Hot summer days are over, days are shorter, air is getting chilly, most of the veg are already ripe and you start to believe that this gardening season is coming to the end. Now all you have to do is clean-up the beds and wait till march to start new season. But what if I told you that there is still time to grow some veggies from the seed? There are some varieties of vegetables that grow quickly and prefer colder months for growth. Stay with me and I’ll show you what they are.

Prepare for planting

As always, before you plant your seeds or seedlings, you need to check if these veggies will grow in your climate and how much sunlight your garden gets. Here you have some tips for planting a fall vegetable garden:

• Prepare your soil: Make sure your soil is well-prepared with compost and organic matter to support new growth.
• Watering: If you have dry weather, remember to water your plants, especially when they’re still establishing.
• Watch out for frost: Keep an eye on a forecast and watch out for first frosts. Cover your veggies with row covers or cloches.
• Mulching: Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and protect roots from temperature fluctuations.

1. Leafy greens

Arugula, beets, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and mustard greens all do well in cool weather. You can harvest them throughout the fall and even into winter in some climates.

2. Root vegetables

Beets, carrots, parsnips, radishes, and turnips can all be planted in early fall. They will mature over the course of the fall and can be harvested even after the first frost.

4. Brassicas

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kohlrabi and cauliflower can all be planted in early fall. But you need to remembser, that they will need to be started indoors from seed about 6-8 weeks before transplanting them outdoors.

5. Cover crops

Plants like clover, rye and vetch are perfect to plant as last in the garden. They improve soil quality, add nitrogen and prevent erosion. You plant them and basically forget about them. They’ll do their job and then day out throught the winter. Cover crops are gaining popularity, beecause they’re an eco-friendly and natural way to help your soil and improve its quality.

If you want to learn more about cover crops check out this post!

As you can see, your garden can continue to flourish with the right fall plantings. Embrace the cooler weather and enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting fresh, delicious vegetables well into autumn. With a bit of planning and the right choices, your garden can provide an abundant yield even as winter approaches. So, grab your gardening tools, get planting, and savor the joys of an extended growing season. Happy gardening!