What to Plant in a Texas Fall Garden: A Beginner's Guide for New Gardeners
As the fall season approaches in Texas, I’ve been planning what vegetables to plant in the community garden, where I work as the Grow Operations Lead. This is my first time planning for fall in this role, and I was inspired to write this blog after a new gardening enthusiast, Joshua, asked me “What are some good vegetables to plant in the fall?"
I recommended a few vegetables including:
Beets
Kale
Spinach
Broccoli
Cabbage
Lettuce
I was thrilled to see how excited Joshua was about growing his own food. I happily shared some potato slips with him from the garden, as he was particularly interested in growing sweet potatoes. I also provided him with some fertilizer to help him get started. Before deciding what to plant. Before deciding what to grow, I recommended looking into USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
View of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Understanding Texas Gardening Zones
It’s essential to know that Texas falls within USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9, depending on the region. Houston, where our community garden is located, is in zone 9b, which means we experience mild winters and long, warm growing seasons. This makes it perfect for fall planting, as the weather is still warm enough for some crops to establish while cool enough for others to flourish. The USDA states that, “USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which perennial plants are most likely to thrive at a location.”
Note: You can enter your garden location into the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine your zone anywhere within the United States.
Fall Vegetables for Your Garden
Here are some vegetables that I’m planting this fall. They are not only easy to grow but also a great choice for new gardeners looking to get started.
Beets: Beets have become one of my favorite vegetables to juice with oranges! In fact, the only time I’ve had beets was in juice. Beets are one of my favorite root vegetables to plant in the fall because they’re easy to grow and don’t require much space. Plus, they add a pop of color to the garden and are incredibly nutritious. Sow seeds directly into the ground, and in just a few weeks, you’ll have young beet and beet greens ready to harvest. This fall I am doing a combination of direct to sow and transplanting my seeds a head of time.
Broccoli: Who doesn’t love broccoli? This is my first time growing it, so we’re in this together! Broccoli thrives in cooler weather, making fall the perfect time to plant it. This vegetable is a little more time-intensive since it needs to be started from transplants or seeds a few weeks before planting. However, once established, it’s relatively low maintenance.
Lettuce in the gardening during the Spring time!
Lettuce: I can’t wait to have fresh lettuce for my homemade Panera Mediterranean inspired sandwich. Lettuce is one of the quickest-growing crops, and it does great in the cool temperatures of fall. You can harvest fresh leaves within a few weeks, and the best part is you can plant it multiple times throughout the season for a continuous harvest.
Spinach: Spinach loves cooler weather, and it’s another fast-growing leafy green perfect for fall. It’s rich in nutrients and can be harvested as baby greens or left to grow to full size. I love using spinach in salads and juices, making it a must-plant for my garden.
Cabbage: Cabbage is a hardy vegetable that loves the crisp fall air. Though it takes a bit longer to mature, the wait is worth it. This is my first time planting cabbage, and I’ve learned that it does best when started from transplants rather than seeds, as this gives it a head start before the first frost.
Kale: This is one of my top favorite vegetables to grow and it is a super food, alongside spinach. It’s packed with nutrients and easy to grow, making it a great choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners. You can harvest the leaves at any stage—whether you prefer tender baby kale or full-sized, mature leaves. Kale continues producing throughout the season.
Sweet Potatoes for New Gardeners
As for the sweet potatoes I shared with Josh, they need to be planted early in the fall. Although they’re typically harvested after the first frost, they’ll keep growing until then. It’s rewarding to help new gardeners like Joshua start their journey. Whether it’s providing a few slips or sharing some fertilizer, there’s a sense of community in every garden we grow together.
Josh with the sweet potato slips! Sweet potato slips are a fantastic way to propagate sweet potatoes for your garden.
Final Tips for Fall Gardening
If you’re new to gardening or just looking to expand your garden this fall, I highly encourage starting with a few of these vegetables. They’re not only beginner-friendly but also perfect for the Texas fall climate. Don’t forget to prepare your soil by adding compost or organic fertilizers to ensure your plants thrive throughout the season.
Happy gardening, and I can’t wait to see what you grow this fall! What do you plan on planting in your garden this season?