Best Vegetables to Plant in the Fall
Many of us enjoy Fall, with it’s color changing foliage and cool crisp breezes. This season allows those with a green thumb to begin growing some vegetables that don’t do as well in Summer or Spring months. There are many crops to grow during the Fall season, with many being frost averse which is important. Amongst the many, we will discuss the best crops that you should definitely begin planting each Fall.
Lettuce
For starters, one of the best crops to grow would be lettuce. Lettuce should be planted 4-8 weeks before its first frost. Lettuce can grow in temperatures anywhere from 45 to approximately 75 degrees with full sun or minimal shade. The fortunate thing about lettuce is that it is a hardy vegetable that can be grown all season with just one small crop being planted each time.
The benefits of lettuce are vast and healthy due to their nutritional value. With its high water content and low calories, lettuce can be very effective maintaining your well-being and overall health. So, when it comes to planting vegetables in the Fall, one of the best choices of vegetables is lettuce. When planting lettuce you must consider the effects of the weather.
During hot weather, lettuce can become very bitter, and during extremely cold weather, you can expect the lettuce to freeze. However, if you try using a cold frame or a row cover, growing lettuce can be a manageable crop in cold climates.
Kale
The next crop to consider when planting vegetables in the Fall is kale. Kale should be planted 6-8 weeks before the first frost. It is acceptable to plant kale throughout the Fall season. Kale also has numerous health benefits that can keep you feeling healthy throughout the Fall and Winter.
The kale plant is loaded with plenty of healthy nutrients. Vitamins A, C, and K are present in the kale plant which makes it a great choice for a healthy diet. Alongside the vitamins, kale also has richness in potassium, folic acid, calcium, and antioxidants. Surprisingly, for every calorie, kale has more iron than your average steak, as well as more calcium than a glass of milk!
In addition, the vitamin C in spinach is 10x less than that of kale, which is extremely important to consume during the darker days of Fall. If, for whatever reason your Fall season gets hit with an unexpected heat spell, your kale will wither and sulk a little. The good side of that is if the weather decides to cool down then your kale will revitalize itself very quickly.
Broccoli
Another very great crop to choose when planting vegetables in the Fall is broccoli. Broccoli is best grown when it is planted indoors between 85 to 100 days before the first frost. After your indoor growth time is complete, carefully transport the broccoli plants to your outdoor garden, after they are about 3 weeks old. Growing broccoli like this will maximize its yield.
With the hardiness of the broccoli vegetable, it is able to withstand very cold temperatures and survive many frosty days. In milder climates, broccoli can likely survive all Winter. However, it is very difficult to successfully produce fresh broccoli in temperatures over 70 degrees.
For optimal growth, broccoli plants need substantial moisture to survive. Therefore it’s important that you find time to consistently water your broccoli crops on a daily basis.
In conclusion, when we come across the question “What vegetables are good to plant in the fall?” we learn that the list of great vegetables is small but nutrient rich. It naturally comes down to what type of Fall vegetables plants you enjoy eating. Planting vegetables in the Fall, however, comes with a lot of hard work and determination to produce the best crops you can produce.