This post will walk you through what to plant in your fall garden: 9 easy options.
Think it’s too late to start a fall garden? Not even close. Fall is actually one of the best planting seasons of the year.
Cooler temperatures, fewer pests, and vegetables that taste sweeter make it a perfect time to grow.
Depending on where you live, you still have time to tuck quite a few things into the soil before winter rolls in.
Here are nine crops (plus some extras by zone) you can plant right now.
Leafy Greens
Cool weather is salad season in the garden. Spinach, arugula, and lettuce all thrive in fall because shorter days and lower temperatures keep them from bolting and turning bitter.
Spinach is a hardy cool-weather green that thrives in Zones 2 through 9. It can handle light frosts, which actually make the leaves sweeter.
Sow the seeds directly in the soil and keep the ground moist while they germinate. For a steady harvest, plant a little every one to two weeks until your first hard frost.
Arugula is another quick grower, especially in Zones 3 through 9. It matures fast and can be cut as baby greens in just three to four weeks.
Sow the seeds directly and don’t worry too much about frost; arugula can handle the chill.
Lettuce is a versatile fall staple, best grown in Zones 4 through 9. Stick to leaf types like romaine, butterhead, or loose-leaf mixes.
They germinate quickly and can be harvested leaf by leaf over several weeks. If you’re in a warmer zone, give lettuce some partial shade so it doesn’t overheat.
Carrots
Carrots are a root crop that actually improves with colder weather. As temperatures drop, the plants convert starches to sugars, making the roots sweeter.
In Zones 3 through 9, you can still direct sow carrots in loose, rock-free soil so they grow straight and long. Keep the soil damp during sprouting, since carrots dislike drying out.
In warmer climates, carrots can be planted well into late fall and harvested through the winter, while in cooler areas, row covers or heavy mulch will help protect them from frost.
Marigolds
Flowers may not be the first thing you think of for fall planting, but marigolds are still worth it.
They attract pollinators and help deter pests like nematodes. Marigolds can be planted in Zones 2 through 11 and will continue blooming until frost takes them down.
In warmer climates, especially Zones 9 through 11, marigolds can flower right into December. Deadheading spent blooms will encourage more growth, and as a bonus, the petals are edible and add color to fall salads.
Onions
Onions are a long-term crop that pays off with patience. Fall is the right time to get them started, especially in Zones 6 through 10.
Plant onion sets or seedlings in late September or October, depending on your frost date.
In warm climates, onions can overwinter and mature in the spring.
Cooler zones should focus on short-day varieties, which need less daylight to form bulbs and can handle the lower light conditions of fall.
Radishes
If you’re after quick results for your fall garden, radishes are a perfect choice. They can go from seed to harvest in as little as 25 to 30 days, making them one of the fastest crops you can grow.
Radishes do well in Zones 2 through 9 and are ideal for succession planting every one to two weeks for a steady harvest.
Because they don’t need much space, you can tuck them between slower-growing crops like broccoli or cabbage to make the most of your garden beds.
Brassicas
Fall is brassica season. These crops love cool temperatures and often taste better after a light frost.
Broccoli grows well in Zones 3 through 10, especially if you use transplants in cooler areas to ensure the plants mature before frost.
Cabbage is hardy and frost tolerant, growing best in Zones 4 through 10. In milder zones, cabbage can even overwinter.
Cauliflower is a little more sensitive but does well in Zones 5 through 9 as long as temperatures stay under 70 degrees and the soil remains evenly moist.
Kale and Brussels sprouts are two of the most cold-hardy brassicas, thriving in Zones 3 through 9. In fact, both crops taste sweeter after frost and can hold in the garden well into early winter.
Garlic
Garlic is a crop that requires patience but is absolutely worth it. It is best planted in fall in Zones 3 through 7.
Tuck individual cloves into the soil two to four weeks before the ground freezes. The garlic will root in before winter, then go dormant under the soil until spring.
By mid-summer, you’ll be rewarded with full bulbs ready to harvest.
Cover Crops
If your vegetable growing season is truly finished, consider planting cover crops to protect your soil.
Cover crops like clover, rye, or hairy vetch help prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and add nutrients back into the soil over winter.
They can be planted in Zones 3 through 10, though the specific type you choose should match your climate. By spring, your soil will be healthier and easier to work with.
Citrus and Herbs
For gardeners in warm climates, fall isn’t the end of the season — it’s the beginning of new opportunities.
In Zones 9 through 11, fall is an excellent time to plant citrus trees and hardy herbs like rosemary, thyme, and oregano.
Cooler temperatures help these plants establish strong root systems before the heat of summer returns, giving them a better start and increasing their chances of thriving long term.
It’s Not Too Late to Grow a Fall Garden
Fall gardening isn’t just possible, it’s one of the most rewarding times of year to grow.
Whether you’re sowing garlic cloves up north, tending brassicas in the middle states, or planting citrus trees in the south, there’s something for every gardener and every zone.
The key is choosing crops that fit your climate and taking advantage of what fall does best: cool-season greens, sweetened root vegetables, and hardy crops that thrive in chilly air.
Save this list as your fall planting guide, and share it with a friend who thinks gardening season ends in summer. With the right choices, your fall garden can be just as abundant, if not more so, than spring!
