Fall Gardening: Seasonal Planting and Outdoor Chores to Keep Your Space Flourishing

Photo byhttps://homesteadandchill.com/

It's officially autumn, and if you're anything like me, the last busy days of summer, kids' school starting, and last-minute getaway trips have left my vegetable garden and, honestly, my yard a bit neglected. But with Fall being my favorite season and the looming dread of cold, dark days ahead, I am soaking up as much time outside as possible. Cleaning up my outdoor space and doing transitional seasonal planting will be a big part of my weekend plans. Many people let their garden beds rest once the season changes, but many food items can still be grown late into the new season, and you can plan for what you want to grow in the spring. Here's a breakdown:

Just some of what you can still plant and grow in the Fall:

Photo byNorman A. Plate

• Radishes
• • A resilient root crop that thrives in the cooler months is a perfect example of the potential of late-season gardening.
• Spinach
• • A versatile crop that can be grown all year round, making it an excellent choice for your autumn/winter garden. It thrives in moist soil, sunshine, and a little nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
• Beets
• • Sow seeds directly outdoors, and you can pre-soak seeds to help with germination.
• Kale
• • A hardy, cool-season green that grows best in the spring and Fall. The best time to plant is about six weeks before your first frost date in the Fall.
• Broccoli
• • An excellent seasonal crop can be planted in spring and Fall.
• Cabbage
• • Thrives on the cooler days of Fall to produce their robust heads.
• Swiss Chard
• • It is a semi-hardy vegetable crop and a fantastic cold-season crop. The best time to plant is 3–4 weeks before the first frost.
• Lettuce
• • Despite being a prime summer crop, Lettuce grows happily in the Fall. With some protection, you can produce the crop even into December.

Outdoor Fall Chores on the list:

Photo byDanielle Sykes

• You can prepare beds for spring planting if you're not doing any additional gardening.
• Plant spring bulbs, except tulips, in beds and lawns.
• Sow sweet peas for an early display the following year.
• Bring houseplants back indoors, checking for pests and diseases first.
• Cover slightly tender perennials with a thick mulch of straw or bark chippings.
• Move tender dahlia tubers and cannas inside.
• Turf or sow lawns.
• Make a woodpile shelter for wildlife.
• Prune hedges for the last time. Trim late-flowering shrubs to reduce winter wind damage.
• Plant shrubs, roses, trees, hedges, climbers, and fruit bushes.
• Plant tulips.
• Plant onions and garlic.
• Rake up fallen leaves and compost.

While this list is in no way exhaustive, I hope it has inspired you to give your garden or outdoor space a little extra love and yourself some more time outside in the fresh, crisp air. With a little planning and care, your garden can continue to thrive well beyond summer or give you a head start on next year’s growing season. So, roll up your sleeves, embrace the changing season, and enjoy the beauty of your garden’s transformation. See you out there!