Want to know what vegetables you should plant in your fall garden this year? Well, look no further. This list will help inspire you to fill your garden to the brim with beauty and nutrition this fall gardening season.
Deciding what to plant in your fall garden is extremely exciting, but sometimes it is stressful. What should you plant? How much? Where? If you are anything like me, you like to be prepared. Nothing motivates you more than having a solid plan in place and all your materials prepped. Thus insuring that the plan actually gets executed. I believe having a plan is essential and this post will give you ideas and a plan of execution that I am using this year.
This post is all about vegetables to plant in your beautiful fall garden.
11 Vegetables You Should Plant in Your Fall Garden
When it comes to extending your garden season, fall is the perfect time to plant vegetables that thrive in cooler weather. Many of these crops are not only easy to grow but also pack a serious punch when it comes to nutrition—offering vitamins, minerals, and fiber that support a healthy diet. Even better, most fall vegetables don’t require a lot of space, making them ideal container gardening for small raised beds, pots, or grow bags. This makes growing accessible to everyone no matter the space you have!
Let’s take a look at 11 vegetables that are simple to grow in a fall garden, rewarding you with fresh, homegrown produce well into the cooler months.
What Do I Need to Grow a Fall Garden?
Now I am no expert. While I have had minor success here and there when it comes to growing a few plants over my life, I have never attempted to grow a whole garden, and while I am ambitious I have narrowed it down to a handful of plants with seeds I already have. Here in Missouri, zone 6/7, I am looking at a growing season spanning until well into the last week of October. That lands me with roughly 65-70 more days of a growing season, and I can do just about anything with 70 days.
That being said, I rent the home I live in, and while I can do pretty much whatever I want to the house and yard – I have to leave the house in the same state that I got it in. So to save me some time and headache when I am ready to move, I am going to stick to planter gardening for the time being.
So, what plants are we going to grow this fall garden season? I asked my girl ChatGPT for a little assistance with this.
1. Beets
According to Chat GPT: “Beets are one of the best root vegetables to grow in a fall garden because they thrive in cooler temperatures and are relatively low-maintenance. They can be sown directly into the soil, and within a few weeks you’ll see their leafy green tops pushing through the surface. Beets don’t require much space—just a loose, well-drained bed where their roots can develop freely—so they fit nicely into small garden plots or raised beds.”
Now, I am not sure if I even like beets. My mom loves them but I have never tried them, so I thought I would give them a go. I have saved some recipes on my Pinterest (click here) that I am excited to try out.
2. Broccoli
According to Chat GPT: “Broccoli is a cool-season favorite that thrives in the fall garden, producing its best flavor and texture when grown in crisp autumn air. This hardy vegetable prefers full sun and nutrient-rich soil, and while it takes a little more space than some crops, the payoff is generous heads packed with vitamins C and K, fiber, and antioxidants.”
Broccoli is one of my all time favorite vegetables. It is not only a superfood that can be used so many different ways but it also is something so simple and easy to prepare! Whether you steam it, roast it, or sauté it, the preparation methods are really endless and it has always been a staple in my home. I can’t wait to see how much of this I can grow this fall.
3. Kale
According to Chat GPT: “Kale is one of the most reliable and rewarding vegetables to grow in a fall garden, as it actually improves in flavor after a light frost, becoming sweeter and more tender. It’s easy to grow, requiring only well-drained soil, regular watering, and a spot with full sun to partial shade. Kale is a compact crop, making it a great choice for raised beds, small plots, or even containers, and it can be harvested leaf by leaf for a continuous supply throughout the season.”
I have typically kept my enjoyment of Kale quite simple. In a soup, salad or gently steamed and topped with some apple cider vinegar. I am literally salivating just thinking about it! You can also try something like a kale chip or even make a pesto. The options really are endless in this case and it is a great way to sneak nutrients into your diet.
4. Chives
According to Chat GPT: “Chives are a versatile and hardy herb that make an excellent addition to the fall garden, thriving in cooler weather with very little effort. They grow well in small spaces, raised beds, or containers, making them perfect for gardeners with limited room. Once established, chives are perennial and will return year after year. They prefer well-drained soil and full sun but can tolerate partial shade, and their clumping growth habit makes them easy to maintain.”
I have grown chives in the past and have always had good luck growing them inside on my windowsill. In fact, chives were the first ever thing that I grew in my garden. I thought – I have these seed packs that I have always bought but never actually planted, so I bought a little planter from the DollarTree and filled that puppy up with dirt from outside. After a few short weeks I had fresh herbs to put on anything but I preferred them on my eggs in the morning.
5. Sugar Snap Peas
According to ChatGPT: “Sugar snap peas are a fantastic cool-weather crop for the fall garden, offering both ease of growth and a sweet, crunchy harvest. They germinate quickly in cooler soil and don’t mind the shorter days of autumn, making them a dependable choice for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. Sugar snap peas grow vertically on trellises, fences, or netting, which means they take up very little ground space while producing an abundance of pods.”
