When to Plant Seeds for a Fall Vegetable Garden — Our Regional Guide for the U.S.

Fall gardens are the unsung heroes of the vegetable world—quieter, cooler, and often more productive than their summer cousins. But timing is everything. Knowing when to plant seeds for a fall harvest depends on your region's first frost date and the time each crop needs to mature. Here's a regional breakdown to help you sow with confidence.

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🌾 Southeast (Zones 7–9)

States: Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, etc.
Start planting: Mid-July to early September

Hot summers linger, but by late July you can start seeds for collards, kale, turnips, carrots, and mustard greens. Beans, squash, and cucumbers can be sown for a quick fall crop in late July or early August. Heat-tolerant seedlings like broccoli and cabbage should be started indoors in July and transplanted in August once the worst heat passes.

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🌻 Northeast & Midwest (Zones 4–6)

States: Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan, Illinois, etc.
Start planting: Late July to mid-August

With shorter growing seasons, timing is tight. Count backwards from your first frost date, then add 7–10 days as a buffer. Sow lettuce, spinach, radishes, beets, and bush beans in late July through early August. Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower should be transplanted by mid-August. Garlic can go in by October for next year’s harvest.

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🌽 Southwest (Zones 7–10)

States: Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, west Texas
Start planting: Late August through October

Hot, dry summers delay fall planting until temps begin to moderate. Start seeds for chard, kale, carrots, beets, and lettuce in early September. Wait until October to sow spinach, onions, and garlic. Use shade cloth early on to protect seedlings from lingering heat.

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🌱 Pacific Northwest (Zones 6–9)

States: Oregon, Washington, northern California
Start planting: Mid-July to late August

The cool, moist climate favors fall crops. Start lettuce, spinach, and brassicas like broccoli and cauliflower in mid-July indoors, and transplant them by mid-August. Root crops like carrots and beets should go in no later than early August. A second sowing of peas in late August can yield a modest fall crop.

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🌾 Plains & Rockies (Zones 3–6)

States: Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Dakotas, etc.
Start planting: Late July to early August

The shorter growing season means acting fast. Start radishes, spinach, arugula, turnips, and lettuce in late July. Transplant broccoli and cabbage by early August. Protect crops from early frost with row covers or cold frames.

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🧄 General Tips

• Use your average first frost date as a countdown.

• Choose fast-maturing varieties.

• Consider succession planting for staggered harvests.

• Row covers or low tunnels can extend your season by weeks.

• Don't forget to water regularly—fall weather may be dry in many regions.

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A fall garden offers crisp harvests, fewer pests, and a sense of quiet purpose. With a little planning and regional savvy, you can reap another round of blessings before winter settles in. Ready your seed trays, sharpen your tools, and let the second season begin.

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The Gardener's To-Do List for December

 

We probably won’t feel like working in the garden, but there are some tasks we can accomplish even in December. Here are some to handle this month.

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Inspect your cold frames for needed repairs.
Plant trees and shrubs if you can still get your shovel in the ground.
Add more mulch to your garden beds.
Check the wrapping on your evergreen trees and shrubs, if you added any for snow protection.
Winterize your gas-powered garden tools, if you haven’t already. At the very least, drain fuel from the tanks and run the engines until they’ve used up what’s in the carburetors.
Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil, applying a thin layer of oil.
It’s easy to forget watering during winter. Make sure your garden gets a couple inches each week.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

South

Be ready to cover crops with frost cloth just in case temperatures drop severely.
Plant trees, shrubs and vines.
Add fallen leaves to your compost pile.
Add a couple inches of mulch to your garden beds.
Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil, applying a thin layer of oil.
Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

Midwest

Plant trees, shrubs and vines.
Inspect your cold frames for needed repairs.
Check your garden beds in case more mulch is needed.
Check the wrapping on your evergreen trees and shrubs, if you added any for snow protection.
Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil and applying a thin layer of oil.
Don’t forget to water your garden. Rain and snowfall might not be enough during dry winters.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

Pacific Northwest

Plant bare-root and container grown shrubs and trees.
Protect evergreen trees and shrubs from snow burdens.
Maintain your garden tools by removing soil and applying a thin layer of oil.
Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

West Coast

Plant cold-hardy annuals and perennials.
Plant bare root trees, shrubs and vines.
Add compost to your garden.
Refresh mulch, if necessary.
Keep your plants well-watered.

Southwest

Plant winter vegetables and warm season annuals.
Be prepared to protect citrus from cold snaps.
Check frost protection fabric for tears.
Add compost to your garden beds.
Inspect your irrigation system for leaks. Now is no time to waste water.
Make needed repairs to your garden tools before the spring rush.

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The Gardener's To-Do List for November

 

Cold weather is nearly upon us. Some regions have already had their first snow. Here are some garden tasks to handle this month.

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

• Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Better make your choices and order early while the selection is best.
• If gardening over winter, inspect your cold frames for needed repairs. Construct low-profile hoop coverings for raised beds.
• Plant cold-hardy perennials and add some mulch for protection.
• Store your bountiful harvest over winter. A cool dark place is best. A root cellar, basement or utility room might do.
• Clean up your garden by removing organic debris to the compost pile.
• While you’re at it, turn that compost pile once again before winter sets in.
• Mark your perennials and bulbs with garden stakes.
• Plant trees and shrubs while you can still get your shovel in the ground.
• Add a couple inches of mulch to your garden beds.
• Protect evergreen trees and shrubs from breaking because of snow burdens. Wrapping them in burlap is a useful and inexpensive way of doing it.
• Winterize your gas-powered garden tools, if you haven’t already. At the very least, drain fuel from the tanks and run the engines until they’ve used up what’s in the carburetors.
• Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil, applying a thin layer of oil to metal
• parts.
• Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
• Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

