What should I do in my garden during the fall? (ASK Advice)

While the new school year ramps up this fall, your garden can get a fresh start too! Fall is often associated with harvesting slow-growing crops planted earlier in year season, but it can also be time to plant fast-growing crops and frost-tolerant plants. Even if you don’t plant anything new, it’s a good idea to pay attention to your garden in the fall to get it ready for winter and the following spring. Here are some ideas to consider!

Planting a fall garden

Cool-season plants and fast-growing vegetables make for a great last harvest of the season. Many of these are frost-tolerant, meaning they can survive brief temperatures drops below 32 degrees. If you live in a warmer part of the country, you might even be able to grow a second round of squashes, bush beans, tomatoes, or cucumbers, especially if you take care to cover them for protection once the weather gets colder.

It will involve a little bit of math to figure out when your latest planting date will be based on your local climate. First, check the Old Farmer’s Almanac to see when the first frost is expected in your area. Then, look up the plant you’re thinking of planting to see how long it takes from seed until harvest (or until bloom for flowers). If you count backwards from the first frost date, you can figure out the last day you should consider planting fall crops. You might be able to plant anytime between July and October, depending on your USDA hardiness zone. Here are some popular fall crops to consider:

• Leafy greens: spinach, leaf lettuce, arugula, mustard greens, and many others can be ready to harvest within 40-50 days! Check the specific variety you’re interested in.
• Root veggies: radishes and beets also have a quick harvest timeline. Radishes can be ready in as little as 3-5 weeks!
• Winter-hardy vegetables can survive down to 20 degrees: broccoli, cabbage, kale, turnips, and carrots. These last two can be left in the ground to be dug up even in early winter!
• Cool-season annual flowers: pansies and violas. If these go into the ground as seedlings in the fall, they can keep blooming during mild winter weather. Many pansy and viola varieties actually grow edible flowers, if you’d like a colorful salad garnish as a bonus.

You can even look into setting up a tunnel (a frame of hoops covered in plastic or fabric) if you’d like to keep your plants warm and extend your growing season even longer! Learn more about low tunnels here.

Looking ahead to spring

Even if it’s too late for a fall harvest, now is a good time to get bulbs and perennials in the ground that will overwinter to green up in the spring!

• In the vegetable garden, garlic cloves are usually planted in October or November to harvest the next year. In warmer climates, onions are often planted in the fall as well.
• Flower bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, also go in the ground around October once the weather is consistently 55-60 degrees. This temperature range triggers root growth to have a solid foundation before the winter frost sets in.
• Snapdragons are a frost-hardy plant that is considered a short-lived perennial, depending on your growing zone. If you plant a snapdragon seedling in September, you’ll be able to enjoy the blooms in the fall and again the following spring/summer!
• Perennial trees/shrubs: fall is a good time to plant any of these you have planned for your yard, since they will focus more on establishing roots during the cooler weather.

Preparing for winter

Whether or not you plant anything new this fall, there are some steps you can take to ease your garden’s transition into the colder months:

• Dispose of any diseased plant materials to so they don’t harbor pathogens in your yard for repeat issues next year.
• Mulch your garden beds, for example with compost, to shield plant roots from abrupt temperature changes and build up organic matter. This is a great use for any fallen leaves if you’re in the habit of raking!
• Divide perennials such as hostas or daylilies to propagate more plants and to prevent overcrowding. Learn more here. 
• Fall is a great time to do your annual soil test so you’re on schedule for the coming year.

Do you have any favorite tips or traditions you’ll be following in your garden this fall? Share them with us in the comments below!