How To Plan A Fall Garden

A fall garden is my favorite type of garden! It is literally gardening throughout the fall season. Many people believe that gardening ends after summer harvest and that is not the case for many regions. Even if it gets crazy cold in your area, you can still either grow one more season to reap a harvest and/or grow throughout the cold weather.

The benefits of fall gardening includes extending your growing season, less pests, watering less, and better tasting vegetables. Here are a few tips to help you master your fall garden this year.

First Frost Date

According to the Almanac, A frost date is the average date of the first or last light freeze that occurs in spring or fall. This date is important because it will act as your deadline. When planning your fall garden, you want whatever you are growing to reach maturity by this date. This date will also serve as your guide which I recommend you allow one week give or take once you discovered your first frost date. You can find out your first frost date by visiting this site. In addition to your first frost date, you’ll find out a ton of information on weather conditions typically in your area and native plants in your zone. This is important because you want to grow what grows well in your area.

Days To Maturity

This is information can be found on your seed packet. In simplest term, it means how many days to harvest. This number is important because you will use it to count backwards from your first frost date to determine when you need to have your seedlings planted. for example, for spinach, days to maturity is 30 days. My first frost date is Dec 10th. It’s important that I plant my seedling by Nov 11th. See how it all works together? I like to plant a week ahead just in case the weather is off since our first frost date is truly just an estimate based on previous years.

Not sure what to grow? Check out this list – Fall Crops To Grow

Other Tips

Mulch to help retain moist, warmth, and protect from cooler weather. Always use organic mulch! You can use hay, straw, coconut coir, and wood chips. Most will eventually break down and add nutrients to your soil. G

Grow cool weather crops. Herbs such as cilantro and parsley prefer cooler weather. Brassicas and root vegetables are other crops who grow better when the temperature drops.

Have FUN!