4 fall Planting Tips

Evening temps are in the 50s and crisp fall days are coming. That means, crisp fall lettuces need planting! As you make room in your summer garden for fall plants, keep these things in mind and then hit the nursery for gorgeous fall transplants and fun new seeds.

Four tips for planting those cool season veggies:

1. Plant Strategically:

Right now, your larger summer plants (tomatoes, squash, cucumbers) are taking up most of the space in your garden. When you plant your fall plants, try and place them in the understory of your summer veggies. This will help them to establish themselves without getting blasted by the summer heat. Once it's time to take out your summer plants, your cool season ones will be ready to go!

2. Plant Big Plants NOW:

If you're hoping to harvest a cauliflower, broccoli, or cabbage before the end of this year, get those plants in ASAP. Your faster growing plants (think lettuce, kale, and peas) can be planted for the next two months with no issue, but the bigger ones should get in soon! You can find an excellent variety of starters at our local nurseries right now.

3. Prepare Your Soil:

Before you plant, add compost to your beds (we recommend G&B Harvest Supreme or Soil Building Conditioner) and a pinch of fertilizer (like Down to Earth’s "Biolive") to the hole you dig for your seedling or as a topdressing under your compost layer. If you're planting seeds, be sure to hand water those little guys until they sprout!

4. Remember, Frost is NOT the End:

This is perhaps the most common concern we find with new gardeners. Many of our cool season plants are frost tolerant and hardy. If we do the work of establishing them now, they will feed you throughout the fall.

If you're looking for more tips and ideas for what to plant, you can take a look at our blog post from last fall that dug into this topic, as well.

As always, reach out with any questions you have. Now is also a wonderful time to make plans to renovate your garden for the spring. We’re offering a special discount on fall consults to encourage you all to be proactive. If you’d like us to come out and create a garden design and installation plan for you, use the code “FALL15” when you book with the button below.