Fall is the perfect time to grow vegetables, but which are best? No matter where you live, there are plenty of options for you to choose from! We have compiled a list of 9 vegetables that will thrive in the fall and give you delicious food for your table.
Carrots
Carrots are root vegetables and can be sown in the fall. They do best with cool soil, so the autumn months may not be the best time to plant them if you live in an area that is hot during this season. You can sow carrot seeds directly into your garden or start them indoors before transplanting them outside when they get bigger.
Carrots like loose soil that has been well-worked and enriched with composted manure, but you will want to avoid adding too much fertilizer as this vegetable does better with less nitrogen than some other plants need. The carrots should really take off once temperatures drop below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius) at night because their roots grow deeper, making their flavor more intense and sweeter!
Broccoli
Broccoli needs cooler weather and rich soil with plenty of water. This vegetable can be grown from seeds or transplants. The best time to plant them outdoors is when all danger of frost has passed, and daytime temps stay consistently above 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 Celsius). If you live where the temperatures are milder during the autumn months, then transplanting your plants may be easier as they will have less shock from being moved outside into their final growing spot after having been indoors for several weeks.
You must keep an eye out for cabbage worms that will attack this vegetable along with other members of its family, such as cauliflower so try using natural pest control.
Beets
There are several different types of beets, so before you decide which to grow, learn about their differences to choose the type that will work best in your climate zone and your personal tastes! You can start seeds indoors if it is still too cold outside for them or wait until spring when temperatures warm up again. Be sure to give this plant plenty of water as dry soil may cause crooked growth with misshapen roots.
Harvesting time depends on the variety; some take 50 days while others need 70-85 days (or even longer) depending on how grown and what kind you planted. Beet leaves make a great addition to any salad, but a harvesting or picking them too early will cause the roots to become bitter.
Brussels Sprouts
Do you love eating Brussels sprouts but don’t like how long it takes for them to mature? Well, fall might be your favorite time of year if this is something that frustrates you since these vegetables grow best in cooler weather and can stay fresh longer! You’ll need patience, though, as they usually take about three months from planting until harvest.
Start with a head start indoors or set out transplants when there is no threat of frost and daytime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (11 Celsius). Keep an eye on slugs because they eat holes into Brussels leaves along with other members of its family, such as cabbage so try using natural pest control.
Cabbage
Who doesn’t love a fresh, crisp cabbage salad? This vegetable can be grown from seed or transplants and is best started indoors if the weather in your area becomes too hot before transplanting outside after all danger of frost has passed. Cabbages need rich soil that drains well as they do not like their feet to sit in water!
They also prefer cool temperatures, so you may have better luck growing them during spring and autumn rather than summer, making harvest time late into fall or even early winter depending on how long it takes each variety to mature. If slugs are a problem where you live, try using natural pest control such as Sluggo since this plant needs moist soil but cannot tolerate standing water.
Cauliflower
Are you looking for a fall vegetable that tastes great, is easy to grow, and can be stored in your root cellar? Then this might be a perfect choice! Cauliflower needs cooler weather but will not tolerate frost or standing water, so choose an area where it can get plenty of sunlight without having wet feet. This plant usually takes about three months from planting until harvest time, although some varieties take longer before eating.
Kale
If your family loves eating kale, you might want to consider planting some this fall! Kale is best planted from seed (although it can be transplanted) and needs rich soil that drains well since they do not like their feet sitting in water. They also prefer cool temperatures, so you may have better luck growing them during spring and autumn rather than summer, making harvest time late into fall or early winter depending on how long it takes each variety to mature.
Onions
Fall is the perfect time for planting onion sets because these vegetables grow quickly but need cooler weather without frost, along with moist yet well-draining soil. If you live in a region that is too hot for onions, plant them during the spring and harvest as they mature, or try growing leafy green vegetables such as kale instead since these require less heat to grow and thrive at this time of year.
Onions taste great when eaten fresh but you can also store it if it is thoroughly dry before placing them into mesh bags (or pantyhose) and hanging them up inside your root cellar with temperatures around 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12 Celsius).
Potatoes
If you have plenty of room to grow potatoes, then fall might be the perfect season! Potatoes need rich soil that drains well, so choose an area that receives lots of sunlight without wet feet. This plant usually takes about three to four months from planting until harvest time, although some varieties take longer before eating.
Conclusion
Fall is a great time to grow vegetables in the garden. These top eight veggies are some of the most popular fall crops, and they can help you get through the winter months with tasty, healthy produce.
