Loads of us started growing vegetables – or growing more vegetables – at home in early spring as the lockdowns started. And with so much uncertainty – or even fear – most of us focused on quick growing vegetables that would give us the fastest crop possible over the summer.
But now we need to think about what vegetables to grow for autumn because if we’re smart about it there’s a whole bunch of fast growing vegetables we can get in now for a fall harvest when the final summer vegetables are done.
So I’ve put together this big list of fast growing vegetables for a fall harvest that can easily be grown from seed in pots and containers – as well as raised beds – even if you’re a beginner gardener in most northern hemisphere climates.
I’ve also included quick beginner tips on how to:
- Start vegetables from seed when it is still hot in summer
- Grow fall vegetables in pots & containers
- Protect fall vegetables from first frosts
- Keep pests off your fall vegetables.
I do hope the list of fast growing fall vegetables and easy tips helps you keep gardening and growing all the way through the autumn. Do let me know how you get on.
And for more simple vegetable growing tips follow me on Pinterest and check out my other simple grow your own posts.
25 Fast Growing Vegetables For Autumn
These 25 fast growing vegetables can all give you a harvest in less than 3 months and some will grow in as little as 20 days.
I’ve roughly ordered the list by the speed with which they will grow, although this will vary by variety and we need to remember some of these vegetables will grow slower in autumn than they would have done in spring.
- Cress
- Beet greens
- Mustard greens
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Tatsoi
- Swiss chard
- Choy sum
- Mibuna
- Mizuna
- Turnip greens
- Pak Choi
- Arugula / rocket
- Parsley
- Lettuce
- Beet root
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Kohlrabi
- Turnips
- Cauliflower
- Spring greens / collards
- Peas
- Onions
- Scallions
Growing Fall Vegetable Tips For Beginners
Growing Vegetables From Seed In Hot Weather
Some seeds e.g. spinach & some lettuce, may not germinate if the soil is too warm so find a really shady spot or if your house is cooler start them inside.
Growing Fall Vegetables In Pots & Containers
Growing vegetables in pots & containers can work really for a fall harvest, as they let you start vegetables in the shade in the summer and then move them into sunnier spots in the garden as the weather cools.
I grow my spinach – which we eat loads of as it is such an easy immune boosting addition to so many quick meals – in pots pretty much all year round and just move them round the garden.
You can also start your vegetables in pots in shady spots when your raised beds are full and then transport them as big summer vegetables like zucchini and tomatoes come to an end.
Protecting Fall Vegetables From Frost
Most fall harvesting vegetables won’t cope with frost, so to avoid frost problems, check the growing time for your seeds and subtract this from the typical first frost date in your area to work out the last date you can plant. You can use these sites to check frost dates in the USA and UK.
But if you are growing your vegetables in pots or containers it is pretty easy to rig up some DIY frost protection to keep them going longer.
Keep Pests Off Fall Vegetables
The great news about growing vegetables for a fall harvest – especially if you’re trying to garden organically – is far fewer aphids & caterpillars.
Although, both of these will lay over wintering eggs in the autumn, these shouldn’t be a problem for fall harvested vegetables.
The big enemies for all the lovely green vegetables you grow in fall are going to be slugs and snails. They can easily destroy very young plants if you don’t keep on top of them but these simple ways to get rid of slugs and snails naturally should do the trick.
And there you go. 25 fast growing vegetables you can plant now for a quick fall harvest plus easy beginner tips on starting seeds, growing vegetables in pots and containers and protecting your vegetables from frost and pests.
I hope you have a bumper harvest. For more beginners tips on growing vegetables do follow me on Pinterest and have a read of these posts:
- How To Grow Spinach Tips
- Growing Vegetables From Scraps
- Get Rid Of Slugs & Snails Naturally
- Grow Your Own Mushrooms
- Organic Gardening For Beginners
- Organic Weed Control
Photos: Tomatoes by Martin Delisle and Fresh vegetables in the box. The concept of agriculture, harvesting by Marco Verch under Creative Commons 2.0
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