While I choose to leave peas out of my diet for the most part, it would be a lie if I said I hate all peas. Sugar snap peas are great plain as a snack but I particularly love them in stir fries, which is a staple winter time meal in my house. From my research they appear to be rather easy to grow and dependable when it comes to the harvest. I am looking forward to that satisfying crunch!
6. Green Beans
According to ChatGPT: “Green beans can be a rewarding addition to the fall garden, especially in regions where the first frost comes a bit later. These warm-season crops grow quickly, so planting a second round in late summer can give you a fresh harvest before cold weather sets in. Green beans thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, needing only consistent watering to produce tender, crisp pods.”
In case it hasn’t been clear, I love vegetables. And I always have! Growing up green beans were always in the freezer as a quick side to serve with any meal. To this day steamed and seasoned with a little butter and salt and pepper is probably my favorite way to enjoy these beans.
7. Swiss Chard
According to ChatGPT: “Swiss chard is a resilient and colorful leafy green that thrives in the cooler temperatures of fall, making it an excellent choice for extending your garden season. It’s easy to grow from seed, doesn’t require much space, and can even tolerate light frosts, which often enhance the sweetness of its leaves. Swiss chard produces an ongoing harvest—simply pick the outer leaves and the plant will keep growing, providing a steady supply of nutrient-rich greens well into the season.”
Oh, the things you can make with Swiss Chard. Add it to salads, sandwiches, pestos, serve it in a summer vinaigrette with some cannellini beans – UGH to die for! I. Cannot. Wait.
8. Arugula
According to ChatGPT: “Arugula is a fast-growing leafy green that thrives in the cool, crisp days of fall, making it one of the easiest crops to add to your garden late in the season. It grows quickly from seed, often ready to harvest in as little as 3–4 weeks, and doesn’t require much space—perfect for raised beds, containers, or small garden plots. Arugula prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade, and its flavor actually improves in cooler weather, developing a peppery bite that’s great for salads, sandwiches, and sautés.”
Arugula has actually become a rather large replacement for spinach for me. I have found as of late, I can’t really enjoy salads and other meals with spinach in them. I don’t know if it is my palate changing as I have gotten older or what but I think it tastes like dirt and grass and I refuse to eat it in anything other than Tuscan Chicken where it is SMOTHERED in sauce. So I am excited to have a supply of Arugula very close to my kitchen.
9. Radishes
According to ChatGPT: “Radishes are one of the quickest and easiest vegetables to grow in the fall garden, often maturing in as little as three to four weeks. They thrive in the cool temperatures of autumn, which help them develop crisp roots with a milder flavor compared to those grown in the heat of summer. Radishes don’t require much space, making them perfect for small beds, raised gardens, or even container growing, and they can be sown directly into the soil for a no-fuss crop.”
These little things taste like spicy water and you can’t convince me otherwise. But they are probably my favorite veggie to snack on. Quick, crisp and refreshing – I can’t wait to see the variety that I can grow and enjoy from my fall garden.
10. Mustard Greens
According to ChatGPT: “Mustard greens are a hardy and fast-growing crop that flourish in the cooler temperatures of fall, making them a perfect addition to the autumn garden. They can be sown directly into the soil and are often ready to harvest in just 4–6 weeks, providing a quick reward for your efforts. Mustard greens don’t take up much space and can be grown in garden beds or containers, making them versatile for any size garden.”
Before researching what plants to plant in my fall garden, I didn’t even know what mustard greens were. I think I have probably heard of them but if you were to ask me I wouldn’t have been able to tell you. And want to know why I decided on them? Because I like mustard, and greens. So in my mind, if I like both of those things – then obviously I would probably like mustard greens! I guess time will tell…
11. Garlic
According to ChatGPT: “Garlic is a classic fall-planted crop that rewards patience with a flavorful harvest the following summer. Planting garlic cloves in autumn gives them time to establish strong roots before winter, allowing them to grow into larger, healthier bulbs once spring arrives. Garlic doesn’t require much space, making it ideal for tucking into small garden beds or raised beds alongside other fall crops. It thrives in well-drained soil with plenty of sun and only needs occasional watering during dry spells.”
If you told me today that I can never use garlic again in a recipe – I think I would voluntarily starve to death. I would at the very minimum go on strike. Garlic is in so many of my recipes – in my house we have a steady diet of Italian dishes, Asian cuisine, and Mexican food. Garlic is quite literally, everywhere. Not only is it something I love so much in my meals it is great for medicine as well! My fire cider (which I will be making soon) is packed with immune boosting ingredients like garlic and it will be even more rewarding next year when I can pack it full of garlic grown with my own hands.
Now you are ready. Grab your hand shovels and seeds and get to work!