What to Plant in the Fall
If you’re a casual gardener, you may assume spring is your garden’s big season. That’s still true, but there are many fruits and veggies you can plant when the cool weather takes over. From broccoli and Brussels sprouts to carrots and cabbage, get ready to dig, prepare and plan for next spring’s harvest.
Why Autumn?
First off, why fall? The cooler temperatures are easier on the plants, with soil that’s still warm. This allows the roots to continue to grow right up until the ground freezes, says Better Homes and Gardens. In addition, there are far more good planting days in autumn than in spring, due to all the torrential rains we get — those rains can easily wash away and destroy all your hard work. In fall, you’ll often find more bargains at the garden centers and home improvement stores, who are trying to sell off their gardening inventory to make way for shovels and snow blowers.
Another great thing about fall is that you don’t have to contend with pests, insects and disease, plus fertilizer isn’t needed like it is in spring. The weather in fall is pleasant and cool, unlike the oppressive heat of the summer which brings annoying bugs like mosquitoes.
Cool-Season Vegetables
Not all vegetables hate the cold. The following vegetables thrive in cool weather:
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Rutabaga
- Spinach
- Swiss chard
Spring Blooms
If you’re looking for blooms come spring, planting the following in the fall will yield you a beautiful crop in May:
- Daffodil
- Crown imperial
- Gape hyacinth
- Siberian squill
- Allium
- Fritillaria
- English bluebell
- Dog’s-tooth violet
- Glory-of-the-snow
- Winter aconite
- Snowdrop
Bonus: the above bulbs are unappealing to pests like rabbit and deer, so you don’t have to worry about them being eaten.
Pansies are also a great fall planting choice because their roots will continue to grow with the still-warm soil temps. Keep them pruned and make sure the soil has plenty of moisture. Mulch around the plants when the frosts come so they stay put through the winter.
Perennials
Perennials do well in fall, particularly if you choose ones with large root balls. Here are some great examples:
- Hostas
- Peonies
- Irises
- Chrysanthemums
These plants should get about one inch of water once a week.
Shrubbery
Trees and shrubs thrive in cool weather as well, due to the still-warm soil in which roots can take hold. Just be sure to plant them along their natural soil lines. Water them regularly until they enter winter’s full dormancy period.
Turfgrass
Looking to spruce up your lawn? Now’s the time to encourage the establishment of turfgrass such as bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass. Fertilize in early September and then do another round in late October to ensure an earlier spring show.
Contact T&B Landscape and Irrigation
Need help with the above tasks? Schedule your fall services with T&B Landscape and Irrigation today at (978) 296-5290. We are proud to serve the Andovers with fall maintenance and planting services.