Planting a fall garden is a great way to extend your growing season. There are an array of vegetables and plants that thrive throughout the fall.
If you’re new to gardening, or looking for help with your fall planting schedule, this guide will walk you through each zone and when it’s best to plant so that you can have your first harvest in time for winter.
Garden Zones
Before you start planting, it’s important to know your hardiness zone. The USDA has divided the United States into 11 zones based on average winter low temperatures, and this information can be found on the USDA website.
Zone 11: Most of the US is colder than zone 11, but parts of Hawaii, the Florida Keys, and Puerto Rico are in this zone. Warm temperatures year round allow for mangoes, plums, and papayas to be grown.
Zone 10: Southern parts of California, Florida, and Hawaii reach this zone. Apples, papaya, and melons can be grown in this zone.
Zone 9: Zone 9 includes Florida, Texas, and California. It is hot enough here year round to support gardening throughout all seasons. Broccoli, avocado, oranges, and more can be grown here.
Zone 8: States such as North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi are in this zone. The hot summers allow for a variety of growth, including okra, watermelon, bananas, and more.
Zone 7: Zone 7 includes New Mexico, Texas, and Alabama. It is a relatively warm zone, with mild winters. Hot peppers, cherries, apples, and more can all be grown here.
Zone 6: This is a moderate zone including Massachusetts and Washington. The winters are cold, but the summers are hot. Many plants do well in this region, including beans, tomatoes, sunflowers, and more.
Zone 5: This zone includes Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. This zone is cold enough to have more limited growing seasons than some, but kale, spinach, and apples do well in this region.
Zone 4: Zone 4 includes Montana, South Dakota, and Ohio. This region has cold winters, but sees warm enough weather to plant melons, plums, eggplants, and more.
Zone 3: States such as North Dakota, Wyoming, and New York fall into this group. They have moderate winters with cold, snowy conditions.
Zone 2: Zone 2 is a cooler climate with harsh winters that primarily includes parts of Alaska. Annual vegetables with short growing seasons do the best in this zone.
Zone 1: Zone 1 is the coldest, harshest climate, and includes Siberia, the Yukon, and Alaska.
Certain states may have parts that are in different zones, so research the specific climate of your area to ensure that you’re planting according to the correct zone.
Zones 1-3
Zones 1-3 are the most difficult to plant a fall garden in because temperatures begin to drop much sooner than in other regions. For the best results, start your fall garden in July to allow growth throughout the final months of summer before Fall freezes begin.
Zone 4
In zone 4, plant by the end of August. The dates for planting fall crops vary depending on where you live, but no matter where you are in the country (or world), there’s a general rule to follow: Plant during a time that allows for germination and growth throughout the season. In other words, soil temperatures should be consistently staying above 50 degrees Fahrenheit for planting.
If it’s too dry in your area, wait until it rains enough to soften up the ground or saturate the ground with water. If it’s wet in your region, wait until after any heavy rains pass so that seeds aren’t washed away or drowned by flooding irrigation systems.
If you have reason to believe that some parts of your yard might stay damp longer than others due to poor drainage or slope issues, consider planting in pots or containers so plants can grow without getting root rot from standing water.
Zones 5 and 6
Planting in the fall is best if you live in zones 5 or 6. The ideal planting time is late August through early September, but this can vary depending on the weather and type of plants being grown.
For example, plants that are more sensitive to cold weather will need more time to get established before temperatures drop, whereas plants that thrive in cooler temperatures can be planted later.
In general, if you’re planting a vegetable garden or fruit trees, it’s not recommended that you plant your seeds into the ground as soon as possible after buying them—it’s better to give roots time to establish in a controlled environment before transitioning outdoors, especially if temperatures are already dropping.
Zone 7
In zone 7, plant in late August through mid-September. The crops you can plant for fall include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. Plant these crops before the expected first frost date and harvest them as soon as possible before the first hard freeze.
Zones 8 and 9
In zone 8 and 9, plant between July and early October.
Fall vegetables should be planted when daytime highs are at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. In zones 8 and 9, late September through early October is best for planting fall crops because they’ll have time to mature before frost hits—but again, keep local conditions in mind.
Zones 10 and 11
In zones 10 and 11, a garden can be planted in October or later. Most of these regions are warm enough to support year round growth, so there is less concern as to whether dropping temperatures could harm your plant growth.
These warmer zones tend to have a rain or storm season, so consider when your area sees heavy rainfall. This may not be the best time to add plants to your garden because they could be drowned by rain or washed away by heavy rain.
When to Plant a Fall Garden: Final Thoughts
In the fall, temperatures start to cool down. This is an excellent time to add new plants to your garden because temperatures are more mild than in summertime, but still warm enough to support growth.
The key to successful fall gardening is to start early and use your best judgment. Consider your local climate and when temperatures begin to drop below freezing, and do your best to harvest your garden before frosts begin.
As you harvest vegetables from your fall garden this season, download the Lil’ Broc app to monitor the shelf life of your fresh produce.