The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting a little chillier, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to start container gardening! In fact, depending on your grow zone, you can grow vegetables in containers outside almost all winter long. And if you move your containers indoors (as I do under grow lights!) you can container garden all winter long.
If you’re interested in Fall container gardening but aren’t sure where exactly to begin, these tips and tricks will help get you started.
Fall container gardening tip #1: Determine your grow zone
As I mentioned above, it’s crucial to determine your grow zone when planting in the Fall/Winter. Lower growing zones are colder and often are more limited as far as plant varieties are concerned. My biggest tip for successful Fall container gardening is first determining what your grow zone is, especially if you don’t already know it. Use this guide to determine your own.
Fall container gardening tip #2: Mix edible/non edibles
One of the best things about container gardening in the fall is that it’s a great way to liven up your yard with some additional color. This is a huge reason why I am a huge proponent of mixing edibles with nonedibles when fall container gardening. Pairing things like ornamental cabbage, kale, and chard with things like pumpkins, peonies, mums, ornamental grass, etc is a fun way to take advantage of space. To learn more about my favorite pairing ideas, check out this article on Fall planter ideas where I talk specifically about mixing the two.
Fall container gardening tip #3: Combine textures
Fall is great because you can mix and match with different patterns and shades. Plus, Halloween is right around the corner so if you accidentally pair something terrible, it’ll be right on theme. Anyway, pair textures when container gardening to create visual appeal. As I mentioned above, tall grasses and Kales look great paired with flowers!
Fall container gardening tip #4: Fast-growing veggies are best
Even if you live in a high-growing zone, fast-growing vegetables are the best for Fall because you can reap the benefits immediately, and several plants put out a continuous harvest so that you can enjoy them all year long. I recommend trying varieties like beetroot, collard greens, beans, radishes, bok choy, or arugula. If you pinch flowers early and trim the lettuces back on a regular basis, you’ll get a plant that will produce well beyond fall.
Fall container gardening tip #5: Always protect from frost
If you live in a low-growing zone, you should always take care to protect your plants from a sudden hard frost. While a majority of these plants can tolerate such events, it’s best to take precautions by covering any outdoor containers with a tarp, burlap sack, etc. Not only does doing this keep plants more productive in the cooler months, but if you paired any flowers in your edible containers, it will help to keep them looking their best.
