Getting Ready For Fall — Cooler Weather is Around the Corner

 Brassicas & Alliums Rising, Nightshades Falling

🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | July 31, 2026

Hey, if the Almanac can read the cards, why not me?

I know, it's the end of July, we're in the hottest days of summer, and the old guy is talking about fall. 

Gardening is one hobby where it pays to think a little ahead. Cooler weather crops take a while to grow, and if you want to harvest a crop before the first freeze arrives, you actually need to get started by mid- to late August, especially if you're working with seeds. 

Many fall crops in the brassica family (like broccoli and cabbage) can take a light frost or two, but a hard freeze without protection will definitely cause some damage. There are others like garlic, though, that actually need the cold weather to properly form bulbs — it's called Vernalization. 

Onions are another vegetable that winters over very well. They usually get planted in the September/October time frame, grow throughout the winter and are harvested in late spring.

When it comes to the leafy vegetables, however, you need to plan for 60 to 100 days on average from seed to harvest. Brussels sprouts can easily take up to 110 days. If you figure the end of November or mid-December for your first freeze — it's time to plan!

Now don't get me wrong, I've had my fall crops — even brassicas — in the ground all through the winter months, but it depends on the winter you're having. Cabbage, for example, can take some pretty cold weather once established, but repeated hard freezes and thaw cycles can eventually damage the heads. Some others like parsley and garlic just smile, kick back, and lounge in the winter sun. 

Some handle it, some won't. What I try to do is plan for two crops — one for the fall-winter timeframe, and the other for winter-spring. This way I get all the cabbage, broccoli, and peas we can eat, and I only tend to things like onions, garlic, and a few herbs over the coldest periods.

So what's my plan? Well, the first thing I do is figure out which summer crops are done — like most of my tomatoes, squash, and beans. Then I figure out which ones will go on for a while, such as my peppers, cherry tomatoes, and okra. 

I have a separate bed and area set up for my garlic and onions, but the cabbage, broccoli, and sugar snap peas need to be planned out. Peas are easy; they'll be direct sown right into the grow bags I have my long beans in right now.  

The broccoli will most likely replace my Roma tomatoes, and the cabbage goes in when the squash comes out. 

Sowing seeds in trays now will just about hit that sweet spot on timing. When the seedlings are about 6 inches tall, I can pull the old plants, dump the bags, amend the soil, refill, and roll for fall.

Now one thing you might notice is that I take a little different stance on some things. I'm not a professional garden planner, landscape designer, or someone who is going to tell you exactly what to plant, how much to plant, or when to actually drop them in the ground. 

Gardening doesn't work that way. Your soil, your location, your weather, your available space, and even how much time you want to spend in the garden all make a difference.

What I try to do here is give you the information and things to think about so you can make better decisions for your own garden. Every seed packet you purchase contains general information for planting times, but it also has other bits of info that are very important — days-to-harvest and germination time. And like I pointed out earlier, those numbers come into play very strongly with fall gardens. 

Figure out:

• Your first frost date — a quick zip-code search will easily give you your window.
• Count back the days-to-harvest from that frost date.
• Add the germination time.
• Add another 2 to 3 weeks for the plant to gain its true leaves and get to a decent size. 

Also, if you're sowing indoors or using grow lights, don't forget to harden off the seedlings. Gradually getting them used to direct sun and outdoor wind over a week or so before planting gives them a fighting chance.

Remember, gardening is about the plants; getting the plants to grow is about the gardening.

If you enjoy these porch‑talk garden rambles, you can follow the blog over on the left — no pressure, just neighborly company. I’ll even buy the coffee 😉

Happy Gardening 🌱