Fall is one of the busiest and most rewarding planting seasons in the garden, even though it looks like the year is winding down. While summer crops finish, fall planting sets up next spring and next summer: spring-flowering bulbs go into the ground now, garlic cloves are planted for a harvest many months later, and cool-season vegetables such as lettuce, kale, spinach and peas get a second sowing that thrives in cooling weather. The soil is still warm from summer, which helps roots establish quickly, while cooler air reduces stress on new plants and slows evaporation. That combination — warm soil, cool air — is why fall planting works so well, and why gardeners who skip it miss some of the easiest wins of the year.
The key to fall planting is timing it against your first frost, not against the calendar month. Frost arrives weeks apart across different zones, so a planting date that is perfect in one place can be far too late in another. As a rough guide, average first frosts fall in the September range in the coldest zones, in October across much of the middle of the country, and in November or December in warm zones, with zones 11 to 13 largely frost-free. These are averages and ranges only, and a single cold night can arrive earlier than the average. Use our frost date calculator to find the average dates for your zone, and check your local extension service for planting dates tuned to your area.
What to plant in fall
The classic fall planting list has three groups. First, spring-flowering bulbs: tulips, daffodils, crocus and hyacinths are planted in fall so they can chill over winter and flower in spring. Plant them when soil temperatures have cooled, generally a few weeks before the ground freezes, at a depth roughly three times the height of the bulb, pointed end up. Our guides to growing tulips and growing daffodils cover depth and spacing in detail. Second, garlic: individual cloves are planted in fall, pointed end up, a few inches deep, and they root before winter, rest through the cold, then grow strongly in spring for a summer harvest. See growing garlic for the full method. Third, cool-season vegetables: lettuce, spinach, kale, peas, radishes, carrots, beets and turnips all grow well in cool fall weather and many taste sweeter after a light frost.
Beyond those three groups, fall is also a good time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. Woody plants planted in fall put their energy into roots while the soil is still warm, then leaf out strongly in spring, and they need less watering than spring-planted stock because cooler air means less water loss. Bare-root trees and shrubs are often available in fall, and they are usually cheaper than container-grown plants. Water them well at planting, mulch around them, and keep watering until the ground freezes if the weather stays dry. Container-grown perennials can also go in now, as long as they have several weeks to root before hard frost. Avoid planting tender perennials that are only just hardy in your zone late in fall, since they may not root in time.
Timing fall planting by zone
Cold zones need the earliest fall planting. In zones 3 to 5, cool-season vegetables should be sown in late summer so they mature before hard frost, bulbs go in once the soil has cooled, and garlic is planted a few weeks before the ground freezes. The growing season is short, so count backwards from your average first frost using the days to maturity on the seed packet, then add about two weeks, because plants grow more slowly as days shorten and light fades. The zone 5 fall gardening guide gives a zone-specific view of the season. In zones 6 to 8, fall is longer and more forgiving: there is time for a full second sowing of salads and roots, bulbs can be planted later, and garlic goes in later too. See zone 7 fall gardening for an example of a mid-zone fall. In zones 9 and 10, fall is the start of the main cool season, and many vegetables that struggle through summer — lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, peas and carrots — are sown in fall and grown through winter. The zone 9 fall gardening guide covers that pattern.
Zones 11 to 13 are frost-free, so fall is not a season of winding down at all. Planting continues much as it does the rest of the year, with the cooler months often the most comfortable time to garden. Tropical plants keep growing, and cool-season crops can be sown in the cooler part of the year. The zone 11 fall gardening guide explains how fall works where frost never arrives. Whatever your zone, the rule is the same: plant by your local frost averages and soil temperature, not by a date printed for somewhere else, and when in doubt, check your local extension service.
Preparing the soil for fall planting
Fall planting succeeds or fails on soil preparation. Start by clearing spent summer crops and weeds, pulling out finished plants and composting healthy material. Work a layer of compost into beds that will be planted, since compost feeds soil life and improves both drainage in heavy soil and water-holding in sandy soil. Our fall soil preparation guide covers this in detail, and composting basics explains how to make the compost itself. Test the soil if you have not done so recently; our soil pH testing guide explains how, and a test tells you whether lime or sulphur is needed before you plant rather than after.
Do not dig wet soil, which compacts into clods that set hard, and do not leave bare soil exposed through winter, since rain and wind strip nutrients and structure. If a bed will not be planted until spring, sow a cover crop or spread a thick mulch instead. For beds being planted now, loosen the top layer, mix in compost, and water the bed before planting so roots meet damp soil. Raised beds are worth considering for fall planting in heavy or wet soil, since they drain better and warm up faster; our raised bed soil mix guide gives a mix that works well.
