Late-Season Planting: Best Plants for Fall Gardens

Did you know that many vegetables like kale, carrots, and broccoli actually taste sweeter after a light frost? This is because the cold converts the starches into sugars!

The fall season offers a unique opportunity for gardeners. Less watering is needed, there are fewer pests, and it’s a great time to provide pollinators with some crucial nectar before the winter.

Here are some of my recommendations to help you make the most of your fall garden.

Perennials

Perennials are a fantastic choice for fall planting. They come back year after year, providing a sustainable and cost-effective way to beautify your garden.

1. Asters: These vibrant flowers bloom in late summer and fall, offering a wide range of colors from blue and purple to pink and red​.
2. Black-Eyed Susans: Known for their bright yellow petals and dark centers, these native North American flowers attract pollinators and add a cheerful touch to any garden​.
3. Sedums: These drought-tolerant plants require little maintenance and offer stunning fall colors. Their fleshy leaves retain moisture, making them perfect for dry conditions​.
4. Purple Flame Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata ‘Barfourteen’): This long-blooming native perennial offers a palette of pink, lavender, or white flowers with a sweet fragrance that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, thriving in both sun and shade.
5. Hostas: These shade-loving perennials are known for their lush foliage and come in a variety of sizes and colors. They are easy to grow and can add texture to your garden​.

Annuals

Annuals can provide quick, seasonal color to your garden during the early fall. Here are a few options for the Midwest fall season:

1. Petunias: These versatile flowers come in nearly every color imaginable and can be planted in containers, hanging baskets, or garden beds​​. Petunias grow best in temperature ranges of 55-65°F at night and 61-80°F during the day. When temperatures gets below 40° they will begin to fade quickly.
2. Nemesia: With their orchid-like flowers, these plants are perfect for adding a touch of elegance to your fall garden​​. The ideal temperature range for Nemesia is 65°F to 75°F. When temperatures go below 50°F growth will slow.
3. Salvia: Known for their long-lasting, spiky blooms, salvias are a great addition to beds, borders, and containers​. In the fall and early winter, Salvias in the Midwest can be grown as long-blooming annuals, especially in Chicagoland, where temperatures can drop to well below freezing. Some hardy perennial Salvias can survive in these cold conditions with proper care, such as mulching.
4. Marigolds: Hardy annuals that come in warm shades of yellow, orange, and red. They are easy to grow and can add vibrant color to garden beds, borders, and containers. Marigolds are frost-sensitive and prefer warm temperatures, ideally between 70-75°F during the day and 50-60°F at night. In late fall and early winter, they struggle as temperatures drop below 40°F, often succumbing to frost. Protecting them with covers or bringing them indoors can help extend their growing season.
5. Cosmos: Tall, airy plants with daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, white, and orange. They are drought-tolerant and can continue to bloom until the first frost, making them perfect for adding a splash of color to fall garden beds and borders. Cosmos thrive in warm conditions and prefer temperatures between 60-75°F. In late fall and early winter, they can be damaged by frost and cold weather, making it challenging to keep them thriving as temperatures drop below 40°F.

Vegetables

Fall is an excellent time to grow a variety of vegetables, many of which do well in cooler temperatures.

1. Kale: This hardy green can survive frost and continue to grow well into winter. It’s perfect for salads, soups, and smoothies​.
2. Carrots: Planting carrots in early fall can yield a sweet and crisp harvest. Smaller varieties mature faster, making them ideal for late-season planting​.
3. Cauliflower: Cooler fall temperatures help keep cauliflower heads tight and tender. They can be harvested in mid to late fall depending on your planting time​.
4. Spinach: Spinach thrives in cooler weather and can produce a bountiful harvest in the fall. It grows quickly and can be used fresh in salads, cooked in various dishes, or blended into smoothies.
5. Brussels Sprouts: These mini cabbages develop a sweeter flavor when exposed to light frost, making them an excellent fall crop. They can be roasted, sautéed, or added to stews and casseroles for a nutritious boost.

Herbs

Herbs can be a delightful addition to your fall garden, offering fresh flavors for your kitchen.

