Back to the Be Inspired Blog

What To Plant This Fall In The Bay Area

Here in the Bay Area, there are so many things we can plant in the fall because we don’t have the looming threat of winter frost like in other areas. While it can still get a bit chilly during those winter months, so many plants prefer these cooler temperatures over hot summer sun, which can leave them scorched and dehydrated. To brighten up your garden and patio this fall, try adding some of these late-season garden favorites for high impact color and a delicious winter harvest!

Fall Vegetables To Plant In The Bay Area

We typically associate summer and fall with harvest season, but we can get away with planting vegetables much later here! While some veggies, like bell peppers and tomatoes, require bright sun and heat to grow properly, there are plenty of others that are down to chill. There are even some fruits you can get away with growing too! If you’d like to enjoy some fresh garden edibles all through the winter, try adding these tasty edibles to your garden this season:

Cruciferous Vegetables

This is a pretty large family of veggies, also known as cole crops, that thrive in cool weather. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts are some popular options that produce hearty, nutrient-dense edibles that can be added into so many warm winter comfort meals. Intense sunlight and inconsistent soil moisture can sometimes cause them to split, so growing them successfully is much easier if you plant them in fall.

Salad Greens

Growing leafy greens for salads is always a worthwhile endeavor because you can continually harvest small amounts over and over again. Spinach, lettuce, and arugula can all be picked away at, so instead of harvesting it all at once, you can just take as much as you need when you need it. They make fantastic container plants too, so if you don’t have a big garden bed in the yard, you could always pop a few planters of salad greens on your patio or front steps.

Root Veggies

Potatoes, carrots, rutabaga, turnips, and horseradish can all be grown late in the season with excellent results. Depending on the varieties you purchase, some can take quite a while to mature—as much as four months—so picking a quick-growing variety might be better if you’re eager to harvest. Always make sure your soil is nice and loose so the roots can develop properly. You don’t want to end up with stumpy carrots!

Peas and Onions

There are endless varieties of peas to enjoy, and their crisp, sugary flavor makes them a fantastic snack straight off the vine. Try a few different varieties, like snow peas and snap peas, and see which ones you like best! Onion and leeks can also be planted in the fall with great success—just don’t plant them near the peas! They tend to be incompatible neighbors, so you’ll be better off planting the peas next to your cruciferous veggies.

Strawberries

Yes, you can grow strawberries in autumn! The mild weather helps their roots to get nicely established, making for a big, flavorful, and extra healthy harvest. These juicy berries are typically associated with summer, so having them ready to eat at the start of winter will be a nice little pick-me-up during those grey days.

Flowers And Plants For Your Fall Garden

You’d be surprised at how many flowers and ornamental foliage plants do best in autumn weather! We love the rich colors of these late-season plants because they beautifully complement the changing leaves on the surrounding trees. Add these varieties to your garden, for a landscape with a rich fall color palette that looks straight off the pages of a magazine.

• Aster
• Celosia
• Chrysanthemums
• Coreopsis
• Dianthus
• Gaillardia
• Heuchera
• Pansies
• Purple Fountain Grass
• Ornamental Kale
• Ornamental Peppers
• Salvia

Plant Your Spring Bulbs

If you love the look of classic spring flowers like tulips, irises, crocuses, and daffodils emerging right at the start of spring, then it’s time to get planting those bulbs! Spring bulbs need to rest in the ground over the winter so they can soak up all the nutrients they need from the soil, so they’re ready to break on through as soon as the heat begins rising.

To plant your spring bulbs, loosen up the soil well and mix in some fresh compost. Plant your bulbs according to the directions on the package—usually, it should be a couple inches deep in the soil—and remember to plant them with the pointy end facing up! Water them, let them rest, and you’ll have a stunning assortment of spring flowers ready to be cut for bouquets.

End the year off with a bang by filling your yard with an explosion of fall color! We’ve got so many incredible flowers, plants, and edibles in-store at Summerwinds, so visit one of our locations in California or call us to arrange for curbside pickup or at-home delivery.