Creating a Fall Garden: What to Plant, Prep, and Plan For

Home / Creating a Fall Garden: What to Plant, Prep, and Plan For

Creating a Fall Garden: What to Plant, Prep, and Plan For

Hello Friends! Welcome back to ASW Homestead! Are you dreaming of starting a Fall garden this year? Now is the time to start planning.

Whether you’re envisioning a garden brimming with fresh produce or a home where self-sufficiency is the goal, you’ve come to the right place. This fall garden beginner’s guide will walk you through the basics.

1. Why Plant in the Fall?

Fall gardens are often overlooked, but they offer many benefits:

Cool-season crops thrive. Many plants that struggle in summer heat (like lettuce and spinach) flourish in fall.
Fewer pests. With cooler weather comes fewer bugs and plant diseases.
Sweeter harvests. Certain crops, like carrots and kale, develop better flavor after a light frost.
Extended food supply. A fall garden helps bridge the gap between summer’s abundance and winter’s preservation.

2. When to Start

The key to fall gardening is timing. You’ll want to plant early enough for crops to mature before your area’s first hard frost.

To find your ideal planting window:

Look up your USDA growing zone and average first frost date.
Check the “days to maturity” on seed packets.
Count backward from your frost date to determine when to plant.

For example, if your first frost is November 1 and you’re planting a 60-day crop, aim to plant around September 1.

3. What to Plant in a Fall Garden

Focus on cool-weather crops that grow quickly and can tolerate (or even improve with) frost. Here are great options to consider:

Leafy greens:

Lettuce
Kale
Spinach
Swiss chard
Arugula

Root vegetables:

Carrots
Beets
Radishes
Turnips

Brassicas:

Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Brussels sprouts (plant early)

Herbs:

Cilantro
Parsley

Bonus: Garlic and onions can be planted in fall for a spring harvest.

4. How to Prepare Your Garden Bed

Start with a clean slate and healthy soil:

Remove spent summer crops. Clear away plants that are no longer producing to reduce pests and disease.
Amend the soil. Add compost or aged manure to replenish nutrients.
Loosen the soil. Use a garden fork or broadfork to aerate compacted soil.
Mulch. Apply a light mulch to retain moisture and protect seedlings.

If you’re short on space, try containers or raised beds—you don’t need a huge plot to grow a fall bounty.

5. Tips for Success

Start seeds indoors if needed. Some fall crops benefit from a head start.
Provide shade for young seedlings. Late summer sun can be intense.
Water consistently. Dry soil + heat = stressed plants. Be diligent with watering in early weeks.
Cover when cold hits. Use row covers or low tunnels to extend the growing season.

6. Planning Beyond the Harvest

A fall garden isn’t just about growing—it’s also about preparing for what’s next.

Think ahead by:

Planting cover crops (like clover or rye) to nourish the soil over winter.
Saving seeds from successful fall plants.
Taking notes on what worked (and what didn’t) to improve next year.

Fall is also a great time to reflect on the growing season and give thanks for God’s provision, even in small harvests.

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” – 2 Corinthians 9:10

Harvesting Hope in the Fall

The garden doesn’t have to end when summer does. With a little planning and care, fall can be one of the most peaceful and rewarding seasons on the homestead. Whether you’re gathering baskets of greens, sowing root crops, or simply pausing to notice new life pushing through the soil, fall gardening is a reminder that God’s creation keeps giving—right up until the year winds down.

So grab your seeds, whisper a prayer over the rows, and plant with expectation. The soil still has stories to tell, and you get to be part of them.

🍂 I’d love to hear what you’re planting this fall! Share your favorite crops or tips in the comments, or tag @aswhomestead when you share your garden photos so we can cheer you on.