Welcome to our Fall Gardening Guide! If you have questions about anything below, need supplies, or simply want to have a ton of fun shopping for plants, garden gear, homesteading supplies, pottery, home decor, gifts & more, stop by our Raleigh store!
1930 Wake Forest Rd, Raleigh, NC 27608 • (919)615-0700 • Email Us
Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-7pm • Saturday 9am-6pm • Sunday 11am-6pm
#1 Make a plan
Fall vegetable gardens start sooner than you think! In Zone 7b, the average date of our first frost is November 15. Keeping an eye on that date, crops go into one of three categories: plant early, plant later, and overwinter.
Plant early: (longer to mature/not frost tolerant): Brussels sprouts, rutabaga, snap/snow peas, cauliflower, cilantro, broccoli, cabbage, tender herbs like cilantro and parsley
Plant later: (fewer days to maturity/heat sensitive): Beets, carrots, parsnips, kohlrabi, turnips, leeks, arugula, spinach, kale, collards, Swiss chard, mustard greens, fall lettuces, Asian greens, bok choy
Overwinter: (plant in fall, harvest in spring): garlic, onions, shallots
#2 Time your plantings
Once you know which category your crops go into, check “Days to maturity” on your seed packet. A crop like brussels sprouts takes (on average) 95 days to maturity. Tracking backwards from November 15, puts you in early August.
If you don’t want to start your own seeds or haven’t gotten around to it, don’t panic. We carry Organic veggie starts and herbs at Fifth Season! These will give you a 4-6 week head start.
#3 Prepare your soil
After a long summer, it’s time to reinvigorate the soil with compost and a good organic, all-purpose fertilizer. Questions about what you need? Ask us!
#4 Do some clean-up
Remove any dead or diseased plants, weeds, and debris from beds. One exception: some spent warm-season annuals should be kept in place if you don’t mind the look of them. Beneficial insects and pollinators often seek winter refuge in these nooks and crannies.
#5 Plant perennials, trees and shrubs
Perennials, trees, and shrubs will get their best start in Fall. Roots have time to get settled in the still-warm soil before the extended rest of Winter. In the Spring, they’ll wake up and ease into summer, allowing them to further establish.
Fifth Season carries a great selection of these plants, with an emphasis on native species, which is one of our passions. Native plants are best for local pollinators, are acclimated to our weather, have fewer water demands, and are easier to grow.
#6 Plant Spring-blooming bulbs
Consult the package for planting depth and be sure to amend the soil with bone meal for the best blooms next year.
#7 Don’t forget Fall-blooming annuals
Mums and asters added to borders or containers can add color to your landscape this time of year. Pansies planted in containers will often over-winter just fine in our area.
#8 Water!
While we often get more precipitation in fall, be sure to water during any dry spells to help your plants establish. ‘
#9 Mulch
Apply a layer of mulch around plants to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and moderate soil temperature. Fallen leaves are free mulch, and are an incredible source of beneficial microbes.
#10 Protect your plants
Keep an eye on the weather and utilize things like row covers (or an old bed sheet) if evening temps are likely to threaten your plants.
