🍁 What to Plant This Fall: Complete Guide for Flowers, Veggies & Fruits

As the weather cools down and the days grow shorter, fall becomes one of the best seasons for planting certain flowers, vegetables, and fruits. Whether you're refreshing your flower beds, growing cool-season crops, or planning for a future harvest, this guide covers the best options for your autumn garden. We’ve included helpful details like pet safety, invasiveness, ideal zones, germination time, sun and water needs, good companion plants, and care tips for each plant.

🌸 Flowers to Plant in Fall

Pansies

Invasiveness: Non-invasive
Zones: 6–10
Seed Germination: 10–20 days
Sun Needs: Full to partial sun
Water Needs: Keep soil consistently moist
Companions: Violas, snapdragons, ornamental cabbage
Care Tips: Plant in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Ideal temperatures for blooming are around 60°F by day and 40°F at night. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continued flowering.

Invasiveness: Non-invasive
Zones: 3–9
Seed Germination: 14–21 days
Sun Needs: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Regular watering; soil should be moist but not soggy
Companions: Pansies, snapdragons
Care Tips: Violas are easy to care for, requiring appropriate sunlight, water, and deadheading to promote blooming.

Violas

Invasiveness: Non-invasive
Zones: 7–11 (grown as annuals in cooler zones)
Seed Germination: 10–14 days
Sun Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Regular, moderate moisture
Companions: Pansies, violas, ornamental cabbage
Care Tips: Start seeds indoors, as they require light to germinate. Keep seedlings at a steady temperature of 60°F to 70°F.

Invasiveness: Non-invasive
Zones: 2–11 (grown as annuals)
Seed Germination: 7–14 days
Sun Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Regular watering; keep soil moist
Companions: Pansies, snapdragons, violas
Care Tips: Requires light for germination; sprinkle seeds on the growing medium without covering with soil.

Colorful pansies blooming, perfect for fall garden planting and seasonal color

Snapdragons

Tall snapdragon flowers in various shades, a beautiful choice for fall planting

Ornamental Cabbage

Tiny violas in vibrant hues, resilient flowers ideal for cooler fall gardens

🥕 Vegetables to Plant in Fall

Carrots

Healthy spinach leaves growing in rows, a resilient green vegetable for fall planting

Deep red beets pulled from the ground, a nutritious root vegetable for fall gardens

Crisp green lettuce growing in cool weather, ideal for a productive fall vegetable garden

Invasiveness: Non-invasive
Zones: 3–10
Seed Germination: 14–21 days
Sun Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Keep soil evenly moist
Companions: Lettuce, beets, onions
Care Tips: Plant seeds directly into well-draining, full-sun locations. Keep soil moist during the long germination period.

Spinach

Invasiveness: Non-invasive
Zones: 2–9
Seed Germination: 7–14 days
Sun Needs: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Consistently moist soil
Companions: Lettuce, carrots, radishes
Care Tips: Plant in well-drained soil, and provide shade during the hottest part of the day to prevent bolting.

Beets

Invasiveness: Non-invasive
Zones: 2–10
Seed Germination: 5–14 days
Sun Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Regular watering; avoid letting soil dry out
Companions: Lettuce, spinach, onions
Care Tips: Soak seeds in room-temperature water about 24 hours before planting to speed up germination.

Lettuce

Invasiveness: Non-invasive
Zones: 2–11
Seed Germination: 7–14 days
Sun Needs: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Regular, consistent moisture
Companions: Carrots, radishes, beets
Care Tips: Plant seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep, as they need light to germinate.

🍒Fruit-Bearing Plants for Fall

Strawberries

Dark ripe figs hanging from a tree branch, a sweet fruit to consider planting this fall

Clusters of ripe blueberries on a bush, signaling a tasty fall fruit harvest

Red raspberries on thorny canes, a sweet berry perfect for a fall fruit garden

Invasiveness: Can spread via runners; moderately invasive
Zones: 3–10
Seed Germination: 14–28 days
Sun Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Regular; keep soil evenly moist
Companions: Spinach, lettuce, beans
Care Tips: Provide at least 6 to 10 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Invasiveness: Non-invasive (roots can spread if in ground, but manageable)
Zones: 7–11 (some hardy varieties down to 6)
Seed Germination: 14–21 days (if growing from seed — most start from cuttings)
Sun Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate; prefers consistent moisture, especially in pots
Companions: Strawberries, lavender, rosemary
Care Tips: Prefer well-drained soil and a sunny, sheltered spot. Mulch in colder zones or grow in pots for overwintering indoors.

Figs

Invasiveness: Non-invasive
Zones: 3–9 (depends on variety)
Seed Germination: 20–30 days (better started from nursery plants)
Sun Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Regular; prefers acidic, consistently moist soil
Companions: Strawberries, rhododendrons, azaleas (acid-loving plants)
Care Tips: Requires acidic soil (pH 4.5–5.5). Plant more than one variety for better pollination and fruiting.

Blueberries

Invasiveness: 🔴 Can be invasive — spreads via suckers
Zones: 4–8
Seed Germination: 20–30 days (commonly planted from canes)
Sun Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Regular; prefers well-drained, fertile soil
Companions: Garlic, chives, onions
Care Tips: Install trellises for support. Prune back old canes annually. Contain roots or plant in large containers to control spread.

Raspberries

🌿 General Fall Gardening Tips

Add mulch to protect young roots and retain moisture.
Plant in raised beds or containers if soil drains poorly.
Water early in the day to avoid overnight moisture, which can cause rot.
Use frost covers or garden cloches for tender plants in colder zones.
Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer when planting.
Clear out spent summer plants to reduce pests and disease risk.