What Productive Vegetables to Plant in the Fall for Raised Beds?
By: Peride Beradze
Nowadays, more and more people start to do raised gardening because it is actually pretty easy, and relaxing. Plus, it makes us feel closer to nature. However, the major reason is that you will get to have fresh vegetables, free of pesticides and additives. What feels better than feeding the family with healthy and fresh vegetables?
Most productive crops to plant in the fall for raised garden beds include the ones that have a hardy nature. Some of those delicious plants can be harvested just a month from planting. The low-maintenance vegetables that have to be planted in the fall are beets, lettuce, carrots, spinach, broccoli, chard, kale, collards, and winter squash.
However, if you want to have perfect vegetable-raised garden beds, you need to know the exact timing on when to start preparations. Additionally, it is important to prepare the garden beds according to the specific plant needs and so on. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know to make the perfect vegetable garden beds.
When should fall planting begin?
Typically, the vegetables that are supposed to be grown in the fall are planted in August or September. This is the period when the temperature is higher and the dirt is dry. Therefore, can be a little challenging to establish the crops. However, with some techniques, you will get it right.
To know the exact timing of when to plant your crops, first think about what is the date when the first frost appears in your area. Additionally, choose the vegetable that you want and find out how long it takes before it gets ready for harvesting. For example, the radish can be good to harvest in 3 weeks. So choose the proper time of when to plant it, and make sure that it will be ready to harvest before the frost comes.
10 High-yielding plants to plant in the fall
1. Beet
Beets are the first vegetables that will do just fine in the raised garden beds. You will have to sow the seeds of the beets either in the late summer or early fall. Make sure to plant those crops approximately 4-6 prior to the frosty weather. The cool soil helps to create sweeter beets. If you are in the USDA zone 9 or above, you can even have the winter harvest if you plant the beets in the late fall. Those delicious vegetables can even withstand a little frost.
2. Carrot
Carrots need approximately 10-12 weeks to form and be ready for harvest. Therefore make sure to plant in advance so the frost does not harm it. Those vegetables do not like hot weather and therefore, will do well if you plant them in your metal raised garden beds in the early fall.
3. Broccoli
Broccolis are pretty hardy plants and they can handle the little frost once they get mature. Broccoli takes some time before it is ready for harvest. Those vegetables will need approximately 2 to 3 months to develop. So, if you plan to have broccoli in your garden bed, then plant it in the late or mid-summer.
4. Arugula
Temperatures may get excessively warm when growing arugula in the spring, leading it to blossom and set seed too early. The milder autumn temperatures, on the other hand, help the leaves to develop and become flavorful. The time this herb needs for the full development in the raised garden bed is six to eight weeks after sowing.
5. Brussels sprout
Another great vegetable that can be grown in the fall is brussels sprouts. Those ones are pretty hardy and can also withstand a little frost. Brussel sprouts that are planted in the raised beds will be ready for harvest in 2 to 3 months. As the plant matures, the foliage can get a yellow color.
6. Turnip
Turnips are a great addition to any salad and are the source of various nutrients. Actually, those vegetables grow pretty quickly and will be ready for harvest in six to ten weeks. One of the best varieties of turnips to grow in the raised garden bed is the Purple Top White Globe. Those delicious plants can be sown in the soil in late July or early August.
7. Lettuce
The chilly autumnal temperatures are ideal for growing lettuce. They are among the fastest vegetables you can produce since they may be harvested in just one month. Furthermore, lettuce commonly found in salad mixes thrives when grown in raised planter boxes, so even if you do not have enough room for a full-sized garden, you can still easily cultivate your own salad.
8. Cauliflower
You can plant delicious cauliflower in the fall season too. As long as the soil temperature ranges between 65 degrees Fahrenheit and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, those plants will do just fine in the raised planter boxes. If you live in an area where the winters are mild, then you can definitely plant cauliflowers in the fall. Make sure to sow the seeds six to eight weeks before frost hits.
9. Cabbage
The autumn months are ideal for cultivating cabbage. Plants require colder temperatures to create a head even if they are located in warmer locations. Since cabbage takes between 90 and 120 days to develop, an autumn yield is more likely if seedlings are placed in the garden bed from the middle to the end of the summer. With sufficient protection, you may continue to harvest cabbage family varieties long into the winter because most of them are robust enough to withstand a light frost.
10. Pea
Another vegetable that enjoys the cooler months is peas. Those vegetables only need fifty to sixty days to be ready for harvest. Planting them in the metal raised garden beds in late August will provide delicious vegetables before the winter.
What should be paid attention to when planting in autumn?
Before the ground freezes solid, cover your vegetables such as carrots, beets, parsnips, and turnips, with mulch. Even if the top parts of vegetables droop, mulching will help the roots thrive, and you may often pick all winter long.
Naturally, you'll need to employ the same gardening techniques as in the summer. Make sure the soil is healthy (and contains organic matter), fertilize if you like with plant food, and water often. You can prepare several raised planter boxes or raised beds and group the plants that have the same requirements.
Which plants can be prepared for winter planting in autumn?
Some types of vegetables can also be overwintered for harvest in the late early spring or in winter. In some regions, rainy weather may be equally as detrimental to plant development as freezing weather. Raised beds assist provide the best possible drainage by elevating your garden dirt higher from the damp ground. In the spring, they also warm up more quickly. The plants that can be prepared for winter planting in autumn are beets, Garlic, Broad beans, Carrots, Onions, Kale, and others.
Conclusion
One of the most widely grown plants in the raised garden beds is vegetables and herbs. The reason for this mainly is that first of all, it is easy. And second, it is healthy to eat for us and our families. In this article, we discussed some of the vegetables that can be successfully planted and harvested in the fall for raised garden beds.