1. Thyme: This hardy herb can withstand cooler temperatures and adds a wonderful aroma and flavor to many dishes.
2. Sage: Perfect for fall recipes, sage thrives in cooler weather and can be harvested throughout the season.
3. Chives: These versatile herbs are easy to grow and can be used fresh or dried to enhance your culinary creations.
4. Parsley: A robust herb that thrives in cooler temperatures, making it perfect for fall planting. It can be used fresh or dried to add a bright, fresh flavor to a variety of dishes, including soups, salads, and sauces.
5. Oregano: A hardy perennial herb that can be grown as an annual in cooler climates. It tolerates the cooler temperatures of fall and adds a bold, earthy flavor to Italian and Mediterranean dishes.

Trees & Shrubs

Planting trees and shrubs in the fall gives them a head start to establish their root systems before the winter, causing them to come in stronger next spring.

1. October Glory Red Maple: Known for its spectacular red foliage, this tree can add dramatic color to your fall landscape​.
2. Oakleaf Hydrangea: This shrub offers beautiful crimson and gold foliage in the fall and can be a stunning focal point in your garden​.
3. Dogwood: Although famous for their spring blooms, dogwoods provide brilliant scarlet leaves and red berries in the fall​.
4. Sugar Maple: Sugar Maples are renowned for their brilliant fall foliage, displaying a vibrant mix of yellow, orange, and red. They are a great addition to any landscape, providing stunning color that enhances the beauty of the fall season.
5. Burning Bush: This shrub is famous for its striking red foliage in the fall. It’s an excellent choice for adding a dramatic splash of color to your garden beds or as a standalone focal point in your landscape.

Bulbs

Fall is the time to plant bulbs for spring blooms.

1. Daffodils: These early bloomers are deer-resistant and easy to grow, providing a cheerful start to spring.
2. Tulips: Available in a wide array of colors and shapes, tulips can be planted in fall for a stunning spring display.
3. Crocuses: These small, early-blooming flowers can add a splash of color to your garden as one of the first signs of spring.
4. Hyacinths: Hyacinths are known for their intensely fragrant flowers and come in a variety of colors including blue, pink, white, and purple. Planting them in the fall will result in beautiful, dense flower spikes in the spring.
5. Snowdrops: Snowdrops are among the first bulbs to bloom in late winter to early spring, often pushing through the snow. Their delicate white flowers signal the end of winter and add an elegant touch to early spring gardens.

Hardscapes

Yes, I understand it’s not a plant. But hardscape elements such as patios, fire pits, and walkways are excellent additions to add in the fall. The cooler weather is ideal for construction, and you can often find off-season discounts on materials and labor.

1. Patios: A patio can extend your living space and provide a comfortable area for outdoor dining and relaxation. The cooler fall temperatures are perfect for working on these projects, and you can still enjoy them before winter sets in.
2. Fire Pits: A fire pit can be a cozy gathering spot for family and friends on crisp fall evenings. Installing one in the fall ensures you’ll have it ready for use as the temperatures drop.
3. Walkways: Adding or updating walkways can improve the functionality and aesthetics of your garden. Fall is an excellent time for these projects as the ground is easier to work with compared to the frozen winter months.
4. Retaining Walls: Retaining walls can help manage soil erosion, create defined garden beds, and add a touch of elegance to your landscape. Fall is an ideal time for building retaining walls because the cooler weather makes physical labor more manageable, and you can take advantage of the stable soil conditions before winter.
5. Outdoor Lighting: Installing outdoor lighting enhances the safety and beauty of your garden or yard. Fall’s shorter days provide a perfect opportunity to see where additional lighting would be most beneficial. Whether it’s path lights, spotlights, or decorative string lights, this addition can create a welcoming ambiance for your outdoor spaces.

Incorporating these elements into your fall gardening plans can enhance the beauty and functionality of your outdoor space. Enjoy the cooler weather and the vibrant colors that fall brings and take advantage of the remaining months to make your garden a stunning retreat. If you’re not sure where to start or how to put these different components together in a compelling way, utilize your local landscaping experts.

Happy gardening!