Why You Should Plant a Vegetable Garden this Fall

By the time fall rolls around, your vegetable garden is all done and burned out, right?  Wrong!

What if we told you that you could add another couple of months to your vegetable garden’s production if you’re based in central Ohio?  What else would you do in your garden?  Which vegetables would you plant?  Here are some ideas as well as what vegetables are best to plant in the fall in central Ohio. 

What to Plant in the Fall

Leafy Veggies

Lettuce, collards, kale, and spinach grow well in fall’s cool weather.  Plus, you’ll fight with fewer insects competing with you for your leafy veggies and your plants will bolt less than they do in summer’s heat.

Sow leafy veggies in August or early September to give them a chance to mature before central Ohio’s first hard frost, which is usually around October 20.

Cabbage

Cabbage is a cold-season crop.  In fact, fall-harvested cabbage often tastes sweeter than spring-grown cabbage.  Also, you avoid the danger of the cabbage bolting when you plant it for the fall. 

Plant cabbage in a sunny area with rich, well-drained soil about six to eight weeks before fall’s first frost.  Place mulch around the plants to protect them and use a frost blanket if necessary.  Cabbage can tolerate temperatures down to twenty degrees Fahrenheit.

Herbs

Many herbs are perennials that you can enjoy year after year.  Perennial herbs that do well in Ohio include sage, marjoram, chives, mint, and oregano.

You can also enjoy flat-leaf parsley as long as it is green and until the coldest temperatures hit.  After that, flat-leaf parsley will go to seed.

Basil is another popular herb that you can sow in the fall and reap the benefits before winter.

Rosemary has a chance at surviving Ohio’s winters if you add thick mulch around it for protection.  But it’s safest to keep it in a pot and bring it indoors during the winter.

You can also try your hand at saffron.  Yes, saffron—the most expensive spice in the world.  Saffron is a fall-blooming crocus.  Admittedly, you will need to plant these bulbs in the spring, but after that initial planting, you’ll be able to harvest their red stigmas each November for many years.

Root Vegetables

Late summer and early fall are the perfect times to sow beet, carrot, and parsnip seeds.  You may even be able to harvest these root veggies during the winter.

Garlic

Garlic is one of our favorite veggies to grow in the fall, because it is versatile in the kitchen and easy to grow.

You can use the cloves from the store, but you may accidentally introduce unknown viruses and diseases into your garden.  The most surefire way to grow garlic that is healthy and disease free is by purchasing seed garlic from a local garden center.  Your local garden center can also advise you of what garlic varieties to plant and if you should plant elephant, hardneck, or softneck garlic.

Plant garlic in mid-October or early November.  The cool soil will give the garlic a chance to establish a strong root system.  Also, make sure that it is in a sunny, well-drained spot.  Then, cover the garden bed with three to six inches of mulching.  Harvest the garlic in late spring or in mid summer.

Radishes

Plant radishes about four to six weeks before fall’s first frost.  These plants need at least six hours of sunlight each day, but they can easily grow in beds or pots.  Ensure that the soil is consistently moist to prevent your radishes from cracking and splitting.

Tips for Planting Fall Veggie Gardens

Jumpstart Your Plants

If you want a jumpstart on your seeds, then germinate them inside.  You can use a grow light to speed up the germination process, or you can buy the plants already started at a local Ohio garden center, such as Timbuk Farms.

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch

Mulching is great for protecting your plants from particularly cold weather.  It is also a way you can reuse organic material, such as grass clippings and leaves, that you get from cleaning your garden.

Give Plants Extra Nutrients

You can give your plants extra fertilizer to encourage them to grow and extend their lives in the fall.  Also, fall is the perfect time to fertilize your shrubs and trees.

Different plants require different fertilizers.  Perennials want a low-nitrogen and high-phosphate environment.  Bulbs that are planted in September and October enjoy phosphorous for their roots.  If you’re unsure what fertilizer is right for your plants, feel free to ask us at Timbuk Farms.

Check the Seed Packets

Some varieties of vegetables grow faster than others.  Check the seed packets to determine if you have enough days left to grow the plant to harvest.

Other Fall Garden Activities

In addition to planting more veggies during the fall, some other gardening activities include:

• fertilizing your shrubs and trees,

• planting new shrubs and trees,

• pulling spent annual plants,

• cutting back perennial plants as needed,

• composting organic waste,

• making a list of things you want to change or keep the same for your garden, and

• stocking up on seeds for next year’s garden.

Need Help?

If you’re unsure about anything or would like some help, please don’t hesitate to stop by Timbuk Farm’s garden center.  We’re a family-owned business and we grow everything locally.  We know Ohio gardening, and our garden experts are happy to answer any questions you have about your garden and how to make the most out of your fall garden.