The Truth about Fall and Winter Planting

The autumn carrots are finally coming in, which is a perfect time for me to stand on my yearly soap box and address the "you can plant in the Fall/Winter" claim, which is misleading at best and clickbaity at worst.

When we say something is a fall/winter crop, it means they are planted in the MID TO LATE SUMMER, while the abundance of sunlight and the warm temps are conducive for the plants to grow in that developmental stage, to be matured in the fall and winter.

These carrots for example, were planted in late July, and they are now maturing in the fall, and they will stay fresh in the ground all winter long. Same things can be said for other "cool weather crops" like radishes, beets, cabbage, broccoli, etc....

Can you start planting in the fall? Sure, it's your life. You do what you want. But just know that you will be working with diminishing sunlight and dropping temperatures, unless you have a lighted greenhouse.

Most plants grow optimally in the temperature range between 45F - 88F. That means while your cold hardy plants like kale, spinach, and cabbage will survive the winter (meaning they will not die), they also will not grow at the same rate as they do in spring and summer. Sorry, I don't make the rules.

So while, yes, you can have a fall/winter harvest....but the seeds for these harvests should be sowed in mid to late summer. Otherwise, just let your garden REST. Mother Nature meant for fall and winter to be a resting period for all, so obey her and take the much deserved rest you and your garden need.