Gardening for the Fall & Winter

If you think spring is the only time you can plant in the garden, think again! You could be getting a lot more out of your growing season by including these late-season crops in your outdoor space.

These 5 veggies should be planted about 8 weeks before your first frost date to give them enough time to grow before the harvest. Several of them are the perfect companion to the soups and stews that make fall so cozy!

Kale

This is one of the hardiest plants you can include in your fall or winter garden. It stands up well in cooler (and even cold!) temperatures and becomes sweeter with a light fall frost. Kale can be grown in a fall planting from either seed or seedlings. Start seeds about 8 weeks before your first frost date.

We suggest harvesting kale leaves from the outside in, leaving small internal leaves to grow, so that you can have leaves at-the-ready for a longer harvest (potentially all season long!).

Turnips

One of the unsung heroes of the veggie world, turnips can be cooked in a variety of ways. They’re delicious roasted, mashed like potatoes, or incorporated into hearty winter soups. Plant these about 8 weeks before your first frost.

Carrots

Winter garden carrots are often sweeter than what you can buy in the store year-round, making these a very tasty late-addition to your garden. Cooling climate temperatures convert a carrot’s starch into sugar, making this a delicious snack or salad topper as the days get shorter. Start carrots from seed about 8 weeks from your first frost date.

Beets

These versatile root veggies are a terrific ingredient for soups, salads, oven bakes, and even risotto! Start your beets from seed at least 8 weeks before your first frost date to give the beetroots time to develop and mature.

Bonus – growing beets at home means you also get delicious and nutritious beet greens to dress a variety of recipes.

Lettuce

There are a lot of lettuce varieties to choose from, and many of them thrive in autumn's cooler temperatures. Start your lettuce from seed about 8 weeks from your first frost date.

Watering in the "off" season

If your sprinkler system is already off for the fall or winter season, or if you typically water your garden beds by hand, you can automate your garden watering with a Rachio Smart Hose Timer.