Fall Garden Planting Schedule 2026
Most gardeners only think about spring planting — but fall is a second, often overlooked growing season with cooler temperatures that make vegetables taste sweeter.
Published December 3, 2025
Why Plant a Fall Garden?
Fall gardens produce crops that are often better tasting than spring equivalents. Cool temperatures concentrate sugars in vegetables like kale, carrots, and Brussels sprouts. Frost improves the flavor of many brassicas significantly. And unlike spring, you don`t have to worry about seedlings bolting in summer heat.
🌡️
Cooler temps
Fewer pest and disease problems
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Better flavor
Frost sweetens brassicas and root veg
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Less watering
Fall rains reduce irrigation needs
Fall Planting Dates by Zone
Count backward from your first fall frost date to determine when to plant each crop. The table below shows when to start fall garden seeds by zone.
| Zone | First Fall Frost | Start Brassicas Indoors |
|---|---|---|
| 5a–5b | Oct 7–15 | Early–Mid July |
| 6a–6b | Oct 25 – Nov 1 | Late July |
| 7a–7b | Nov 15–25 | Early August |
| 8a–8b | Dec 1–10 | Mid August |
| 9a–9b | Dec 15–20 | Late August |
Best Crops for a Fall Garden
🥦 Broccoli
6–8 wks before frost
🥬 Kale
4–6 wks before frost
🥗 Lettuce
4–6 wks before frost
🌱 Spinach
4–6 wks before frost
🥕 Carrot
10–12 wks before frost
🫛 Pea
6–8 wks before frost
🌱 Arugula
4 wks before frost
🧄 Garlic
Plant cloves in Oct–Nov
Tips for a Successful Fall Garden
🧹 Refresh Your Soil After Summer Crops
Before planting your fall garden, remove spent summer plants and work a 1–2 inch layer of compost into the beds. Summer crops deplete nitrogen and organic matter. A quick soil amendment gives fall vegetables the nutrients they need without synthetic fertilizer.
💧 Adjust Your Watering Schedule
Fall temperatures are cooler and days are shorter, so soil stays moist longer. Check soil moisture before watering — overwatering in fall can lead to root rot and fungal diseases. Water deeply but less frequently than you did in July and August.
🧵 Use Row Covers for Frost Protection
Lightweight floating row covers (frost blankets) can extend your fall harvest by 4–6 weeks. They trap heat during the day and provide 2–4°F of frost protection at night. Drape them directly over crops or use hoops for better air circulation.
⏱️ Choose Quick-Maturing Varieties
For fall planting, look for varieties with the shortest days-to-maturity on the seed packet. Opt for 45-day carrots, 40-day bush beans, and 25-day radishes. Every week counts when you are racing the first frost date.
📅 Plant in Succession
Don't plant all your fall crops at once. Stagger plantings by 1–2 weeks to extend your harvest window. For example, sow a row of spinach every 10 days from August through September for a steady supply of fresh greens deep into November.