South

• Since it’s probably too late for you to sow seeds, plant winter vegetable sets in your gardens and raised beds.
• Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Order early while the selection is best.
• Clean up your garden by removing organic debris to the compost pile.
• Turn your compost pile once again.
• Plant cold-hardy annuals.
• Plant trees and shrubs because “Fall Is for Planting!”
• Add a couple inches of mulch to your garden beds.
• Winterize those gas-powered garden tools. Drain fuel from the tanks and run the engines until they’ve they run out of gas.
• Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil, applying a thin layer of oil.
• Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
• Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

Midwest

• Plant cold-hardy perennials.
• Add garden debris to your compost pile, and turn it again.
• Plant trees, shrubs and vines.
• If gardening over winter, inspect your cold frames for needed repairs. Construct low-profile hoop coverings for raised beds.
• Store your harvest over winter. A cool dark place is best.
• Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Shop now while the selection is best.
• Mark your perennials and bulbs with garden stakes.
• Add a couple inches of mulch to your garden beds.
• Protect evergreen trees and shrubs from breaking because of snow burdens. Wrapping them in burlap is a useful and inexpensive way of doing it.
• Winterize your gas-powered garden tools, if you haven’t already. At the very least, drain fuel from the tanks and run the engines until they’ve used up what’s in the carburetors.
• Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil and applying a thin layer of oil.
• Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
• Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

Pacific Northwest

• Prepare your cold frames and hoop structures over your raised beds.
• Add compost to your garden beds.
• Plant bare-root and container grown shrubs and trees.
• Remove debris from your orchard and berry patches.
• Protect evergreen trees and shrubs from snow burdens.
• Winterize your gas-powered garden tools.
• Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil and applying a thin layer of oil.
• Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
• Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.
• Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Better make your choices and order early while the selection is best.

West Coast

• Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Shop now while the selection is best.
• Plant cold-hardy annuals, perennials and root vegetables.
• Add compost to your garden.
• Refresh mulch, if necessary.
• Remove organic garden debris to your compost pile, and turn the pile once again.
• Keep your plants well-watered.

Southwest

• Plant winter vegetables and warm season annuals.
• Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Order early while the selection is best.
• Be prepared to protect citrus from cold snaps.
• Add compost to your garden beds.
• Inspect your irrigation system for leaks. Now is no time to waste water.
• Make needed repairs to your garden tools before the spring rush.

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Plan Ahead to Protect Your Garden from Cold Weather

 

We know the routine. Working through the seasons addressing immediate needs, we are often caught by surprising weather forecasts.

OMG! It’s gonna drop tonight into the teens or below! Better cover those tender plants, but with what?

Winter is coming. It always does. Don’t let frigid weather catch your garden unprepared. Get ready now.

There are lots of methods for protecting your garden from deep freezes. Here are a few:

Cloches. Garden cloches are bell- or cone-shaped covers that are placed over individual plants for frost protection. Cloches of yesteryear were made of clear glass. Most are now made of materials such as plastic, or frames covered with light-weight plastic sheeting, polypropylene or polyester fabric. The fabrics trap heat while still allowing light and moisture to pass through. Unless they have devices for allowing heat to escape, those of solid materials must be removed before too much heat builds up.

Frost fabrics. Frost fabrics are those light-weight materials as mentioned above for cloches, but purchased in much larger sheets. They work the same way and should be suspended over your plants, avoiding contact with foliage. This is often accomplished by draping the material over hoops or rods and anchoring the sides and ends to the garden soil or sides of raised beds to prevent the fabric from blowing off. These work fine unless a load of snow is forecast. In that case, the structures should have sloping sides to allow snow to slide off.

Greenhouses. These are commercially available in a wide range of sizes, materials and costs, or they can be homemade. You’ll find a host of videos on YouTube and other media sites to assist you with planning and completion.

Straw mulch. Mother Nature is hard to beat. Straw mulch can be laid around your plants – even over some of them – for protection. Mulch traps heat from the soil just as synthetic materials do. When winter is over and spring has sprung, the mulch can be raked aside and allowed to decompose in the garden, helping to retain moisture and enhancing soil fertility.

So, plan now to protect your garden from frigid weather. Gather your materials now and have them ready for use before that fateful weather forecast is announced.

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FAQ: Should I cover my plants during cold weather with a plastic sheet?

Q. Should I cover my plants during cold weather with a plastic sheet? It's getting unusually cold tonight here in Atlanta, so I covered my patio plants. Here's a picture. Is this good enough?

A. I doubt it. There are better coverings to use. Plastic sheeting has no appreciable insulation value itself. Plants that come into direct contact with it will be damaged by the cold, so it's important to keep the plastic from touching them by using some sort of supporting structure. To keep the plastic from collapsing onto the plants due to the weight of precipitation, the supports should keep the plastic taut allowing water or snow to slide off.

Another problem with plastic is that it doesn't breath, so heat and condensation can build up beneath it. Even on cold days, the heat of the sun can cook your plants.

If you're caught off-guard by cold weather, a cotton sheet or lightweight blanket would be better for covering. The fabric would allow some air exchange to avoid heat build-up, but still provide insulation. Again, if precipitation is expected, provide support. Soggy blankets are heavy!

You should plan ahead and buy some material manufactured for the plant nursery industry. One vendor offers a thermal blanket made of a "white, non-woven, needle punched polypropylene material." It's designed to "allow rain and irrigation through ... while holding in precious heat."

The same advertises a "1.5 oz. fabric [which] is ideal for protecting flowering annuals, bedding plants and vegetables from severe cold and freezing. Temperatures underneath the fabric are 6 to 8° warmer than outside conditions...".

You should be able to find products like these at an independent garden center or by mail-order.

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