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Five Planting Strategies for A Tasty Fall Vegetable Garden

Written by Nicole Holland

From crisp salads to sturdy side dishes on your autumn menus, growing a fall vegetable garden provides tasty, fresh produce beyond the summer months.

In North America, the time to plant vegetables for a fall harvest is normally between mid-July and early August. Because timing is crucial for a successful fall harvest, it’s best to calculate planting dates based on your area’s first frost. You’ll find a convenient fall planting chart here.

One of the many benefits of the SFG Method is the ease of transitioning between growing seasons. As you harvest warm-weather squares in your grid, it makes room to get your fall crops started. Here’s a few of our favorites along with tips for a fantastic harvest.

Tomatoes – Fall is Round Two of This Versatile Fruit

Yes, you can still harvest tomatoes into the fall! In fact, the cooler nighttime air promotes quicker fruit ripening. The key to enjoying a second batch of fall tomatoes is selecting quick-maturing, determinant varieties. Many of us plant indeterminate tomatoes in the summer; their vine-like growing habit will produce fruit throughout the season. But determinant tomatoes are bush-like, grow to a fixed height (usually around 4 feet) and the fruit ripens all at once. However, it’s still a good idea to stake them or plant next to the trellis in your SFG for support. Some excellent varieties for a fall harvest are Celebrity, Better Bush, or Early Girl. If you are looking for heirloom or open-pollinated variety, try Rutgers or Roma tomatoes.

Brassicas – Loads of Color with Staying Power in the Fall Garden

This family of plants includes broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kohlrabi, rutabaga, bok choy, turnips, collards and mustard greens. Even radishes and arugula are brassicas! While broccoli and cauliflower can be difficult to grow in the spring (they often bolt too early), autumn’s crisp weather gives us a higher chance of success. Bonus: brassicas offer many fun (and healthy) color options such as purple broccoli, orange cauliflower or Red Russian kale.

The fall garden is also your chance to grow winter radishes like Black Spanish, Watermelon, Daikon, China Rose or German Giant. Winter radishes typically mature in 8-10 weeks and are ideal for long-term winter storage. Psst: don’t forget to harvest the greens for salads and sautés while waiting for the bulbs to mature!

Rooting for These Winners: Beets, Carrots, and Parsnips

Root crops like beets, carrots, and parsnips are great candidates for your fall SFG; check your “All New Square Foot Gardening Third Edition” for how many to plant per square. They come in a variety of colors, perform well in cool weather, and can last for several weeks if stored properly. Have you heard that root vegetables will have a sweeter taste after the first frost? Here’s why: these crops have evolved to survive cold temps by storing energy in the form of starch.

When the thermometer drops, the plant converts the starch into sugar which helps prevent cells from bursting under freezing conditions. This not only helps these plants thrive, but it makes them taste better, too. Choose varieties that are better for storing; as long as your Mel’s Mix™ doesn’t freeze you can even keep these crops in your SFG beds until you’re ready to harvest. Don’t forget to use a “top hat” for longer varieties!

Leafy Goodness: Lettuce and Spinach

While these can bolt quickly in the heat, they are easy to grow during the cooler months and don’t take a lot of space in your SFG. You can grow in part shade; just plant seeds in your available squares. Once they’ve formed a mature head, use the “cut-and-come-again” method to pick the outer leaves for a continuous harvest all fall and even into the winter.

Some varieties that perform well in heat and cold are Parris Island Cos, Rouge d’Hiver, Marvel of Four Seasons, and Ice Queen. As for spinach, disease-resistant, easy-cleaning Semi-Savoy is a popular home garden variety.

Last, but not Least: Legumes

While you may not think of bush beans for a fall garden, they mature so quickly that you can squeeze in a harvest before the weather gets too cold. Give Provider, Gold Rush, or Purple Queen a try. And if you have room on your SFG trellis or want to build one, snap or snow peas are beautiful, nutritious legumes that grow well in cooler weather. If you want to try something with a bit more color than the standard green, try the purple Sugar Magnolia snap pea variety in your fall garden this year.

Learn more about the Square Foot Gardening Method by taking the introductory course. 

Nicole Holland

Nicole Holland is a wife, mom, and avid gardener from Wilmington, Delaware (gardening zone 7a). Nicole has a master’s degree in plant and soil science and has been gardening at her home in the suburbs for over a decade. Her permaculture-inspired gardening methods and intensive planting strategies have allowed her to produce a variety of homegrown fruits and vegetables year-round on a small footprint. Nicole hopes to share some of what she has learned and inspire others to grow their own food. https://www.sowinginsuburbia.com/

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