Plant Fall Veggies in Late Summer to Extend the Growing Season

While you may be enjoying the warm temperatures of summer, it is hard to think of fall, changing leaves and cool temperatures.  But, fall isn’t far away, which means it is time to get ready to plant cool-season veggies in your backyard vegetable garden.  Those of you who live in cold climates need to start planting right away. Gardeners in warmer climates have a broader planting window.

Before planting, you may want to add some compost and aged steer, horse or chicken manure to your garden soil to improve texture and add nutrients. Here’s how to make a DIY compost bin.

I have broken down vegetable planting dates by zone along with the types of vegetables that can be planted.

Fall Vegetables for Zones 3 and 4

August – kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, radish and spinach

October – garlic

Fall Vegetables for Zones 5 and 6

August – beets, radish, spinach and turnips

September – beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce (plant the beginning of the month), onion sets, spinach and turnips

October – garlic

Fall Vegetables for Zones 7 and 8

August – bush beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards and kale

September – beets, cabbage, carrots collards, leaf lettuce, onion sets, radish, spinach and turnips

October – garlic, onion sets, radish and spinach

November – asparagus and onion sets

December – asparagus

Fall Vegetables for Zones 9 and 10

Some warm season vegetables can be planted in these zones in fall

August – broccoli, bush beans, pole beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, peppers, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes and turnips

September – beets, broccoli, bush beans, pole beans, carrots, cauliflower, collards, cucumbers, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions (seed and sets), radish, summer squash and turnips

October – beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, onion (seed and sets), radish, spinach, strawberry and turnips

November – beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collards, kale, kohlrabi, onions (seed & sets), radish, spinach and strawberry

December – beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, kale, onions (seed and sets) and radish

All of these recommended planting dates are approximate. Check with your local cooperative extension office, which should be able to provide you with a vegetable planting calendar specific to your area.

So, what are you waiting for? Fall will be here before you know it, so get your favorite cool season vegetables in the ground before time runs out.