Just because summer is coming to an end doesn’t mean your growing season has to! There are plenty of vegetables you can plant in your garden during the fall that will germinate and grow all winter long, so take a look at the list below so you can have a successful spring harvest. 

Onions and Shallots

Both onions and shallots have a long growing season, so if you want to enjoy these next spring or summer, you better start planting them now!

Planting onions in the fall allows the roots to get well-established before the soil becomes completely frozen, and their hardiness takes them through the cold weather afterward. 

Be sure to leave a marker where they’re planted because once it’s time to plant your early spring crops, you don’t want to plant right on top of the onions and shallots that are still hiding underground until later in the season. 

Leafy Greens

These types of vegetables are very strong and can handle the freezing temperatures of the winter. Planting kale or collard greens in the autumn will even provide you with mid-winter harvests, allowing you to use a leaf or two for soups and stews. 

Garlic 

Garlic is a very hardy plant that can withstand even the harshest of temperatures during the winter.

Thus, fall is the best time for you to plant garlic so it can grow and develop all winter long. You’ll want to plant the garlic cloves deep in the soil, and top it with about 6-8 inches of mulch. 

Turnips

As a root vegetable, turnips have a long growing season compared to other vegetables. Therefore, it makes it a great option for fall planting that provides you with a spring harvest. 

Plus, they have a more robust flavor and will grow larger if they mature throughout the fall. In addition, since the root is what people grow turnips for, not the leafy top, it’s okay if that part gets harmed by frost. 

Asparagus

Asparagus is not a simple plant for beginners, though the payoff is worth it if you love these green spears.

It takes at least two years to harvest your first asparagus crop, and they can continue reliably producing you with fresh spears for over 25 years.

Thus, there’s no better time like the present to get your asparagus bed started, so don’t waste any more time and get them planted this fall. 

As you can see, there are plenty of vegetables that you can plant in the fall to provide you with fresh produce during the spring harvest. Depending on where you live in the country and the soil type you’re dealing with, you may be limited by the types of vegetables you can successfully plant during the fall. So, make sure to do your research to discover the vegetables that will be prosperous in your area. 

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Bailey Schramm is a writer in partnership with wrought iron door manufacturer Abby Iron Doors.