Adapted from Small-Plot High-Yield Gardening by Sal Gilbertie & Larry Sheehan, Brown Books Publishing, 2022.

1. The soil in your garden beds is already warm and ready to plant.
In the spring, it takes time for the soil to warm (long after the air temperatures rise). Fall gardens do not have to wait for the soil to warm for seeds to sprout and plants to thrive.

2. Your garden beds are prepared.
Tired looking tomatoes? Peck-ish looking peppers? Not-so excellent eggplant? It is time to refresh and pull up those plants that may be spent, making way for new fall crops. With a fresh layer of lightly mixed-in compost, you can plant in no time.

3. Fall crops take up less space.
Unlike fruit bearing crops, fall leafy crops and brassicas require less space. Instead of the three feet required in between tomatoes and two feet between peppers and eggplants, most fall crops require 12-20 inches of space depending on varieties.

4. Fall crops mature quickly.
Most fall crops require 60-80 days to maturity. If you are planting from seed, you need to count backwards from the date of the first expected frost, which for the greater Westport area is usually around October 15. This means you are planting your fall crops while it is still summer. If you are planting our seedlings, you already have a jump on your fall gardening by a few weeks. Remember that many fall crops will not only survive a light frost 29° to 32°F, but some, like brussels sprouts and kale, will improve with cold weather. This brings us to our final case for fall gardening.

5. Fall gardens provide for holiday meals.
Imagine harvesting your brussels sprouts, green beans, and kale for your Thanksgiving table! Create your own farm-to-table atmosphere right at home and if you planned ahead, the sage, thyme, and other herbs (not to mention onions, garlic, leeks and potatoes) can join the garden bounty for a veritable feast!

Remember our fall crops are in and ready to be transferred to your home garden. We are open seven days a week for your gardening needs.

Ready to take a deep dive into a winter supply garden? Check out Sal’s book and see the garden plans for a 400 square foot plan to take you from early spring until the first hard frost.