What to grow:

• Arugula - Days to maturity: 20 - 40 days

• Beets - Days to maturity: 40 - 70 days

• Beans - Days to maturity: 40-60 days

• Broccoli - Days to maturity: 35 - 65 days

• Kale - Days to maturity: 35 - 65 days

• Leaf Lettuce - Days to maturity: 40-60 days

• Green Onions - Days to maturity: 50 - 70 days

• Peas - Days to maturity: 40 - 60 days

• Radishes - Days to maturity: 30 - 40 days

• Brussels Sprouts - Days to maturity: 80 - 90 days

• Potatoes - Days to maturity: 90 -120 days

• Cauliflower - Days to maturity: 50 - 10 days depending on variety

• Spinach - 20 - 30 days

• Zucchini - 45 - 55 days

• Herbs - 65 - 80 days

These cool-tolerant crops can germinate in soil that ranges from 50 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of the shorter days, fall crops tend to take longer to mature. This means you will need to get your plants started as soon as possible. The weeks after Labor Day are best but definitely need to be planted before the 1st of October. You will need to know the days to maturity and work backwards from your grow zone’s frost date to ensure they have enough time to grow before things get too cold. For example, if your grow zone’s frost date is November 15th and it takes 40 days to maturity, you would want to sow your seeds before October 6th.

You may also notice that Fall crops are extra hardy compared the produce you had in the prior months. The lettuce you planted for the summer may have had a short window of maturity before they started withering away, but you'll notice that fall crops last much longer. Some leafy crops like broccoli and kale can stay in good condition for months in the garden, even withstanding the frost through the winter! These characteristics make cool season crops all-the-more sustainable. Using grow bags makes this an even easier process because you can move your plants to take advantage of as much of the sun as possible.