Fall Gardening Guide
Wind down the season while preparing for next year's success
Fall at a Glance
Month-by-Month Fall Tasks
September
- Plant cool-season crops: lettuce, spinach, radishes
- Continue harvesting summer crops until frost
- Plant cover crops in empty beds
- Divide and transplant perennial herbs
- Take cuttings of basil and other tender herbs
October
- Plant garlic (4-6 weeks before ground freezes)
- Harvest and cure winter squash and pumpkins
- Remove spent plants before frost (compost or trash)
- Add compost and amendments to empty beds
- Protect tender crops with row covers
November
- Final harvest before hard freeze
- Apply heavy mulch to beds (4-6 inches)
- Clean, sharpen, and oil garden tools
- Drain and store hoses and irrigation
- Take notes on what worked this year
Fall Planting
Fall Crops to Plant
- • Garlic - Plant mid-October for next July harvest
- • Lettuce & spinach - Fast-growing, frost tolerant
- • Kale & chard - Sweeter after frost
- • Radishes - 30 days to harvest
- • Turnips - Both roots and greens
- • Asian greens - Bok choy, mizuna, tatsoi
When to Plant
- • Count back from first frost date
- • Leafy greens: 4-6 weeks before frost
- • Root vegetables: 6-8 weeks before frost
- • Garlic: 4-6 weeks before ground freezes
- • Use row covers to extend planting window
- • Transplants establish faster than seeds
Cover Crops
Cover crops protect soil over winter, add organic matter, prevent erosion, and suppress weeds. They're one of the best things you can do for your garden's long-term health.
Winter Rye
Hardy grass that overwinters. Plant through October (even November in mild climates).
Best for: Weed suppression, erosion control, adding organic matter
Crimson Clover
Beautiful red flowers, fixes nitrogen. Plant 4-6 weeks before frost.
Best for: Adding nitrogen, attracting pollinators, zones 6+
Field Peas
Fixes nitrogen, winter-kills in cold zones. Good mixed with rye.
Best for: Nitrogen fixation, quick growth, mixed cover
How to Plant Cover Crops
- 1. Clear existing plants and rake bed smooth
- 2. Broadcast seeds evenly (follow package rates)
- 3. Rake lightly to cover seeds or top with thin mulch
- 4. Water if no rain expected in next few days
- 5. In spring: cut down 2-3 weeks before planting, let decompose
Garden Cleanup
- 1Remove diseased plants first
Bag and trash any plants with disease (don't compost). This includes tomatoes with blight, squash with powdery mildew, and anything that looked sick.
- 2Clear healthy plant debris
Pull or cut down spent plants. Compost healthy material or chop and leave in place as mulch. Leave roots of beans and peas - they add nitrogen.
- 3Add soil amendments
Spread 2-4 inches of compost, aged manure, or leaf mold. Add lime or sulfur if pH needs adjusting - fall application gives time to work.
- 4Mulch heavily or plant cover crops
Don't leave soil bare over winter. Either apply 4-6 inches of mulch (leaves, straw) or plant cover crops. This prevents erosion and suppresses weeds.
Season Extension
With simple protection, you can harvest weeks or months longer:
- • Row covers - Add 4-8 degrees of frost protection, easy to use
- • Cold frames - Mini greenhouses, 10-15 degree protection
- • Hoop tunnels - Larger scale protection for beds
- • Mulch insulation - Pile leaves over root crops for winter harvest
Tool Care
Fall Tool Maintenance
- • Clean off all dirt and debris
- • Remove rust with wire brush or steel wool
- • Sharpen blades (shovels, hoes, pruners)
- • Oil metal parts to prevent rust
- • Sand and oil wooden handles
Irrigation Care
- • Drain and coil hoses before freezing
- • Blow out drip irrigation lines
- • Store hose nozzles indoors
- • Insulate outdoor faucets
- • Store timers and controllers inside
Planning for Next Year
Fall is the best time to reflect on the season and plan improvements. While memories are fresh:
- Note successes and failures - What grew well? What struggled? Why?
- Plan crop rotation - Map where plant families grew; rotate next year
- Test soil - Fall results give you winter to plan amendments
- Catalog seeds - Check what you have, note what to order
- Photo document - Pictures help you remember layout and timing
Frequently Asked Questions
What vegetables can I plant in fall?
Many cool-season crops thrive in fall: lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, radishes, and turnips can be direct sown 6-8 weeks before first frost. Garlic is planted in October for next year's harvest. Transplant broccoli and cabbage in late summer for fall harvest.
Should I remove dead plants or leave them?
Remove diseased plants to prevent spreading pathogens. Healthy plant debris can be composted or left as mulch. Remove all tomato and pepper plants (prone to disease). Leave root systems of beans/peas - they add nitrogen. Standing seed heads can feed birds.
When should I plant cover crops?
Plant 4-6 weeks before your average first frost so they establish before cold weather. Winter rye can be planted later (even after first frost). In zones 7+, you can plant into November. Choose based on your goals: nitrogen fixation, weed suppression, or soil improvement.
Do I need to fertilize in fall?
Fall is a great time to add slow-release amendments like compost, aged manure, and rock phosphate - they break down over winter. Don't add fast-release nitrogen fertilizers; plants can't use them and they'll wash away. Focus on building soil, not feeding plants.