With open arms, we welcomed fall on Friday. Whether that means you're waltzing out the front door with a jacket in hand and light scarf draped around your neck, or just happy that it's not above 100 degrees every afternoon, there are a few things that are perfect for planting right now.
The best part? Whether you have a container garden on the balcony or raised beds in the backyard, these will grow for you—and quickly, too.
Here's what we planted from seed last week and look forward to harvesting this season (you'll notice the "leafy greens" theme in no time):
• Kale
• Spinach
• Lettuces of every variety (for smaller gardens, choose leaf varieties; if you've got the space, try for head lettuce)
• Swiss Chard
• Herbs: cilantro, chives, rosemary, parsley, sage, and thyme
And if you're in a warmer climate, you can even try planting a few tomato transplants. Look for larger transplants at your local nursery, preferably with blooms already on the stems. No matter where you are, it's wise to ask your local gardening expert for any tips for a successful fall growing season.
What are you planting in your garden now?
Related posts:
• Garden Envy: 10 Inspiring Gardens
• Notes on Starting a Vegetable Garden
• Food Map Containers: Portable Vegetable Gardens
(Image: Flickr member gimmefood, licensed under Creative Commons)
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I'm trying my first fall garden this year - lettuce, beets, and kohlrabi. I've bent hoops to hold plastic over the plants, as my zone 5 garden won't last long unaided.
My biggest problem is that here in Utah, finding transplants is not easy this time of year.
About a dozen brassicas, chard, dill, leeks, potatoes (experimental), lettuces. If the soil were looser I'd add turnips, carrots and beets.
About a month and a half ago I tried to buy fall seeds at my favorite garden supply store and they were all gone! I asked the cashier where the seeds were (in case I missed them, they keep things in odd spots sometimes, I spent 20 minutes searching for perlite before asking for help, it was tucked in a corner near the entrance of the store with the exotic house plants!) and she said they didn't have any, that the seed companies had come and picked them up and explained to me that it's too late to plant anything right now anyway. I just stared at her, not sure if she was serious or if I should mention fall planting (it was the middle of August zone 5/6, central Ohio!)... then she said that I could plant some fall crops right now, but that they were all out of seeds.
I didn't feel like repeating that weird experience in any other gardening stores so I went online and got some new seeds from Botanical Interests. I have some dwarf blue curled kale, a few lettuces, some pansies, dill, spinach and corn mache on my balcony and I'm getting ready to transplant a bunch of perennial herbs to my community garden plot!
Already freezing at night here, you may want to mention zone limitations when you post planting advice.
Lou Bear, I had the same experience at the hardware store. Guess who had a whole display of seeds specially selected for fall planting? Whole Foods!
We're trying our first fall garden with green beans, sugar snap peas, radishes, lettuce, spinach, chard, and kale. I'm so optimistic that I've cut back to a half-share of my fall CSA. (I'm in DC.) Let's hope it works!
I was thinking about trying to plant some fall crops. I don't even know what zone I'm in, we live in such a microcosmic area (on the west coast of BC). 7 or 8, I suppose. The extent of my fall planting experience: if I plant garlic around Halloween, I get some pretty decent heads the next summer.