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Because we have the tendency to think of spring as planting time, it is easy to forget that this is not the only time to plant edibles. Mid to late summer is an excellent time to plant cool season crops that will then be ready to harvest and enjoy in the fall.

What to plant

Beets: If you’ve always been turned off by the odor and flavor of pickled beets, try these fresh Detroit Dark Red Beets instead. They are a whole different taste experience- we promise! You can eat the superbly healthy iron-packed greens, too. For beets that can be direct sown and are ready to harvest in no time, try Early Wonder Beets.

Kale: If you’re looking to add more healthy greens to your diet, then we would definitely recommend planting Red Winter Kale. We like this particular variety because the leaves are tender are sweet, making them a great addition to salads. Plus, its purple and green leaves look really pretty in the garden!

Peas: Cool temperatures in the fall help peas to grow extra sweet. We love picking and eating  Oregon Sugar Pea Pods right off the vine. They are stringless, which is so convenient because it eliminates the annoying task of removing strings from the pods. These pea pods freeze super easily, too. If you prefer a plumper pod, as opposed to a flat one, try Sugar Snap Peas.

Lettuce: There are many different great types of head and leaf lettuce that may be planted in the late summer for fall harvest. Most types, such as the Red Sails Leaf variety, can be sown outdoors up to two weeks before the first fall frost. If you’ve had a particularly hot summer, (as many areas have) you may wish to start your seeds indoors, as the soil can be too hot for the seeds to germinate. Otherwise, lettuce can be direct sown.

Spinach: There are lots of spinach varieties out there, but in our humble opinion the best is Tyee Spinach. It’s disease resistant, and bolt resistant, which makes it very easy to grow. Plus, its tender leaves are just right for just about every recipe and application. If you want to, you can even mulch this spinach liberally, and grow it throughout the whole winter!

Swiss Chard: Unlike collard greens, you can actually eat the thick stems of Ruby Red Swiss Chard. This is a great bonus, because the stems have a nice, crunchy texture and an earthy flavor kind of like asparagus. To extend your swiss chard harvest throughout the entire fall, harvest the outer leaves by cutting them 2 inches above the base. New leaves will grow in their place.

Radishes: We often refer to radishes as “instant gratification” veggies, because they can go from sowing to harvest in only 30 days. They are quick! We particularly like the Easter Egg Blend because of its lovely variety of colors. They look beautiful on a relish tray or sliced into a salad.

When to start

There’s a trick to planting crops that will be harvested in the fall: you need to add a little more time to the normal maturation period of the vegetable. Because temperatures start to cool down and the soil will therefore be colder, fall crops take a little longer to grow. We recommend adding 14 days to the normal growth period. So, for example, if your packet of beet seeds says that they will take 60 days from planting ’til harvest, plan on 74 days instead. Count 74 days back from when you usually receive your first frost, and this is when you should plant your beets.

Remember that it’s still summer

Although your crops will be harvested in the fall, it is important to remember that when you sow your seeds (or transplant your seedlings) that it is late summer, and probably still very hot. You may wish to plant seeds near tall, mature plants such as corn or tomatoes to protect them from the hot mid-afternoon summer sun. Make sure to check the soil daily while the seeds are germinating, because you will need to make sure that it stays moist.