Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:50 pm
While spring and summer are two great seasons for vegetable gardening, there is also a lot going on in the fall! However, many gardeners tend to leave the garden a bit abandoned. Between the falling leaves and the wilting or burning vegetation, one might be tempted to think that gardening is a waste of time. And yet, many plants thrive despite the cold. Flowers, herbs, vegetables… there is plenty to color the garden in autumn. So, gardening friends, discover quickly what you can grow between September and November!
Before planting, remember to make the soil “new”! After the summer, the soil is often dry and compacted. The soil has tended to be impoverished and there are traces left by the summer plantings: dying plants, dead leaves, roots, etc. Clean up the soil a bit and add some green manure to prepare the soil if you think it is necessary. Your fall vegetables will grow even better.
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1) The lamb’s lettuce
The period between September and October is ideal to sow some seeds in the garden without covering them. Keep the soil moist with a veil or burlap so that you can harvest them all winter. The lucky ones will even have some until early spring.
2) Spinach
Indispensable in a hot soup, a morning smoothie or in a pan-fried dish, spinach can be planted in winter. All you have to do is choose a winter variety, preferably planted in September. As soon as the first leaves appear, you will have to thin out the plantation by removing the less vigorous leaves. You will be able to consume your spinach within about three weeks.
3) Winter lettuce
Successful harvesting in fall and winter often depends on choosing the right varieties. Those that are more resistant to the cold are your best allies here. Winter lettuce is a good example that reminds lettuce lovers that they don’t have to go without once the summer season is over. A little tip: in your vegetable garden, consider planting lettuce in rows about 50 cm apart so that it has room to grow. Keeping the soil moist will keep it happy.
4) Carrots
This root vegetable can thrive even if the soil is cool. This is particularly the case for the rothild carrot, a late variety to be planted in October. However, you will need to make some arrangements such as mulching or a protective tunnel if the winters are particularly cold in your area. This allows for a harvest by the end of winter.
5) Garlic
Indispensable in the kitchen, garlic is generally sown in autumn, especially purple garlic and white garlic. To grow in a pot or in the ground, you will need a sunny spot, even in winter, and a well-drained soil. Garlic hates too much humidity. You can add a handful of sand to the soil if necessary.
6) Rutabaga
If the autumns are milder where you live, planting root vegetables is quite possible. We have already mentioned carrots, but rutabaga is another good example. It is not afraid of frost as long as the soil is well drained and mulched if necessary.
7) Chinese cabbage
Don’t have a green thumb? In that case, Chinese cabbage is your best option, because it is very easy to maintain. Moreover, it fears the sun and the strong heat. Of all the vegetables, it is perhaps the ideal candidate to have something to do this winter! You will find it very easily in garden centers to sow it or simply to transplant it. If you live in a temperate region, it should do very well in your vegetable garden. Otherwise, make room for it in a greenhouse or under a winter cover.
8) Watercress
If watercress thrives in autumn, it is mainly because it hates heat and sun. Enemy of drought, it likes to keep the soil moist, so remember to water its shallow seeds regularly. You will then just have to thin out the rows from time to time by removing damaged leaves.
9) Chicory
Colorful and delicious, chicory is always very popular with gardeners in winter, as it resists the cold rather well. Water regularly and thin out the rows from time to time to ensure that it is well cared for!
10) Arugula
Arugula hates heat. Autumn is therefore a good time to plant it (between September and October). It will take about 20 days to harvest the result of your labor.
In autumn, it’s not just about vegetables!
Of course, this article has only talked about fall vegetables. However, there are many varieties of plants that thrive in the fall. So, you can also totally consider planting flowers to color the garden with a thousand colors. There’s no reason to save beautiful flowerbeds for the spring season only! Dress up your outdoor spaces with tulips, dahlias, pansies, crocuses, peonies, irises, hyacinths, chrysanthemums, etc.