How to Grow a Fall SALAD Garden—Big or Small!

As the summer heat fades and the crisp autumn air settles in, it’s the perfect time to plant a FALL SALAD GARDEN.  Whether you have a sprawling garden space, a few raised beds, a vertical garden or just some containers on your patio, fall is an ideal season to grow delicious salad greens, crunchy carrots, and crisp radishes. The cooler weather makes these veggies thrive, and with the right approach, you can have a bountiful harvest in just a few weeks.

Why Fall is Ideal for Salad Gardens:

Fall brings milder temperatures, which is exactly what cool-weather crops like salad greens, carrots, and radishes love. These crops grow quickly and are less likely to bolt (go to seed) in cooler weather, meaning you'll get tender, flavorful produce throughout the season.

• Salad Greens: Lettuces, spinach, arugula, and other greens flourish in fall. They can be harvested as baby greens or allowed to mature for full-sized leaves.
• Carrots: These root vegetables develop their sweetest flavor when grown in cooler weather. They can be sown directly into the soil and left to mature until late fall or even early winter.
• Radishes: Fast-growing and perfect for beginners, radishes can be ready to harvest in as little as 25 days. Plus, they add a spicy crunch to any salad.

5 Steps to Plant Your Salad Garden:

1. Choose Your Location: Select a spot that gets at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. If space is limited, use containers or vertical planters that can be placed on a patio or balcony.

2. Prepare the Soil: If using a raised bed or garden plot, enrich the soil with compost or organic matter. For containers, use a high-quality potting mix that drains well. Ensure the soil is loose and crumbly for easy root growth.

3. Sow the Seeds: Directly sow your salad green seeds, like lettuce, spinach, or arugula, about 1/4 inch deep. For carrots and radishes, plant the seeds according to the depth recommended on the seed packet, typically around 1/2 inch deep.

4. Water Regularly: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water gently to avoid disturbing the seeds. In cooler fall weather, you may not need to water as frequently as in summer, but be sure the soil stays hydrated.

5. Thin and Harvest: Once seedlings emerge, thin them out to give each plant enough space to grow—typically 4-6 inches apart for greens and about 2-3 inches apart for radishes and carrots. Start harvesting baby greens as soon as they’re a few inches tall, or wait for full-sized leaves. For carrots and radishes, harvest when roots reach the desired size.

Once that lettuce starts to grow, check out my Youtube Video about How to Harvest Lettuce! CLICK HERE!

Growing in Any Space: Raised Beds, Vertical Gardens, and Containers:

One of the best things about fall gardening is that you don’t need a huge garden to enjoy it.

• Raised Beds: These are perfect for maximizing your growing space. Raised beds warm up faster in the fall sun, which helps seeds germinate quickly. You can easily grow a variety of salad greens and root vegetables in these beds.

• Vertical Gardens: If you’re short on space, vertical gardens are a fantastic option. You can grow lettuce and other greens in wall planters or hanging baskets, making the most of even a small patio or balcony. I love my Vertical Planter!!!!! I highly recommend one for small spaces and growing salads.

• Containers: Ideal for those with limited outdoor space, containers can be used to grow just about any fall crop. Make sure to choose deep enough pots for root vegetables like carrots and radishes, and use a high-quality potting mix to ensure good drainage and nutrient availability.

Why Fall is the Best Time to Buy Garden Supplies:

As we head into fall, many garden centers and online stores begin to clear out their summer inventory, which means it’s a great time to snag some deals on gardening supplies. Whether you need new containers, soil, tools, or even seeds, you’ll likely find them at discounted prices.

And here’s an extra perk: When you shop at Epic Gardening and use my discount code "GrowAHealthyGarden", you’ll get 5% off anything—including sale prices! This is a perfect opportunity to stock up on everything you need to get your fall salad garden started, or even plan ahead for next year’s garden.

Get Growing! And if you need any Garden Coaching or help to get your garden GROWING, don't hesitate to reach out! 

Garden Girl,

Kim Eagle