17 Fall Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden

Beets (Beta vulgaris)

A wonderful fall crop, beets are inexpensive and non temperamental, and you can use both the root and the leaves. Each beet seed actually contains a cluster of seeds. Once the seedlings begin to sprout, thin the plants so that there is just one plant every two to three inches.

To prevent the beets from becoming tough and woody, don't let the roots get longer than three inches before harvesting.

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

Broccoli is one of the best vegetables for home gardens. It is less susceptible to pests and can flourish equally well in the fall and spring. These annual plants can be started indoors or outside in July or August.

The ideal temperature to grow broccoli is between 65 and 80 degrees. For the best crop, protect your plants from extremely high or low temperatures.

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

As far as fall crops go, cabbage is heartier than most and actually thrives in cooler regions. This annual can grow to maturity in late fall or early spring. Cabbage should be planted in moist soil and watered regularly, but don’t let the soil get too saturated. The crop takes two to three months before it’s ready to be harvested. The result is full, beautiful heads that can be stored for a few months at a time.

Carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)

Since they are one of the most popular vegetables in the world, it's no surprise that carrots are a favorite autumn crop. Carrots can be stored for up to nine months, making it much easier to eat year-round than other homegrown vegetables. Carrots can also be picked whenever they reach a usable size, making them perfect for the impatient gardener.

In hot summer climates, such as the southeastern United States, plant these annuals in September or October for a late winter harvest.

Collards (Brassica oleracea subsp. acephala)

Collards are one of the few vegetables that actually become tastier with frost. Both cold-tolerant and heat-tolerant, collards are an understated, easygoing crop. The ideal conditions for collards is in a cool, moist atmosphere. One fall variety of this annual favorite is Champion, which has a reputation for cold tolerance and can be harvested 60 days after planting.

Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group)

A cold-tolerant member of the cabbage family, kohlrabi requires similar planting methods. With a six-week development period, this annual is much quicker and easier to plant and harvest than other cabbages. Keep kohlrabi plants mulched to protect the shallow root system.

The entire kohlrabi plant is edible, including the leaves, stems, and bulbs.

Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum)

In contrast to most of the rest of the onion family, leeks are cultivated for their stems, not their bulbs. Therefore, harvesting these annuals in the fall is a much more delicate process. Pack dirt around the base of the stem to keep the leeks upright and full of nutrients. Make sure the plants get plenty of sunlight and water, and harvested leeks will be the ideal ingredient for soup or a topping for a homemade vegetable salad.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

There's a reason that lettuce is often a base for salads, snacking, and displaying: It is affordable, easy to grow, and delicious. This annual is a favorite in the garden, too. It is one of the first crops that can be planted, and lettuce can bloom a few weeks into the frost season. Lettuce has a shallow root system and doesn’t take a lot of room to grow.

Popular varieties for fall include: Marvel of Four Seasons (butterhead), Romance (romaine), and Canary Tongue (looseleaf).

Mustard Greens (Brassica juncea)

Many people think of mustard as a bright yellow condiment, sprucing up sandwiches or slathered over pretzels. The truth is, you often eat varieties of mustard in the form of cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. For fall gardens, the best time to plant this cool-weather annual is late summer or early fall.

Young greens can be used in salads and older leaves can be cooked and then eaten. If the plant is allowed to flower, you'll be rewarded with seeds you can use to make your own ground mustard.

Onions (Allium cepa)

Onions are a fall and spring vegetable that comes in many popular and delicious varieties. Red onions, white onions, Vidalias, scallions, shallots—each variety has its own distinct taste.

Most often grown as annuals, onions have shallow roots and should be grown in a well-weeded area. Keep plants consistently moist until the bulbs begin to swell. Onions thrive in the presence of other vegetables, like carrots, lettuce, and cabbage.

Peas (Pisum sativum)

An easy-to-grow, productive vegetable, peas are a fun addition to the garden. Pea plants come in vine and bush varieties. Some varieties—like snow peas and sugar snaps—have edible pods. 

Peas are an annual cool weather crop that thrives in the cooler fall temperatures. If late summer and early fall temperatures are too high, start pea plants indoors.

Radishes (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus)

A rewarding addition to a fall garden, radishes have a short growing season and take up little space. Besides tasting delicious in salads and casseroles, or just sliced up with some salt, radishes are the ideal fall vegetable due to their vibrant, colorful skin.  

These annuals germinate quickly—in as few as three to four days—and mature within three to seven weeks, depending on temperature.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Spinach is an annual that can be started indoors in containers and transplanted to the garden when the heat of summer has subsided. Plants grow best in cool weather and will bolt when temperatures begin to increase. Leaves can be harvested at any time; the plant will continue to produce new leaves. Whether it’s steamed or tossed in a salad, spinach can be enjoyed from the beginning of fall until late into the season.

Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Beans make a good fall garden vegetable if you have at least two months before the first frost. Of the two bean types—pole beans and bush beans—bush bean varieties often mature more quickly, making them ideal for a fall garden.

An easy to grow annual with a high yield, beans can’t take the heat of summer either—so make sure to plant when the daytime temperature has started to cool.

Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla)

Chard, another annual vegetable that can be planted in either fall or spring, is tolerant of both heat and frost. Chard seed capsules often have two seeds in them; if both bloom, be sure to remove one so the other plant can reach maturity. 

Harvest leaves as desired to eat and to encourage new growth.

Turnips (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa)

Turnips are a relatively easy-to-grow and delicious fall and spring crop. These annual plants yield tasty bulbs, and they give gardens some of the first harvest greens. Fall turnips are larger and sweeter than those grown in the spring.

Plants can be grown in 10-day succession to have a continuous crop of turnip roots and greens.

Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica)

Kale thrives in cold weather, making it a perfect fall vegetable. Its seeds can be planted directly in the garden, and it grows quickly. In warmer regions, this annual should be planted in a slightly shady area to prevent it from overheating. 

Harvest kale leaves as desired; the plant will continue to produce new leaves. For a sweeter taste, harvest after the first frost.