After waiting patiently through the hazy heat of summer, gardeners in hardiness zones eight and above can finally get a wide variety of food plants planted, including sensitive tomatoes and eggplant. Similarly, northern gardeners can reap the benefits of the season by tending to leafy greens, root vegetables, cabbage, broccoli, and kale, all of which thrive in lower temperatures and shorter days of autumn.
These 14 autumn-appropriate vegetables are sure to provide a welcome addition to your harvest.
1. Beets (Beta Vulgaris)
- USDA Growing Zones: 2–11
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Loamy, moist
It’s better to start beets from seed, as with any root crop, because you don’t want to mess with the developing root. If you want to continue succession planting your beets at two- to three-week intervals, you should wait until late summer or early fall. Beets will thrive in the summer heat, but they rapidly become bitter and woody. Beet bulbs are hardy enough to continue growing through deep winter, and their leafy tops can even survive light frost.
