost date is November 5th this year, so we start prepping early to mid-August for our fall garden. Week 1 of our beginner fall garden plan corresponds to that 12th week back on your calendar.
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Supplies
- Kale seeds
- Collard seeds
- Radish seeds
- Seed-starting soil
- Seed tray or DIY starter pots
- Fluorescent grow lights (or a sunny window sill)
Week 1 – Gather supplies & start your seeds
Gather your seed starting supplies and get ready to plant your kale seeds. You’ll want to ultimately plant 4-5 plants per mouth to-be-fed. We’d recommend starting a few more seeds just in case they don’t germinate 100%. Plant the kale seeds about ½ inch deep in each hole.
Next level: Mastered kale already? Try starting swiss chard, spinach, arugula, lettuce, or mizuna seeds.
Week 2 – Direct sow collards
Direct sow your collard seeds right outside about ¼ to ½ deep and spaced 6-8 inches apart. Collards actually need the heat to germinate! So they are the perfect easy-to-grow green in warmer climates. If you are able to protect your plants from deep frost, you can raise your own New Year’s Day collard greens.
Next level: If you’re up for an adventure, try a unique fall veggie like kohlrabi. Or add some broccoli or cauliflower transplants.
Week 3 – Direct sow radishes
Direct sow your radish seed right outdoors. With a stick or your finger, create a mini-trench approximately ½ to 1 inch deep. Sprinkle seeds about an inch apart in the row. If you accidentally plant too close, you can thin later. If you want several harvests of radishes, plant a short row every other week to have a longer consistent harvest.
Next level: Try some other root crops like beets, turnips, carrots, or unique varieties of radishes.
Week 4 – Harden and transplant kale
Harden off your kale (and other greens you may have started in week 1) for a few days and then transplant to their new homes outdoors. Space the plants about 12 inches apart.
Next level: Consider planting garlic or onions to overwinter in your garden for a flavorful spring harvest.
You’ve done it! You now have a fall garden set up for success. Keep on top of the weeds and consider a fish emulsion fertilizer to feed those young plants. Look forward to some homegrown veggies on your plate as the seasons change and even have homegrown food on the Thanksgiving and Christmas tables!
