Short on space but still want a bountiful fall harvest? Discover what to plant in fall for small spaces, from vibrant veggies to beautiful blooms!
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Embrace the Fall Harvest, Even in the Tiniest Garden
Do you dream of a bountiful fall garden but feel limited by your small space? Whether you have a balcony, patio, or just a sunny windowsill, don’t let space constraints dampen your gardening spirit. It’s not too late to start! Here in New Jersey’s Zone 6b, the ideal time to kick off your fall garden is late August or early September, and you can even plant later depending on your chosen crops and blooms.
If the summer heat is lingering, don’t hesitate to push your planting back into September or even October. Gardening in scorching temperatures is no fun!
Fall is a fantastic time to cultivate fresh produce and vibrant blooms, even in the most compact areas. With a little planning and creativity, you can enjoy the flavors and beauty of the season, no matter the size of your garden.
So, late summer is the perfect time to start sowing those cool-season vegetables and exploring your local nursery for inspiration. If you’re starting from seed, be sure to check the seed packet for the ideal planting time in your hardiness zone, just as you would in spring.
Fall Vegetables for Small Spaces: Flavorful & Compact
Cool-season vegetables are the stars of the fall garden, thriving in the crisp temperatures and shorter days. Here are some top choices for small spaces:
Leafy Greens
- Lettuce: Choose compact varieties like romaine, butterhead, or loose-leaf for containers or vertical planters.
- Spinach: A quick-growing and nutrient-rich option, perfect for salads and smoothies.
- Kale: Hardy and versatile, kale adds a pop of color and texture to your fall garden.
- Arugula: Its peppery flavor adds a zing to salads and sandwiches.
Root Vegetables:
- Radishes: Fast-growing and easy to care for, radishes come in various colors and flavors.
- Beets: Enjoy both the sweet roots and nutritious greens.
- Carrots: Choose shorter varieties like Nantes or Chantenay for containers.
Brassicas
- Broccoli: Plant seedlings for a late fall or early winter harvest.
- Cauliflower: Compact varieties are ideal for small spaces.
- Brussels Sprouts: These miniature cabbages add a unique touch to your garden.
If you are starting a vegetable garden this fall, congratulations! You will love it. I shared some vegetable gardening tips and tricks in this article plus some organic methods to minimize pest and disease problems. For more information on growing seasonal vegetables in your fall garden, please read this article from Penn State Cooperative Extension.
Planting & Care Tips for Small-Space Veggies
- Choose the right containers: Opt for containers that are deep enough to accommodate the root systems of your chosen vegetables.
- Use quality potting mix: A well-draining potting mix will ensure healthy plant growth.
- Provide adequate sunlight: Most vegetables require at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
- Water regularly: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Check your soil by sticking your finger in or inserting a moisture meter to determine how much your planters are retaining water.
- Fertilize regularly: Use a balanced fertilizer to provide essential nutrients.
Fall Flowers for Small Spaces: Beauty in Every Corner
Add a touch of autumnal charm to your small space with these vibrant fall-blooming flowers:
What to Plant in Fall: Annuals for Instant Color
- Pansies: These cheerful flowers come in a wide array of colors and can tolerate light frost, adding a burst of color to your fall containers and beds.
- Violas: Similar to pansies, violas are known for their delicate blooms and cold hardiness, making them ideal for extending your garden’s beauty into the cooler months.
- Chrysanthemums: These classic fall flowers, also known as “mums,” bring a profusion of color to your garden with their abundant blooms in shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple. They can be perennial, but I treat them as annuals.
For more ideas on the best fall flowers for pots, read this article I shared with lots more options to choose from.
Why Plant Pansies in Fall Instead of Spring:
While pansies are often associated with spring, planting them in the fall offers several advantages:
- Extended Bloom Time: Fall-planted pansies will continue to bloom throughout the fall and even into the winter, providing color when other flowers have faded.
- Overwintering: In milder climates, pansies can overwinter and re-emerge in the spring, saving you money and effort on replanting.
- Early Spring Color: Fall-planted pansies will bloom earlier in the spring than those planted in the spring, giving you an early jump on the gardening season.
Perennials for Lasting Blooms and Color
- Asters: Their daisy-like flowers attract pollinators and add a touch of wildflower beauty to your fall landscape, returning year after year.
- Ornamental Grasses: These graceful plants offer texture and movement, their plumes swaying in the autumn breeze, providing visual interest even after the flowers have faded.
- Japanese Anemones: These elegant perennials bloom in late summer and fall, showcasing delicate, cup-shaped flowers in shades of pink and white.
- Sedums: Also known as stonecrops, sedums are low-maintenance succulents with fleshy leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers that attract butterflies and bees.
- Joe Pye Weed: This native perennial boasts tall clusters of fluffy pink or purple flowers that add a touch of wildness and attract pollinators to your garden.
Late-Flowering Trees and Shrubs for Fall Color
Incorporating late-flowering trees and shrubs into your landscape adds a layer of visual interest and extends the beauty of your garden into the fall. These plants not only provide blooms but also showcase stunning foliage colors as the seasons change.
- Caryopteris: Also known as Bluebeard or Blue Mist Shrub, Caryopteris produces clusters of fragrant blue flowers in late summer and early fall, attracting pollinators.
