Fall Gardening is Here!

Embrace the Fall Planting Season: Tips and Timelines for a Successful Garden

Did you know the fall planting season starts on August 1st? Till under the spring/summer garden and refresh the soil with an additional 1-2” of compost/humus. Rake the garden clean of plant debris and get started. 

Ideal garden spots should have a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, water easily accessible, no animal access (deer and rabbits mostly), and the area should not be a low spot that holds water. 

Don’t have time to do a full garden? Tuck those tomatoes, beans, and squash into the rose garden, and they will do great. Limited space and only a balcony? No problem. I have seen bumper crops of tomatoes literally grown in a 40 lb potting soil bag with holes punched in the bottom for drainage. Where there is a will, there is a way (nobody ever said redneck doesn’t… it’s just not as attractive). 

*Isn’t it just too hot? For us, it can be miserable, but for seeds, it is perfect. 

* If planting directly in the ground, should the area be raised? The row of mounds should be elevated for better drainage, and the lower area makes a great reservoir for water. 

*Is planting veggies hard to do? No, it is quite simple. Maintaining the garden takes a bit more effort, but the reward is incredible and gratifying. 

*What if I fail and it’s a disaster? So what if you do?! Fear has no place in gardening, and you never fail if you never quit. 

Here are some timing guidelines for small fall gardens from the Texas A&M website:

• Beets - 30-60 days to harvest 

• Broccoli - over 80 days to harvest (starter plants cannot be planted until late Sept. or Oct. due to the heat) 

• Beans - 30-60 days to harvest 

• Bush squash - 30-60 days till harvest

• Cabbage - 60-90 days till harvest, but tolerates cold weather

• Carrot - 60-90 (but not a great choice for our area) 

• Eggplant - 80 days until harvest (but does better in the spring) 

• English Pea - 55-75 days till harvest and prefer cooler temps 

• Garlic - generally planted in fall and harvested in May 

• Green Bean - 50-65 days from seed till harvest

• Herbs - harvest within 30 days (only cut off what you need, never pull up the plant)

• Lettuce - 30-45 days, depending on the variety 

• Onion - onion sets take about 80 days and from seed 110 days

• Parsley - 30-45 days

• Pepper - 60-90 days depending on variety 

• Radish - 30-60 days till harvest (easy to grow)

• Spinach - 30 days, prefer cooler temps and need more shade in August 

• Tomato - 45-65 days till harvest, depending on variety and heat

Our first freeze date is generally late November. In the past 40 years, I have seen the first killing freeze as early as Halloween and as late as January.  Weather in 2026 has proven to be at best “unpredictable.” (The first freeze date is noted so you can have your early veggies and fruits (tomatoes) harvested prior.) 

This gardener is excited about the fall season. It is my favorite time of the year. With a garden, it might become yours, too. 

Happy Gardening!

-Kim