What Should I Plant in My Fall Garden?

You can still plant ornamental flowers and plants in the autumn when the rest of your garden is wrapping it up for the year. There are plenty of plants that actually thrive in the cool fall weather and can withstand a mild frost. You don’t have to hang up your gardening gloves once school starts. You can enjoy fresh veggies close to year round! You will find everything you need to grow your cool weather garden at your favorite neighborhood hardware store, Greenwood Hardware.

Veggies

Broccoli

Broccoli loves the cool weather and can tolerate frost. You will want to get it in the ground by the end of August if your first expected frost date is mid to late October. Choose a Rudolph or White Sprouting Late variety for best results.

Radishes

Radishes are insulated by the warmth in the ground and because they are fast growers, you can keep planting new crops until mid to late September. There isn’t a specific variety, but you will want to choose a variety with a fairly short growing period.

Peas

It isn’t too late to plant a fresh crop of your favorite snap peas. You will want to get these in the ground now so they are ready for harvest by mid-October when the temperatures really start to drop. Peas love the cool weather and are actually much sweeter when they are grown in conditions with cool nights.

Spinach

Spinach is a prolific producer and thrives in cool weather. It can withstand a mild frost, but it doesn’t hurt to cover your plants when you know it is going to get really cold. Tyee, St. Helen’s and Olympia are all great varieties for gardeners in the Pacific Northwest.

Flowers and Ornamental Plants

You don’t have to let your yard look cold and dreary in the middle of December. While a blanket of snow is gorgeous, it doesn’t happen often in the Pacific Northwest. A splash of color when the grass and trees are dormant makes quite a show. Try these plants and flowers to give your landscaping a little boost.

Winter Heather

These pretty plants are great for placing along the entryway or driveway where traffic is minimum and the fragile leaves won’t get trampled. They put on a nice showy display and will bloom all the way up to May or so.

Primrose

The tiny petals of the primrose plants are vibrant and will look fabulous in a few pots around the deck or the front door. There are a large variety of colors you could use to really make the arrangements come alive with color.

Crocus

Crocus are gorgeous bulbs that pop up in early spring. Often  you can see the budding flowers through a fine layer of snow. They are extremely hardy and are your first indication Spring is on the way.

Bushes

Barberry, Nandina, and Rhododendron bushes are beautiful both in bloom and while dormant. Showy stems in bright red are a welcome splash of color in a grey landscape. The Coral Bark Japanese Maple is another gorgeous bush that is pretty in the spring and has bright red stems that look great throughout the winter.

These are just some of the options you have to choose from when it comes to growing a winter garden and keeping your landscaping colorful all year round. It is a good idea to put a nice layer of mulch around some of your other plants that could use some protection from the cold weather. You will find everything you need to keep your garden going year-round at Greenwood Hardware. And if you have any questions, we are here for you! Come on in, or contact us online.