- Callicarpa: Beautyberry shrubs showcase vibrant purple berries in the fall, adding a pop of color to your garden. (Note: Be sure to check with your local cooperative extension as some varieties can be invasive.)
- Oakleaf Hydrangea: This hydrangea variety features large, oak-shaped leaves that turn shades of red, orange, and purple in the fall, complementing its white flower clusters.
- Hydrangea Paniculata: These hydrangeas produce large, cone-shaped flower clusters that change color throughout the season, from white to pink to burgundy. Some of my favorite varieties include Limelight, Pinky Winky Prime, and Little Lime.
Remember to research and select plants that are well-suited to your specific climate and growing conditions. With a little planning and creativity, you can create a stunning fall garden that delights the senses and provides beauty throughout the season.what grows best in your climate.
Quick Tips for Choosing & Caring for Fall Flowers:
- Consider light conditions: Choose flowers that are suitable for the amount of sunlight your space receives.
- Select the right container size: Ensure the container is large enough to accommodate the mature size of the plant. Not sure what kind of pot to use? Check out my in-depth guide for how to choose the perfect planter for your potted flowers here.
- Deadhead flowers regularly: Remove spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering.
- Protect from frost: Cover delicate flowers with a frost blanket on cold nights.
Harvesting and Preserving Your Flowers
Extend the beauty of your fall garden by bringing the blooms indoors! Harvest flowers in the morning or evening when they are well-hydrated, and cut stems at an angle to maximize water uptake. Simple air-drying or pressing techniques can preserve many fall flowers, allowing you to enjoy their colors and fragrance for months to come.
Want to learn more about preserving your fall harvest? Check out my in-depth guide to drying and preserving flowers for creative projects and home decor!
Herbs for Small Spaces: Fresh Flavors at Your Fingertips
Even in the smallest of spaces, you can enjoy the fresh flavors of homegrown herbs:
- Parsley: This versatile herb adds flavor to a variety of dishes.
- Cilantro: A staple in many cuisines, cilantro adds a fresh, citrusy flavor.
- Chives: These delicate onion-flavored herbs are perfect for garnishing soups and salads.
- Sage: This earthy herb is a classic addition to poultry and stuffing.
- Rosemary: This fragrant herb adds depth to roasted vegetables and meats.
If you haven’t started an herb garden yet, it’s not too late! Read my comprehensive guide about how to start an herb garden here.
Harvesting & Preserving Herbs:
- Harvest regularly: Regular harvesting encourages new growth and prevents herbs from becoming leggy.
- Preserve for later use: Dry herbs by hanging them in a cool, dark place or freeze them in ice cube trays. I like to hang mine to airy dry in she shed, but I’ve also done it in my basement too.
Creative Small-Space Gardening Ideas
- Vertical Gardening: Utilize vertical space with trellises, hanging planters, or wall-mounted gardens.
- Hanging Baskets: Grow trailing plants like strawberries, herbs, or petunias in hanging baskets.
- Window Boxes: Brighten up your windows with colorful flowers or herbs. You can read more about how I like to design and care for window boxes here.
- Repurposed Containers: Get creative and use old crates, buckets, or even teacups as planters. Reuse what you have or hit up your local thrift store or flea market for some cheap finds.
Fall Gardening Calendar for Zone 6a-6b NJ
September
- Plant cool-season vegetables like lettuce, spinach, kale, and radishes.
- Start seeds indoors for broccoli and cauliflower.
- Plant fall-blooming flowers like pansies, violas, and chrysanthemums.
October
- Continue planting cool-season vegetables.
- Transplant broccoli and cauliflower seedlings into the garden.
- Protect delicate flowers from frost.
November
- Harvest remaining vegetables before the first hard frost.
- Cover root vegetables with a thick layer of mulch for winter harvest.
- Enjoy the beauty of fall foliage and late-blooming flowers.
Final Thoughts on What to Plant in Fall For Small Spaces
While I have much larger growing spaces now, I started my fall gardening journey in a one-bedroom condo with no land. I grew what I could in a very small strip of ground just outside our front door and that was it!
When we moved to our second home, my gardens were small but mighty. I learned how to grow things in small spaces, keep them thriving, and what worked well – and what didn’t.
Don’t let limited space deter you from experiencing the joys of fall gardening. With the right plants and a little creativity, you can create a thriving and productive garden, no matter how small your space is. Embrace the crisp air, vibrant colors, and bountiful harvest of fall, and transform your small space into a flourishing autumn garden.
To drill down on more beginner gardening techniques and tips, please read these posts:
Happy planting!
Thank you for visiting the blog today!
Enjoy your day! xo
Delve Deeper into Fall Gardening with Bricks ‘n Blooms
Continue your fall gardening journey with these insightful articles Get inspired to create a beautiful and productive fall garden with these creative ideas for design, planting, and decor.
Fall Gardening for Beginners: Easy Steps to Get Started: New to fall gardening? This comprehensive guide will walk you through the basics, from planning and planting to harvesting and preserving your fall bounty.
Dreamy Fall Garden Design: Your Guide to Color and Texture: Elevate your fall garden design with these expert tips on using color and texture to create a breathtaking autumnal masterpiece.
Ignite Your Autumn Landscape: A Guide to the Most Colorful Fall Plants: Learn how to extend the enjoyment of your fall harvest with expert tips on drying, preserving, and storing your vegetables, fruits, and flowers.
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