10 Easy Vegetables to Grow in Fall/Autumn

With the longer summer days behind us, autumn approaches, and many people start thinking about packing up their gardening tools. It’s not that time yet; there are many vegetables you can easily grow in the summer.

Several vegetables like growing from late summer to fall/autumn. Several plants prefer when the temperatures are dropping and days are getting shorter. That’s why we’ve curated this list of easy vegetables for you to grow in fall/autumn. 

These plans have in common that they germinate fast and benefit from exposure to cold. In addition, chilly nights improve their flavors and ensure continuous new growth. Below, you’ll find the list of easy vegetables to grow in fall/autumn; let’s take a look.

Arugula

This is always a good option for colder temperatures for many reasons. These vegetable rushes to bold when you grow them in spring. However, planting them during autumn ensures they grow into lush plants with flavorful leaves. You can use their leaves in many ways, including in salads, sandwiches, or braising greens. They can also be the perfect accompaniment when sauteed with garlic and olive oil.

Mustard

Another option for your garden during the fall is mustard. They are available in different varieties, from the smooth leafed to the frilly mustard; you just have to pick your preference. However, all the mustard varieties have in common that they’ll make a great addition to your fall garden. 

They are beautiful plants, and you can even choose to grow them for their looks alone. However, they’re quite edible if you change your mind. The cold weather tames their flavor. However, the Tendergreen variety has a slight hint of bitterness when you choose to grow it in the fall.

Radishes

Another great addition to your garden during the autumn season is radishes. This vegetable would surprise you with a bountiful harvest when you grow them in autumn. Although there are different varieties like the cherry belle or champion, they all thrive well in your fall garden. All you need to do is sow the seeds and keep the soil moist throughout the growing season. You can expect to see ripe radishes popping up around your garden in just a few weeks.

Bok Choy

Bok choy is amongst the easy vegetables to grow in the fall. They grow at impressive speeds, with baby strains growing from seeds in just a few weeks. Bok Choy is delicious when you stir-fry it with a bit of sesame oil. Alternatively, you can ferment the bok choy into kimchi too.

Collards

Most people like to refer to collards are kale’s buttery cousins. However, they’re great autumn plants; you can start growing them in late summer. Although direct seeding of this vegetable works, protecting the thinned seedlings from cabbage worms might be necessary. Once fall begins to progress, so will your collards, and they’ll soon outgrow their little enemies. Collards come in a tender texture and have a mild flavor. 

Although you can use them as cooked greens, some people love to use this vegetable to line the bottom of their casserole dish. Doing this provides your dish with a green crust beneath.

Cabbage

The perfect weather for growing cabbage will always be fall. Although they can grow in warmer weather, they need a cooler temperature to form a head effectively. In addition, cabbage needs between 90-120 days to mature. Therefore, a fall crop will be the best option if you transplant the plant’s seedlings in late summer. 

Although different varieties are available in the cabbage family, they’re all hardy enough to resist a bit of frost. Therefore, they’ll be ready to harvest in winter with some protection. However, you should note that they won’t keep growing when it’s cold. This doesn’t mean they’ll lose their freshness. Instead, cabbages get sweeter when the temperature drops.

Lettuce

Although lettuce is among the versatile vegetables that can grow all season, it’ll thrive in the fall. Most varieties take about 50 days to mature, so you can plant them in late summer. However, shielding the emerging seedlings from the hot sun might be best if you choose to plant them mid-summer. The different varieties determine how well they grow in autumn. However, most grow slowly in autumn because of the lower temperatures and shorter days.

The benefits you enjoy when you grow them in autumn are that they’ll result in crisper and sweeter leaves. However, they have shallow roots and will also require some protection against frost. Planting them in pots might be the best option because it’s easy to move them indoors when it gets cold.

Cauliflower

Fall is also a great time to grow your cauliflowers and a better time than spring. The cool weather will make the cauliflower tender and keep the head tight. As a slow grower, it might take the plant two-three months to mature. However, it entirely depends on the variety. You should keep in mind that cauliflowers can only handle mild frost. Therefore, you’ll want to plant them early for a mid-fall harvest. Then, when the head reaches the desired size, you can harvest it by simply plucking them off.

Kale

Most people would argue that this is the easiest vegetable to grow in the fall. This is because its seeds tend to germinate whether the weather is hot or cold, and most people grow them for their leaves. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about bolting flowers or emerging heads. However, planting them during the fall is not without its benefits.

The flavors are better, and the leaves emerge with a better texture when it gets hit by a light frost. This is the magic of the cold weather and why many gardeners love to harvest late fall or early winter season. However, you can start the seeds in mid-to-late summer to ensure a fall harvest.

Turnips

You can choose to grow turnips for their roots or greens. Either way, you have access to both when you grow them in the fall. Turnips mature very quickly, and they’re very beautiful and dependable. If you don’t want to cook the root with the greens, they’re very easy to pick off. Sometimes, you’re lucky enough to get a bountiful turnip harvest. However, you should harvest them before the freezing winter weather damages them.

Final Thoughts

If the beautiful autumn weather doesn’t get you outdoors, the thought of a budding autumn garden will. This is usually a great time to grow vegetables, and we’ve curated a list of easy vegetables for you to grow in fall/winter. But, first, you must pick your favorite; you’re off to a good start with any of our picks.