How Can You Tell If There's Still Time to Plant Something in Your Fall Garden?
For those of us who love to step outside every day and harvest something yummy from our kitchen garden, the end of October is not the time to put our garden in hibernation mode for the winter. There are still so many amazing things we can grow, depending on what growing season we're in. Many plants can actually grow into late fall and well past the first freeze of the season.
While I’d love to give you a hard and fast rule for what you can still plant in your raised bed kitchen garden in the middle of fall, it will vary depending on where you live. There are, however, two factors to consider before you plant anything to steer your decisions no matter where you garden.
Factor #1 to consider before planting vegetables in the fall
How Many Days Do You Have Before the Weather Shifts?
Consider your climate, check your local forecasted temperatures, and determine how long you have before the current season changes. Here in the Chicago area, we're in the cool season, but our cold season is just around the corner.
Here's a breakdown of the different growing seasons:
- Cold Season - Average high temperature below 30°F (-1°C); guaranteed chance of frost
- Cool Season - Average high temperature between 31°F and 64°F; likely chance of frost
- Warm Season - Average high temperature between 65°F and 84°F; no chance of frost
- Hot Season - Average high temperature of 85°F (29.4°C) or above; no chance of anything close to cold
Using your local forecasts, do some math and figure out about how many days you have left in the current season.
Factor #2 to consider before planting vegetables in the fall
Which Vegetables for Fall Planting Only Need That Amount of Time to Grow and Produce?
Choose plants that will grow and produce within the time you have left in your current growing season, or if you're nearing the end of your season, begin planting in anticipation of your upcoming growing season.
My favorite cool season plants come from the lettuce family, and fortunately, I've still got time to grow more lettuce leaves before we transition fully into cold season. (Check out my list of the top ten salad greens to grow in the garden during cool season for all the leafy green possibilities.)
I could also plant members of the onion family that will overwinter in my garden. To prepare for the upcoming cold season, I could plant members of the carrot family, spinach family, and kale family, all of which can thrive in my winter garden with proper measures, such as frost cloth and cold frames.
Here's a helpful guide to seven fast-growing vegetables for fall planting that you can harvest in just 50 days. Explore the best herbs to grow in the fall; you can pot your favorite herbs up and bring them inside for the winter if you live in a colder climate.
No matter what you plant, give your seeds a really good watering in and keep them moist in the first seven to ten days after sowing to prevent them from drying out.
Leaves, Roots & Fruit Teaches You the Step by Step to Grow as a Gardener
Do you dream of walking through your own kitchen garden with baskets full of delicious food you grew yourself?
Nicole Johnsey Burke—founder of Gardenary, Inc., and author of Kitchen Garden Revival—is your expert guide for growing your own fresh, organic food every day of the year, no matter where you grow. More than just providing the how-to, she gives you the know-how for a more practical and intuitive gardening system.
Tips for Fall Planting
Even in October and November, my goal is to never stop planting or growing.
If frost is coming your way, here are the plants to remove beforehand, plus which plants can stand a little bit of frost and which can survive in your garden all winter long. Remember, removing plants that can't survive frost makes room for new plants to take their place now and push on into the spring.
Check out our fall garden checklist to get your garden set up for winter and be well prepared for the best garden ever next season.
Planting a Fall Garden Is Still Possible!
If you don't have your kitchen garden set up yet, don't feel like it's too late, even if frost is headed your way. There are still many plants you can grow throughout the winter, especially if you're in a milder climate. If you wait to set up your garden in the spring, you'll have missed an entire growing season, plus some of the best parts of early spring gardening. By setting up your garden now before deep winter arrives, you'll be primed and ready to grow before your final frost in the spring.
Learn more about setting up your own kitchen garden:
- Find a garden consultant near you in our Directory.
- Receive DIY help and planting plans through our online video course program: Kitchen Garden Academy.
- Get started with my book, Kitchen Garden Revival.
Whatever you grow in your garden, don't grow alone! We're here to help you have confidence and find success in the garden every step of the way, rain or shine, frost or scorching heat.
Here's to maximizing our growing time this fall!
