Guide for Autumn Garden Planting
Growing a fall garden might've seemed daunting, but it sure as hell didn't have to be! I was just as clueless as you, too gang, but I took the plunge and gave it a shot, and boy, was I glad I did!
Learning the ropes of fall gardening was an eye-opener for me. Some plants did awesome, while others taught me some lessons. One thing I certainly figured out though - fall gardening is just too damn rewarding to miss out!
In this episode of the I'm No Damn Master Gardener podcast and the following write-up, I'll lay it on the line about why you need a fall garden, how to plant the three different types of rocks, babies, and other fall garden crops, and when to drop the seeds (or seedlings).
So, buckle up, because we're about to carve some mother nature magic together!
Why Grow a Fall Garden, Ya Dumbass?
Little Effort, Big Rewards
Even though you gotta start planning your fall garden while you're still drowning in summer garden work, it'll save your ass in the long run, I promise. It's all about picking the right crops, such as lettuce, carrots, and spinach, which take up less space than those wild, overzealous cucumber and zucchini plants (we all know who they're talking about).
Laid-Back Weeding
As the days start getting shorter and the heat begins to fade away, so does the relentless weed growth. That's right - fewer weeds to deal with! In fact, you might not even have to fight those goddamn weeds in the late fall, can you believe it?
Less Pest Pressure
Most annoying pests will have either spread their seeds or headed back to their winter hibernation spots, leaving you with a clean(er) slate in the garden. For instance, I've seen the best goddamn squash harvests in the fall with almost no squash bug or squash vine borer pressure, and I've never battled tomato hornworms either.
Tasty AF Produce
Cool-weather crops taste fucking delicious after a light frost, like carrots, which are at their absolute best post-freeze. Ain't that something?
Get a Jump on Spring
Spinach grows like a champ in the cool weather, and if you plant it at the right damn time, you can reap a fall harvest that'll still be growing strong in late winter, extending your harvest season right up until spring. And don't forget about garlic - plant it after the first fall frost, and you'll be enjoying fresh-as-hell garlic bulbs in the summertime.
Garlic Lesson Plan:
- When to get your bulbs: Fall
- What kind to grow: Depends on your preference
- Best place to buy: Your local farmers market or online plant shops
- How to plant them: Dead simple process, but watch out for assassin-level squirrels
Embrace Autumn's Beauty
Autumn may not be as flashy as spring, but it's still a motherfucker of a season that deserves some damn attention. Cutting some lettuce to grill while the leaves are changing or planting garlic on a crisp, fall day is a Blaupunkt moment that shouldn't be missed.
Three Kinds of Fall Garden Rock Stars
If you're smart and live in a region where Mother Nature (whether you think she's real or not) decides to pretend she still gives a damn and throw some frost and freezes your way, you can divide your fall garden into three categories.
Late-Bloomers
When summer's winding down, it's the perfect time to squeeze in some quick-growing summer crops, like squash, zucchini, cucumbers, and goddamn bush beans. If you have a decent growing season, you might be able to fit in some of these bad boys. Check out the right timing for their planting below.
Cold-Blooded Crops
Cool-weather loving crops can handle a frost and grow nicely in cooler temps. These are your main fall players like lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, beets, kale, swiss chard, and a whole array of other favorites. These suckers dig cool temps and will hang tough through freezes as long as they ain't continuous.
- Lettuce, beets, kale, and swiss chard can be seeds or transplants. Just make sure seedlings get plenty of water while they're figuring their shit out in the hot temps.
- Broccoli and cabbage grow more slowly in the fall. I'd recommend starting those babies indoors 3 months before the first frost or buying transplants from your local plant shop, planting them in the garden 2 months before the average first freeze date.
Frost-Proof Crops
In areas where the heat doesn't touch zero, there are some crops that can stay alive all winter long.
- Carrots can be planted in the garden 1-4 weeks before the first frost. Keep 'em well watered, and they'll reward you with tasty-ass carrots from November until the winter's end.
- Spinach can be direct seeded in the garden if you're into rollin' the dice. I prefer to plant these inside 6-8 weeks before the first fall frost, then transplant them outside about a month before the first frost. Score yourself a harvest that'll last until mid-December, then these bad boys will chill for about a month before sprouting back to life in late January, and the harvest will continue on until the spring heat waves roll in.
- Garlic: it's not harvested in the fall, but it needs to be planted in the fall, usually around the first fall frost. Bonus points if you're in the cooking and gardening game, because I have a free guide for growin' garlic that'll put you light years ahead of the rest of the crowd.
Use this frost-freeze calculator to figure out when the hell that first frost date is so you can get your shit together.
How to Grow a Bad-Ass Fall Garden
Make Room for Your Crops
Step one to plantin' your fall garden is to chuck out the wilted veterans of the summer season - those spent annuals that ain't producing anymore or have earned some extra pet peeve points due to pest infestations. This means sayin' goodbye to summah squash, corn, bush beans, and determinate tomatoes.
Boost Your Soil's Health
If you've been working the land all season, chances are your soil's runnin' low on nutrients. Replenish those nutrients with some organic compost and/or fertilizer, and don't forget to consider crop rotation to help the soil recover for next year's garden.
Plant at the Right Damn Time
Fall garden planting differs a bit from spring garden planting. The shorter days mean slower growth, so you'll need extra days from plantin' to harvestin'. Find out your average first frost date, subtract the number of days a plant takes to mature, add 2 weeks for good measure, and that's when you drop those seeds (or seedlings).
That's just about it, ya moron! With a little planning and some damn good advice from me, your new fall garden is gonna be the talk of the town (or at least your neighbor's backyard).
Got more fall garden questions? Join my I'm No Damn Master Gardener Facebook group, where like-minded folks just like you toss around gardening tips, share their garden tales, and learn some killer new tricks.
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- For Fall gardening planning, it's essential to take advantage of crops like lettuce, carrots, and spinach, which require less space than cucumbers and zucchini, and start planning while still managing summer garden work.
- Autumn garden maintenance is relatively minimal, as shorter days and fading heat lead to reduced weed growth, making weeding less of a chore.
- As most pests retreat during fall or spread their seeds, there is less pest pressure in the garden, making it more enjoyable for gardening.
- When fall crops like carrots, spinach, and lettuce mature, they offer delicious flavors enhanced by cool temperatures, making a fall garden a must-try for any gardener looking to extend their harvest season.