Planting bulbs and garlic step by step
For bulbs, choose firm, plump bulbs with no soft spots or mould, and buy them from a reputable supplier rather than picking up discounted bulbs that have been sitting in warm shop conditions. Dig or use a bulb planter, place each bulb pointed end up at the right depth, cover with soil, firm gently and water. Plant in groups or drifts rather than single rows, since bulbs look far better in clusters, and mix early, mid and late varieties so flowering lasts for weeks. Mark where you planted them so you do not dig them up by accident in spring. Daffodils are a good choice for beginners because they are reliable and rarely eaten by animals, while tulips may need protection where squirrels or deer are a problem.
For garlic, break bulbs into individual cloves just before planting, keeping the papery skin on, and plant only the largest, healthiest cloves. Push each clove pointed end up about two to three inches deep and several inches apart, in rows a foot apart, then cover with soil and a thick mulch of straw or leaves. Mulch matters for garlic because it protects the cloves through winter and keeps the soil moist in spring. Our harvesting garlic guide covers what happens at the other end of the season. Shallots and overwintering onions are planted in the same way in suitable zones, and the same rules apply: good drainage, full sun, and a mulch layer once the ground starts to cool.
Cool-season vegetables for a fall harvest
Cool-season vegetables are the backbone of the fall vegetable garden. Lettuce, spinach, arugula, mustard greens and other salads can be sown in succession every couple of weeks through early fall, and they grow quickly in cool weather. Root crops such as carrots, beets, radishes and turnips sown in late summer mature in fall, and many of them taste sweeter after a light frost, which turns some of their starches to sugars. Peas sown in late summer can crop in fall in mild zones, and brassicas such as kale, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts are at their best in cool weather. Our guides to growing lettuce, growing kale, growing spinach and growing broccoli give crop-by-crop detail.
Protect fall vegetables as the weather cools. A simple row cover or cold frame extends the season by weeks, and a thick mulch around roots keeps the soil warmer for longer. Water in the morning so leaves dry before night, since wet leaves in cold weather invite disease. Harvest salads as cut-and-come-again leaves, taking outer leaves and letting the centre keep growing, and lift root crops before the ground freezes hard. If a hard frost is forecast and crops are nearly ready, harvest them rather than risking losing them overnight. Fall vegetables are covered in more depth in our fall vegetable care guide.
Common fall planting mistakes
The most common mistake is planting too late, so seeds germinate but seedlings are too small to survive frost. Count backwards from your average first frost and add extra time for slower autumn growth. The second mistake is planting bulbs too early while the soil is still warm, which can cause them to sprout in fall and then get damaged by frost. The third is forgetting to water: fall planting still needs water, especially for trees and shrubs, and dry roots going into winter are a common cause of failure — see our fall watering guide for how much and when. The fourth is planting in soil that has not been improved, so roots sit in compacted or exhausted ground. The fifth is skipping mulch, which leaves new plantings exposed to freeze-thaw cycles that heave roots out of the soil. Mulch after planting, not before, and keep it a few inches from stems. Finally, do not feed fall plantings with strong fertiliser, which pushes soft growth that frost damages; our fall fertilizing guide explains why feeding should be light or skipped entirely in fall.
Frequently asked questions
What can I plant in fall?
Spring bulbs such as tulips and daffodils, garlic, shallots and overwintering onions, cool-season vegetables including lettuce, spinach, kale, peas, carrots, beets and radishes, and trees, shrubs and hardy perennials. In warm zones, fall is also the main sowing season for broccoli, cauliflower and other cool-season crops.
When should I plant bulbs in fall?
When the soil has cooled, generally a few weeks before the ground freezes. In cold zones that is often early to mid fall, and in warm zones it is later. Plant at a depth about three times the height of the bulb, pointed end up, and water after planting.
Can I plant garlic in fall?
Yes, fall is the normal time to plant garlic in most zones. Plant individual cloves pointed end up, a few inches deep, several weeks before the ground freezes, then mulch thickly with straw or leaves. The cloves root before winter and grow strongly in spring.
Is fall a good time to plant trees and shrubs?
Yes. The soil is still warm, so roots establish well, while cooler air means less water stress. Water thoroughly at planting and keep watering until the ground freezes if the weather is dry, and mulch around the base.
Do I need to water fall plantings?
Yes. Warm soil and dry fall weather can leave new roots short of water. Water at planting and whenever the soil is dry, and keep watering trees and shrubs until the ground freezes. Check your local extension service for watering advice for your area.