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Home / Article / When to Start Seeds: Your Guide to Fall Planting

When to Start Seeds: Your Guide to Fall Planting

Last Updated April 22nd, 2024 by Amy 2 Comments

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The beautiful weather of fall makes it perfect for extending the harvest. This fall planting guide covers 17 popular crops to help you grow more food.

carrots and beets fall harvest

This page may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

When Should I Plant Seeds for Fall?

The following table indicates when to start seeds relative to your fall frost date.
Example: Start lettuce seeds indoors, 11 weeks before, or sow outside 9 weeks before your fall frost date.

Click here to find your fall frost date. Need help getting started? Get my step-by-step guide to starting seeds indoors.
Crop NameIndoor
Start Date
Transplant
Latest Date
Direct Sow
Outdoors
BeansN/AN/A12 weeks before
BeetsN/AN/A9 weeks before
Broccoli18 weeks before11 weeks before11 weeks before
CarrotN/AN/A11 weeks before
Cauliflower15 weeks before11 weeks beforeN/A
Collard greens15 weeks before11 weeks before11 weeks before
GarlicN/AN/Aweek of
Kale16 weeks before11 weeks before11 weeks before
KohlrabiN/AN/A8 weeks before
Lettuce11 weeks before9 weeks before9 weeks before
PeasN/AN/A12 weeks before
PotatoesN/AN/A15 weeks before
RadishN/AN/A5 weeks before
RutabagaN/AN/A12 weeks before
SpinachN/AN/A7 weeks before
Swiss chard13 weeks before9 weeks before9 weeks before
TurnipsN/AN/A8 weeks before

Fall planting is an important aspect of the year-round harvest. Get more tips for preparing the garden for fall here. Don’t forget to plant your garlic! Here’s my favorite variety.

Note for Hot Climate Gardeners

If you live in a hot, dry climate, or at a high elevation, frost dates might not always be your best guide for fall planting. Instead, wait until temperatures consistently dip below 90 degrees.

Check with your local extension office to get specific details relative to your unique conditions. 

Get your seed starting dates automatically calculated for you!

Staying on course and starting seeds at the right time requires just a bit of planning and organization. Imagine a tool in which you type in your frost date, and it automatically calculates the following for EACH CROP:

  • indoor seed starting dates
  • transplanting dates
  • direct sowing outside dates
  • succession planting (how many days between sowing for a continuous harvest)
  • spacing in the garden
  • days to harvest
  • companion planting suggestions
  • special soil amendments

Sound amazing?

The good news: This tool exists, and it is just one of six tools you receive with my Complete Garden Planning System, which includes practical tools for planning your season from seed to harvest.

The Complete Garden Planning System

Have you extended your harvest season into fall?

READ NEXT:

  • How to Have a Productive Fall Garden (in 5 Easy Steps)
  • Protect Cold Weather Crops with a Cold Frame
  • When to Start Seeds: Your Guide to Spring Planting

Related Articles:

  • broccoli- spring planting
  • By late summer, many gardeners are weary and ready to throw in the trowel. However, the fall garden can be a wonderful change of pace. With cooler temperatures comes a unique set of low-maintenance crops such as beets, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, spinach, and more. Would you like to have a high-yielding fall vegetable garden? Follow these five easy steps for a smooth transition from summer to fall.
  • November Garden Guide: Planning, Planting, and More
  • July Garden Guide: Planning, Planting, and More
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Filed Under: Article Tagged With: Garden Planning, Growing Vegetables

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Comments

  1. Venessa Brown says

    August 5, 2021 at 5:33 am

    WOW! The details are just amazing. I am a beginner in gardening and I am planning to buy a glass greenhouse for sale. But then I am also thinking to get to know a little more before purchasing one. I am getting a really good deal right now. So getting it first and then practicing would also make me learn more about it. What do you suggest?

    Reply
    • Denise says

      August 11, 2023 at 12:08 am

      Vanessa, how exciting that you are able to get a good deal on a greenhouse. How has it been working out? Are you growing any plants in it all winter long? Do you recommend a similar greenhouse for others?

      Reply

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Amy StrossHi, I’m Amy!

I'm the author of
The Suburban Micro-Farm:
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