What to Plant in the Fall

In San Diego’s mild fall climate, you can plant a variety of cool-season vegetables and flowers for a harvest in the late winter or early spring. Good choices include leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale, as well as root vegetables like carrots, radishes, and beets. You can also plant broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and onions. For flowers, consider African daisies, calendula, cineraria, snapdragons, stock, sweet alyssum, sweet peas, violas, and wildflowers.

Vegetables to Plant in the Fall:

• Leafy Greens: Lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, mustard greens, and chard are all easy to grow in the fall.
• Root Vegetables: Carrots, radishes, beets, turnips, and parsnips thrive in cool conditions and take less than two months to mature.
• Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts are also well-suited for a fall garden.
• Allium Vegetables: Onions (from sets) and garlic (from cloves) can be planted in the fall for harvest in late spring or summer.
• Other Fall Vegetables: Consider planting leeks, endive, kohlrabi, white potatoes, celery, and swiss chard.

Flowers to Plant in the Fall:

• For Late-Fall and Winter Bloom: African daisy, calendula, cineraria, snapdragons, stock, sweet alyssum, sweet peas, violas, and wildflowers.
• Ranunculus: Plant corms in September for a beautiful display in the winter.
• Cosmos: While unusual, cosmos can be seeded in the fall to bloom later in the season.

Tips for Fall Gardening in San Diego:

• Start Early: Sow seeds from August to early September for a fall harvest.
• Consider Transplants: If you have limited space, purchasing transplants of vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, or broccoli is a good option.
• Direct Sow: Direct sow seeds of crops like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, and mustard greens.
• Protect from Frost: Be aware that soil temperatures can drop below 55 degrees in late October to early November, so pick ripe vegetables before the cold damages them.
• Enjoy the Mild Climate: San Diego’s mild winters make fall gardening a rewarding experience.