Enjoy fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden later into the fall season by sowing seeds now! Crops that mature fairly quickly ( 10 - 12 weeks) can be tucked into empty garden spaces for lush autumn harvests.
The number of days from seed to harvest is dependent on the variety of seed. Some mature earlier and some later. When choosing seeds for fall harvests, it's a good idea to go with those that have the shortest days-to-harvest. Many seed companies also helpfully label packets as either cool season crops or warm season crops. Stick with cool season crops for fall harvesting. The fastest growing crops can be planted the latest into the season. Crops in the Brassica family (broccoli, cabbage, kale, collards, turnips) will improve in flavor and quality after a frost.
Just like spring seedlings, late summer seedlings will need good fertile soil that is loose and easy to work.
Here are over a dozen each of vegetable and herb seed varieties we carry at Gulleys for fall harvest:
Veggies
- Beets... seed to harvest is 45-60 days.
- Broccoli... seed to harvest is 80-90 days. Harvest is best when days are less than 75 degrees.
- Cabbage... seed to harvest is 65-100 days.
- Carrots... seed to harvest is 50-90 days.
- Chard... seed to harvest is 25-35 days for baby; 55-60 days for bunching.
- Collards... seed to harvest is 50-55 days.
- Endive... seed to harvest is 45-55 days.
- Kale... seed to harvest is 55-65 days. A good kale will actually sweeten overnight during a frost.
- Lettuce... seed to harvest is 40-80 days. Loose leaf lettuces mature the fastest, then butterhead, then romaine and iceberg.
- Mustard Greens... seed to harvest is 30-40 days. Plant in late summer or early fall for the latest harvest.
- Peas... seed to harvest is 55-65 days.
- Radishes... seed to harvest is 21-35 days.
- Spinach... seed to harvest is 35-50 days.
- Turnips... seed to harvest is 38-42 days.
Herbs
- Basil... seed to harvest is 50-60 days. Basil is damaged by cold temperatures so harvest the whole plant before the first killing frost.
- Chamomile... seed to harvest is 60-65 days.
- Chives... seed to harvest is 70-75 days.
- Cilantro... seed to harvest is 60-70 days.
- Dill... seed to harvest is 60-75 days.
- Marjoram... seed to harvest is 80-90 days.
- Mint... seed to harvest is 70-80 days.
- Oregano... seed to harvest is 80-90 days.
- Parsley... seed to harvest is 70-80 days.
- Rosemary... seed to harvest is 80-100 days.
- Sage... seed to harvest is 80-90 days.
- Thyme... seed to harvest is 90-95 days.
