What to Plant in a Fall Garden

At Rita’s Roots, Fall is our favorite time to garden. Summer’s heat and humidity have passed, and bugs are less prevalent. And in the Lowcountry, we can actually grow throughout the ENTIRE Fall and Winter.

Another benefit of Fall gardening: Vegetables such as lettuce, parsley, collard greens and fennel are so hardy that even novice gardeners can feel instant success.

Another advantage to Lowcountry weather is that most vegetables will last all winter, even throughout the cold.

If we are expecting an exceptional freeze, beds can be covered with frost fabric.

TO PLANT ONLY IN FALL

Fall is a repeat of the cool season Spring, but we add in:

• Onions and Garlic (October/November planting)– super cold hardy, we plant short day varieties. They need long cool winters to develop a strong root system.

• Strawberries (Mid-October planting) — Everyone’s favorite!

• Collards — packed full of vitamins and taste great in stir-fries. These hearty greens taste best after frost exposure.

• Brussels sprouts — a vegetable favorite of many of our garden clients. While they do take a long time to grow, they are worth the wait! We only plant in the Fall. There are many different varieties of Brussels that have different climate needs and maturation times. It is best to visit Rita’s Roots Fall Plant Sales to get a variety that was chosen specifically for growth in the Lowcountry.

• Celery – Need long, cool winters to produce. The heat of Spring planting causes them to become stunted, bitter tasting, or sprout to not form.

• Spinach + Cilantro (October planting) – hold far better in cooler weather, which offers the gardener a much longer growing season.

All of the above can be planted in Late September unless otherwise noted.

Would you like Rita’s Roots to fast-track your gardening success? Learn more about how we can help this season be your most productive ever.