Grow vegetables throughout the fall

There’s still time to plant a crop of cool-weather-loving vegetables that you can enjoy throughout the fall. Follow these steps for a bountiful harvest.

Find your hardiness zone. The lowest average temperature in your location determines your zone and the ideal times for planting. Find out what zone you live in here. 

Know when to plant. Look up your zone’s planting schedule for specific vegetables. Generally, planting times in zones 5 and 6―most of the upper-middle states―are from mid-July through early September. For zones 7 through 9―middle states, coastal areas and into the South―plant in August and September (and into October). The hottest and coldest regions of the country will be on different schedules.

Discover your zone’s schedule for specific plants here. 

Choose a cool-weather crop. These vegetables love cooler conditions and can be planted either in early spring or late summer. They thrive with mild temperatures and shorter days, and some will even last through the first frost.

• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Beets
• Carrots
• Lettuce
• Swiss chard
• Cauliflower
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage
• Rutabagas
• Mustard greens
• Peas (use bush peas instead of climbers; they mature more quickly)
• Arugula
• Kale

For a great source on the optimal conditions for most of the above vegetables go here.