Autumn is one of the most wonderful times in the garden. The morning air is crisp and cool, the weeds and insects are beginning to die down, and we are finally enjoying the harvest of our long-season crops. I love spending autumn days in the garden so much that I tend to plant almost as much in autumn as in spring. Thankfully, there are some great fall plants that I can sneak in this time of year that provide spring abundance.
What Plants Can I Plant This Fall?
The fall planting list is surprisingly long! If you’re willing to put in the work, there are several flowers, herbs, and vegetables that can be planted in the fall for amazing spring flowers and harvests.
Flowers Grown in Autumn
Fall planting brings spring flowers! If you want early flowers, autumn planting is a must. There are many different types of fall-grown flowers, so I’ve divided them into two categories: those you grow from bulbs, corms, tubers, or roots, and those you start from seed. Flowers that you can start from seed are usually those varieties that have a natural self-seeding habit that drops seeds each fall and spreads.
Bulbs, Corms, Tubers, and Roots
- anemones (Anemone spp.)
- Checkered Lily (Fritillaria meleagris)
- Crocus (Iridaceae spp.)
- daffodils (Narcissus spp.)
- Dutch iris (Iris x Dutch)
- German Iris (Iris x in Germany)
- Hyacinth (Hyacinthus spp.)
- Oriental Lilies (Lilium orientalis)
- Ornamental Alliums (Allium spp.)
- peonies (Paeonia officinalis)
- Snowdrop (Galanthus spp.)
- tulips (Tulipa spp.)
The seed
- Bachelor Buttons (Centaurea cyanus)
- Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
- Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)
- Dara (Daucus carota)
- Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)
- Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea)
- Johnny Jump-Ups (Viola spp.)
- Larkpur (Delphinium spp.)
- Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia spp.)
- Snapdragons (Antirrhinum spp.)
- Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)
Fall Planted Herbs
Although the flowers are usually it seems like focusing on fall, there are plenty of cold or perennial herbs to start this fall.
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Fever
- Mint
- Parsley
- Thyme
Autumn Planted Vegetables
Hardy greens are one of my favorite fall crops. Winter vegetables will usually start growing well during the warm days of February and March when we start finding out more daylight. They are ready to harvest long before any indoor seed or spring-started crop! I have divided the vegetables into groups so that it is easier to find the type of plants that you like.
Alliums
- Bulb onion
- Garlic
- Perpetual Onion
- Shallots
Brassicas
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
Beans
Green
- Arugula
- Claytonia
- Columns
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Mustard greens
- Spinach
- Swiss Chard
Roots
- Beans
- Carrots
- Daikon Radishes
- Rutabagas
- Potatoes
- Turnips
When Can I Plant These Fall Plants?
The answer to this question depends on both the crop and the location. Those in New England will need to plant much earlier than those in the Deep South, but it also depends on what you’re growing.
For example, you should plant tulips only when the soil temperature has cooled. For those in northern areas, you may be able to install them as early as September, but waiting until late December may be fine for those in the south.
Learning about your hardiness zone and using a garden planning app can help you make better decisions about planting dates.
Do These Crops Need to be Protected?
Again, this depends on the decision and location. In warm, southern climates, all of these plants will need less protection than they do in northern climates. Actually, those in the deep south may need to continue tilling and watering as usual in the fall months.
However, in many areas, these plants, especially autumn vegetables, benefit from others type protection. For root crops and alliums, this may mean a thick layer of grass or hay mulch around the base of the plant to provide some insulation. For vegetables and herbs, planting in a hoop house or cold frame or installing low tunnels with wire and clear plastic is fine.
Most flower bulbs, corms, roots, and tubers do best when they get a layer of mulch after planting, but they should come with instructions. On the other hand, flower seeds usually do well without protection. Some seeds, such as echinacea, actually need a period of coolness and humidity to grow well.
Finding good produce during the winter months can be a challenge, even in the south. Shorter days mean less plant growth, even when the weather is warm. That said, you may still want to consider some of these fall plants. If sown in the fall, these flowers, herbs, and vegetables will provide more spring production. Get a jump on 2025 with these beautiful fall-grown plants.
Source link
