Vegetables to Plant for Fall

The growing season for vegetables can extend well into the fall season. There are several varieties of vegetables to plant, grow and still reach harvest before fall ends. The days are cooler and there is usually more rain in the fall. These things combined translate to less stress on vegetables planted in fall weather. Vegetables will still need full sun to keep them happy and this means at least six hours per day.

Planting vegetable seeds will require the longest time to reach harvest . When starting fall vegetables by seed, the extra time for germination must be taken into consideration. But starting cool weather vegetable seeds in hot dry soil outdoors at the end of summer can be a bad idea. Germinating the vegetable seeds indoors is always an option. If the seeds are going to be placed directly in the hot garden soil, then be sure to keep them watered. Sow the seeds a little deeper where the soil is cooler and be sure to keep the soil shaded with mulch.

The seed packet will give the number of growing days needed to harvest the vegetables. It's better to add 2 to 3 weeks to that number for fall planted vegetables due to the shorter and cooler days in autumn. When trying to choose between two varieties of the same vegetable to plant, definitely pick the variety with the shortest number of days to maturity. Some greens such as lettuce and spinach mature very quickly and can be planted in fall from seeds.

Transplanting vegetable seedlings will require much less time to mature which means harvesting fresh vegetables sooner. Look for vegetable seedlings at garden centers in late summer or early fall and buy them as soon as possible. Cruciferous plants (cabbage family) love cool autumn weather and are often available in nurseries and garden centers. These include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens and kale.

The shorter the growing season in your zone, the sooner you'll need to get the seeds and seedlings planted in the fall garden. Do a little research or call the local county extension office to find out the average first frost date where you live. This date will help determine the kinds of vegetables you can grow to a full harvest. The first frost doesn't mean the vegetables will die. There are actually several that can withstand a hard frost or freeze. For other fall vegetables, you can cover them, put them in a cold frame or pots. The pots can then be moved to a protected area on cold nights.

The following list of vegetables can withstand some frost in fall and temperatures down to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. A light frost is not going to damage them, but they will need some protection from a hard freeze. These vegetables are considered semi-hardy and include beets, cauliflower, carrots, celery, chard, endive, fennel, lettuce, parsnips and potatoes.

Vegetables that can withstand temperatures below 29 degrees Fahrenheit in fall are considered hardy. Some of these vegetables can even withstand temperatures that reach into the twenties. They are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, chives, collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, onions, parsley, peas, radishes, scallions, spinach and turnips.