Let’s be honest…most of us who grow our own food are in it for the tomatoes.
Whether we’re talking colorful heirlooms, sweet cherries or classic beefsteaks, the siren song of those vine-ripened, juicy globes of goodness is hard to resist. But, once you’ve grown a tomato or two, you might realize that there’s a whole world of deliciousness to be had in our gardens. And in the fall when we can’t grow our beloved tomatoes, why not try something new?
Cool weather vegetable gardening is actually much easier. We’re not struggling against the persistent dry heat that our summers are famous for, but that aren’t always so great for growing tender annual plants.
There are a few general types of plants think about when choosing what to grow. Greens love our mild fall and winter weather here in the Bay Area. This means that anything that you eat as a leaf (spinach, lettuce, kale and Swiss chard, to name a few), will thrive during the rainy season.
Roots are also an excellent choice, meaning anything that you pull up out of the ground to harvest; think carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips. These are best grown direct-seeded, which means you plant the seeds directly into your garden soil instead of transplanting them from starter pots. However, if you’re just starting out, it’s easier and perfectly fine to purchase plant starts from your local nursery.
The third category are known as cruciferous vegetables, or brassicas. This group of plants includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage. When planted in the fall, these plants will generally be ready to harvest in about 3-4 months.
Whatever you choose to plant, a good rule to keep in mind is to grow what you like to eat. Enjoy the journey…and as always, if you need help getting started feel free to reach out!
VEGETABLES FOR YOUR FALL GARDEN
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Chinese Cabbage (Bok Choy/Pak Choi)
Collard Greens
Garlic
Kale
Lettuce
Mustard Greens
Onions
Peas
Radishes
Turnips
Spinach
Swiss Chard