Collection: Fall Planting

Fall is more than the end of the growing season—it’s a chance to prepare the garden for the months ahead. Cooler temperatures and shorter days make autumn an ideal time to sow cold-hardy crops, build healthy soil, plant garlic and shallots, and tuck flower bulbs into the ground for a burst of color next spring.

Cool-season crops like beets, radishes, Asian greens, arugula, and carrots can extend your harvest well into autumn. Our guide to 5 tips for fall gardening offers practical advice for planning your fall garden, from choosing crops to protecting them from frost with row cover.

Fall is also an important season for building healthy soil. As garden beds open up, sow cover crops to protect bare ground, suppress weeds, and support soil health through the winter. Our fall cover crop planting chart can help you choose the right crop for your garden.

Fall is the season to plant garlic and shallots, giving them time to establish roots before winter. For detailed guidance on choosing, planting, mulching, and caring for them, see our garlic growing guide.

It's also time to plant fall-planted bulbs for spring flowers. From tulips and daffodils to crocuses and alliums, these underground treasures settle in during the cool months and emerge when winter finally gives way to spring. Our October gardening guide offers more seasonal inspiration.

For gardeners interested in flowers, fall-sown flowers offer another way to make use of the changing seasons. Many hardy flowers can be sown in fall, allowing them to settle in before winter and emerge when conditions are right in spring.

Whether you're squeezing in one more harvest, protecting your soil, planting next year's garlic, or dreaming of spring flowers, fall is a season for planting with the future in mind.

Fall Planting FAQs

What can I plant in the fall?

Cold-hardy vegetables such as beets, radishes, Asian greens, arugula, and carrots are well suited to fall sowing. You can also plant garlic, shallots, cover crops, and spring-flowering bulbs.

When should I plant garlic and shallots?

In the Northeast, garlic and shallots are generally planted in fall, giving them time to establish roots before the ground freezes. October is a particularly good planting month in our region.

What are the benefits of planting cover crops?

Fall cover crops help protect bare soil, suppress weeds, and support soil health through the winter. Many also produce substantial growth in early spring.

When should I plant fall-planted bulbs?

Plant spring-flowering bulbs in the fall, before the ground freezes, so they have time to establish roots before winter. Tulips, daffodils, crocuses, alliums, and many other bulbs are suited to fall planting.

Can I still harvest vegetables after the first frost?

Yes. Many cold-hardy crops can continue producing into colder weather, especially with protection such as row cover.

How do I prepare my garden for fall planting?

As summer crops finish, clear diseased plant material, pull weeds, and replenish the soil with compost or other appropriate amendments. Then plan your planting around your local first frost date. Our planting guides can help you find the right timing for your region and the crops you want to grow.