Early to late summer is the best time to plant crops for a fall garden.
While you’re excited to get those tomatoes, zucchini, and beans in the ground, early to late summer is also the perfect time to get your crops sown for a fall harvest. Some fall harvest crops grow quickly and don’t need to be sown until closer to the end of summer once the weather begins to cool.
Many however take 80-100 days and need to be planted early to mid-summer for a fall harvest.
Best Crops to Plant for a Fall Garden
Here are the best crops to plant in the summer for a fall garden and when to plant them. (* indicate better cold tolerance)
Most of these fall and winter crops can handle light frosts (and even taste better!)
What to Plant in June and July for a Fall Harvest
These summer crops can be sowed early for a fall harvest and take about 90 to 120 days to be harvested.
- Parsnips
- Celeriac
- Winter Cabbage (January King*, Kalibos, Danish Ballhead, Deadon*)
- Carrots (some varieties take 90 days like Autumn King*, may take less)
- Leeks (some varieties take less)
- Brussel Sprouts
- Winter Squash & Pumpkins
- Rutabaga
What to Plant in July and August for a Fall Harvest
These crops take 60 to 80 days before they are harvested in the fall.
- Beets (Cylindra, Golden, Winterkeeper Lutz*)
- Turnips (Milan, Purple Top*, Navet)
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower (Purple Cape*, Galleon*, most varieties don’t tolerate frosts).
- Fall Cabbage
- Carrots (Napoli*)
- Radicchio
- Endive
- Winter radishes* (Green Luobo, Black Spanish, Watermelon, China Rose, Daikon)
- Kale
- Collards
- Peas
- Kohl Rabi
- Swiss Chard
- Scallions
What to Plant in August for a Fall Harvest
These crops grow fast and are sown towards the end of summer. These crops that you plant for a fall harvest take 30 to 50 days.
- Fall radishes
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Meslcun greens
- Lettuce (Winter Density*)
- Mache
- Mustards
- Pac Choi
Conclusion
While most people focus their garden efforts for summer harvesting extending the season into the fall and even the winter months is a great way to increase the yields from your garden.
Thanks for a great article. I found it very helpful as a reminder I needed to start seeding soon!!!
You’re welcome!
This was an excellent reminder article as I often forget to plant Parsnips (among others) until it’s too late. So, thanks for writing it.
I’m in Zone 8b (NW AZ at an elevation of 3750′) and can grow many Fall and Winter crops outdoors year round with only occasional covering of my low hoop houses to prevent frost/freeze damage. Therefore I’d add bush type beans to your 60-80 day maturity list and I’ve had really good crops of Pole Beans that were planted around 8/15. Of course it stays pretty warm here through Sept and Oct so even cucumbers do well when planted that late. We often have tomatoes producing into late November in spite of our average first frost date being November 15.
Great article. Just what needed to read to keep me motivated. I always love reading how other people are supplying their family with good produce in the fall season.
Thank you Patricia!