Do you feel like you are behind this year on starting your fall container garden? I do. This is partially because we have summer crops that are still producing enough that I don’t have the heart to harvest and turn over the containers. We also have bursts of hot weather in September and October in Southern California, and I don’t want tender fall seedlings to get fried. And, of course, there is life outside the garden (WHAT???) that is constantly vying for our attention.
Enough excuses! It’s time to get to planning and planting.
Easy Crops to Plant in our outdoor Fall Container Garden
- Sugar Snap Peas:
Sugar snap peas have been consistent producers for us when we have gotten seeds into the containers before the start of October. We use a raised bed with a trellis at the back to support the vines. This year could be a little tricky because that trellis is also supporting Andy’s passion fruit (which are starting to ripen!!!), but hopefully they will get along and outsmart the squirrels as a team. - Carrots:
I’ll tell you a secret: I don’t love carrots. I like them more when they are cooked, and they are perfectly fine in stews, soups, etc. Why am I interested in growing them? First, carrots are an easy crop for beginners to grow, and second, they grow well in raised garden beds or pots. Also, Andy does really like them, even when they are raw. So, it feels like this fall should see some carrots. - Arugula:
While we are likely to start a lot of greens in our AeroGardens, I’m tempted to try arugula outside this fall. This crop indeed loves itself some cool weather, and October could still see some toasty weather. Still, we are entering a time where nights will be cooler, the chance of rain is a little higher, and arugula will (fingers crossed) reach maturity when the temperatures are consistently cooler. Apparently, harvesting when the cooler temperatures arrive also means that we are likely to get more flavorful leaves. Bring on that peppery deliciousness!
Medium Difficulty Crops to Plant Outside
- Spinach:
Spinach continues to foil even my best attempts. I’ve tried starting seeds inside and outside. The AeroGarden has produced the best results, but I am willing to try spinach outside this fall. We eat it all the time. I just added it to the quiche. It’s nutritious, and I’d rather have a steady supply when we need it than cross my fingers that we have it in the house when we want it. Additionally, growing our own means less waste, as we’re less likely to forget about a bag of washed spinach that ends up at the back of the refrigerator. - Broccoli:
I had some success growing Broccoli in containers when we lived in Mid-City, but the warmer temperatures kept it from thriving. Also, it was my first time growing it, so I might have also kept it from thriving. I need to get moving on this if I want to start the crop from seeds. However, if you are transplanting broccoli seedlings, you can do so as late as the end of September in Southern California.
Herbs to Plant in our Indoor Fall Container Garden
We are already thinking about what herbs we would like available for cooking during Thanksgiving and throughout the late fall and early winter months. We already have a Thyme plant that is thriving. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that with consistent harvesting, we can keep it going for a long time.
We’ll be adding Sage and Basil seeds to our hydrogardens. If we do that by the first week in October, the Basil should be thriving and supplying Andy’s creations. We have had mixed luck with Sage. Some years, it has taken off, and other years it has given up the ghost before we ever used it. I’m determined to get it right this year. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Final Thoughts: Fall Container Gardening
It’s not too late to get seeds planted or seedlings transplanted into your prepared raised bed gardens or pots. Southern California is blessed with a long growing season, and the coastal cooling will help get cold-weather-loving crops through temperature spikes. Plus, we don’t really have to worry about frosts, so we should be able to harvest from healthy plants into December.
Start planting!
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