Written by: Nicole Majewski
Edited by: Kiya Tavascia
Designed by: Suhana Shaik
Published by: Rayna Almas
Autumn isn’t known as the harvest season just for aesthetics. It’s when all your apples, cranberries, peppers, and pumpkin are gathered up en route to your yellow leaf-patterned plate. But autumn isn’t just the season to reap the old—who says it’s too late to plant the new? People tend to think that plants can only bloom in the warm summer conditions, but that’s not true at all. In fact, some thrive in the crisp autumn air, or even in light frost! And of course, the better plants grow, the more delicious they’ll ultimately be. So, plant yourself a display to rival even the striking red of the leaves around you—here’s exactly what and how you can grow in fall.
What to Grow
Oftentimes, autumn is dubbed an interval between backyard harvests. If people talk about planting, they’re usually referring more to planning, and for the spring to come months later. But we’ve already established that plants can flourish in the fall. So, which ones does this include?
Vegetables
Yes, it’s that simple. While green cucumbers might not be the best option once the trees have gone red, that doesn’t mean you can’t plant other types. Leafy greens like kale, spinach, lettuce, and bok choy are not only resistant to the cold and frost, but they actually become sweeter in these conditions. And you thought there’d never be a reason to look forward to below-zero temperatures! There’s also great potential in members of the cabbage family. Brassicas like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts grow just as well in colder conditions, while experiencing the benefits of pest and weed-free weather. Other delicious options include root veggies like potatoes, beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, and parsnips, as well as peas and green onions.
Botanicals
This category includes herbs and flowers. The former are even more resistant to the elements than veggies, and often happily thrive all throughout autumn and into early winter. This is especially true for chives, cilantro, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme—all perfect for adding some extra pizzazz to your Thanksgiving dinner. Meanwhile, our autumn-loving flowers like pansies and viola are just begging to brighten up your fall garden.
Of course, veggies and botanicals aren’t the only plants that could do well in your fall garden. But whatever you settle on, make sure you do research beforehand. Your crops should be adept at coping with the cold, and ones that mature quickly enough to be harvested before the harsh onset of winter.
How to Grow
By choosing proper plants for the fall, you’re already creating a good chance of a great yield. Either way, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t extra considerations that could make your garden even better. Here are some of the most important ones:
Protect your plants!
Again, while autumn-based plants are naturally much more resilient to the harsher elements, you should still make an effort to ensure they’re as comfortable as possible. There are a few ways to go about this.
Firstly, supplement your soil with compost or organic fertilisers. Since you’ve probably done the bulk of your gardening over the spring and summer months, the soil is likely worn out. Replenishing its nutrients will do it worlds of good, and your autumn crops will thank you!
Secondly, plant your seeds deeper than you would have in warmer months. This helps roots more easily reach the better, more deeply buried soil.
Last on our soil agenda is drainage. A key difference between autumn and summer gardening is, of course, the temperature. Since fall is much less hot, your soil will naturally be much less dry. This is good to a moderate extent—your plants need water, but they also don’t need too much. However, if your soil isn’t drying, it isn’t draining, which means it’s your responsibility to prevent flooding. It’s a good idea to alter your setup to incorporate raised plant beds.
Finally, use “row covers”. That means putting a figurative coat over your plants to keep them warm and insulated over those extra-chilly nights. Layers of leaves or grass make fantastic natural blankets.
Think sunny thoughts!
The sun shines very differently in the fall versus in the summer. Since the mornings are darker and the afternoons shorter, you need to be strategic about maximising the sun that your garden gets. A great way to do this is by changing the location of your planting. You’ll want to opt for the spot with the least shade possible so that the sun shines onto your plants whenever it’s out. Another option is planting in containers or atop wheelbarrows, which you can move to different locations throughout the day according to where there’s most sunlight.
Timing is everything!
While the warmer months have probably gotten you into the habit of patiently waiting weeks to pluck your harvest from the soil, this isn’t always the best technique in fall. Temperatures are always fluctuating; some days might be paradise for your leafy greens, but even one unexpected freeze could be too much for them. And, of course, your fall garden’s time is always ticking, no matter how persistent your crops may seem. This “deadline” usually falls around the first fall frost. Because of this, it’s good to get into the habit of successive planting, or following your plants’ rapid growth cycles. You should be able to harvest each individual crop in quick, successive cycles—ideally at least one 10-14 days. This ensures you’re both protecting your plants and getting the most out of your harvest!
And remember…
Gardening doesn’t have to be outdoors; indoor planting is always an option! Once temperatures get too cold, you can always continue your growing by moving your plants into pots and bringing them inside to warmer temperatures.
And Now You Know
Sweater weather makes for the perfect time to do a lot of things, and gardening is no exception. Don’t let the chilly breeze deter you from continuing to care for backyard plants—many will thrive if you only let them!
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaeXAnQ3liA&t=780s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0QRDBNGYiE&t=253s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wZl046nB2U&t=638s
https://gardenerspath.com/plants/vegetables/plant-autumn/
https://www.gardenworks.ca/tip-sheets/fall-and-winter-harvest
https://landscapeontario.com/fall-gardening-checklist
https://www.greengardenvibes.ca/blogs/news/top-10-best-fall-plants-for-fall-gardening-in-canada
https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/design/put-color-fall-landscaping/
https://www.almanac.com/best-vegetables-fall-garden
Image References