Start Here Before You Plant Your Fall Garden

Dino Kale & Parsley

Who is ready for fall?  Our drought and soaring temperatures have taken a toll on our gardens, landscaping and our spirits.  Luckily, fall is around the corner with pumpkin lattes, football and so many goodies to plant in the kitchen garden.  We want you to be ready for fall gardening so below are three tips for a fabulous fall garden. 

Know What is Appropriate to Grow

Mid-September to mid-October is a perfect time to plant your Houston fall garden.  It is optimal planting time for beets, bush beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, mustards, radishes, swiss chard, and more.  You may be thinking, wait what about carrots.  Carrots and spinach like cooler temperatures so hold off and plant them in October or November.   

Make A List of What You Want to Grow

Now that you know what you can grow, make a list of what you want to grow.  Are you using your fall garden to grow things you want to eat?  Do you want to experiment and grow something you have never grown before?  What about trying new varieties, like purple cauliflower?  Make a list of the main crops that you want to grow this fall, as this will help when you go to the plant store and want to buy EVERYTHING!!!

Consider Your Lifestyle and Garden Goals

Be honest about how much time you can spend in your garden.  If you have an extremely hectic fall schedule, lean heavier on herbs, flowers and greens.  If you want to harvest frequently, consider planting kale, swiss chard, lettuce and herbs.  On the other hand, plants like cauliflower, carrots and beets require more time to grow and give one harvest.  If you are looking to inspire your children, plant quick growing crops from seed like radishes, arugula and lettuce.  The good news is that the fall garden requires less tending than a spring garden.  And, if you forget to harvest that broccoli or dill, it becomes a wonderful pollinator plant. The garden is always a WIN. 

So, let’s all do a rain dance and be ready to make a day of planting and playing in our gardens this fall.