Growing Vegetables in the Fall

Fall is the best season to grow vegetables in North Texas.

Many people from other parts of the country are accustomed to growing vegetables in the spring, but in North Texas spring planting is often delayed by wet or cold weather and then plants are exposed to too-hot weather before they mature. In the fall, the weather is not as unpredictable and rainfall is more plentiful, but variety selection is important because early maturing varieties yield a bountiful harvest before cold weather arrives.

Top Ten Vegetable and Herb Garden Tips

1. Site the garden in full sun with access to a water supply.
2. Grow vegetables in raised beds to keep pathway weeds out of the growing bed, prevent soil compaction, provide good drainage, and serve as a barrier to pests like slugs.
3. Amend the soil with compost or other well aged organic matter.
4. Set transplants in the garden at the same depth they were growing in the container (with a few exceptions).
5. Mulch! It conserves moisture, reduces weeds, keeps the soil cool and keeps plants cleaner. Keep mulch on top of the soil not mixed into the soil.
6. Fertilize on a regular basis for the best yields.
7. Spend time in the garden. Taking a stroll through the garden every day will alert you to insect and disease problems early enough that action can be taken.
8. Harvest regularly. Vegetables are more flavorful and tender when young and regular picking encourages plants to keep producing.
9. When the forecast predicts weather extremes, protect plants with row covers or frost cloth.
10. Grow your own transplants. More varieties are available from seed and you can be sure plants have been raised without the use of chemicals.

What can you grow in the fall?

Here is a list of common vegetables that will grow well in our area in the Fall:

Artichokes, Arugula, Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Fennel, Garlic, Greens, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Onions, Parsley, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Sorrel, Spinach, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, Winter Squash

Check out the resources below for more information about growing and planting times.