8 Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden During Autumn

Gardening is a wonderful hobby. Its outcome keeps you healthy, both mentally and physically. If you want to avoid gardening in the summer sun, then autumn is there for you. Here are some autumn gardening tips for you to know which vegetables to plant in autumn. ~ Ed.

Autumn is the season of cool weather, where leaves coat the ground in a myriad of colors. It’s a beautiful transition from summer to winter.

But it’s also the season where other greens come to life.

While summer is typically considered the season for the classic vegetable garden, the cooler temperatures of autumn present a far more convenient opportunity for those who don’t particularly enjoy the inescapable grueling conditions of summer gardening.

Autumn gardens are far less challenging (to gardens and gardeners alike) and house fewer pest and disease populations. Though you can always use fruit and veg cages to protect your vegetables from birds, butterflies, insects and pests.

When the air is cooling down, but the soil is still warm, this is the perfect time to get your vegetable garden going. But the question is what should you grow?

8 Autumn Garden Vegetables That You Should Consider Growing

You don’t have to tax your brains to decide which vegetables to plant in autumn gardening, find out about planting zones and you’ll know the best ones to plant where you live. Here’s a selection of eight vegetables to get you started.

Kale

Kale is a great superfood to grow in your garden; it’s one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet!

If you grow kale in your autumn kitchen garden, you’ll be able to enjoy those tender succulent leaves in your fresh salads and smoothies in addition to several other cooked recipes.

Kale tolerates the cold weather with ease and can grow nearly anywhere from a balcony garden to a raised bed.

This miracle food thrives in full sun but grows well in part shade, which makes it ideal for your autumn garden.

In addition to being a great source of nutrients, the different kinds of kale also make great ornamental plants that will enhance the beauty of your garden.

Carrots

Carrots are among the classic root crops that are ideal for cool-season growing. Homegrown carrots possess a special crunch and taste that’s vastly different from their grocery store counterparts.

Full sun and dry soil will produce vivid baskets of carrots throughout the growing season, and the mild cold of autumn will enhance their taste even further.

Adding carrots to your salad is great but incorporating them in your cooked meals is even better. Cooking carrots intensify their sweetness and create dishes that dance the line between sweet and savory.

Broccoli

Broccoli is another vegetable that’s enhanced by the cold autumn winds; however, growing broccoli for the first time can be tricky because this vegetable demands special conditions.

Broccoli is typically a thirsty plant so be sure to add compost before planting to help the soil retain moisture.

Instead of the big heads you get from the supermarket, homegrown broccoli will likely have smaller ones, but don’t worry because their tenderness and super delicious taste will make up for the smaller size.

Lettuce

You don’t have to wait for tomatoes to ripen in the summer to enjoy some garden-to-table deliciousness.

When you have lettuce planted you can enjoy a refreshing salad whenever you want. Adding lettuce to your autumn garden is a great way to add more leafy greens to your diet because it makes a great base to pretty much any salad.

Lettuce is a suitable plant for small gardens, and it’s also exceptionally easy to grow in cool weather which makes it an extremely convenient vegetable to plant in your garden regardless of how much space you have.

Beets

Beets are a fast-growing, early-spring crop that can be planted a second time during autumn.

These are very easy to grow in any kind of garden as long as they get enough sunlight. They’re exceptionally productive for small gardens because the entire vegetable from its leaves to its roots are edible.

Not only are they entirely edible, but beets are also incredibly easy to incorporate into your diet, they can be juiced, steamed, roasted, or pickled. Plant a couple of different varieties and enjoy the delicious earthly flavor that’s both rich and sweet.

Spinach

Spinach isn’t exclusively planted in autumn, but it’s a hardy nutritious vegetable to have around, especially when other greens may be in short supply.

If the temperature drops too low and you think your spinach patch looks frozen or wilted, then don’t worry. Just wait for the sun to come out and perk it up, then harvest your crop.

When prepared and cooked properly, spinach can be a versatile, tasty vegetable that makes rich healthy fresh salads and can also add nutritious value to your pizza or pasta. It’s another superfood that’s incredibly rich in vitamins and minerals that makes a great addition to any garden.

Turnips

Turnips grow best in cool conditions, so it’s preferred to plant them in late summer for an early autumn harvest.

Although they’re not very popular right now, turnips were once the number one choice for homegrown gardens, and for a good reason. They’re easy to grow and can be incorporated in hundreds of delicious recipes.

Unlike cabbages that have a slightly sweet yet neutral taste, turnips are grown for their spicy flesh and mild-tasting roots. The roots can be pickled, cooked in soups and stews, or added to salads.

The fleshy part of the turnip is a classic ingredient in Southern dishes where they’re typically cooked with ham or bacon. However you choose to cook them, turnips add an interesting note to whatever dish they’re included in.

Arugula

Although arugula has been grown since ancient times. Only recently has this distinctive leafy vegetable gotten the attention it deserves for its bold, peppery, aromatic flavor.

Also known as salad rocket, arugula has a spicy kick that works great when mixed in salads, adding a wonderful dimension to them.

Unlike other vegetables of the same family such as broccoli and kale, arugula tends to sauté faster. This is because of its tenderness and that it can lend more flavor to a dish than spinach.

In addition to the exotic flavor, arugula has numerous health benefits that include improving bone strength, protecting eye health, reducing inflammation as well as cancer-fighting powers.

Wrapping It Up

If the heat, humidity, insects, bugs, along with constant watering and weeding that come with summer gardening are just not your thing, then autumn gardening should be pure pleasure to you.

Your path to a lively autumn garden starts with these eight vegetables, so what are you waiting for? Get out there and get planting!

Over to you

Do you do gardening? Which plants or vegetables have you tried growing in autumn? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.