Seeds to direct sow in october in the south
It’s that magical time of year in the American South where the days are still warm but the mornings are crisp and cool! If you are burnt out and want to abandon your garden completely gently let your garden wind down, you won’t hear any judgement from me. But honestly, fall gardening is really fun. Crops tend to establish quickly thanks to lingering warm temps, there is usually a little less pest pressure, and you aren’t covered in sweat and mosquito bites after spending approximately 7 minutes outside. I have been slowly sprinkling fall crops into mine and my clients’ gardens for the past month or so, but some have been struggling because it was still in the 90s well into mid-September this year here in Atlanta. But now it’s finally cooled off and it’s time to get those frost-tolerant crops in the ground! Cut back any summer plants that are done producing (or that you are just sick of looking at), top off your soil levels with a bit of organic compost, and drop some seeds in! Below are a few crops worth direct sowing from seed in your fall garden in the Atlanta area (or similar southern climates).
Disclosure: this list contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through my links, at no extra cost to you.
Kale
Dazzling Blue is a lacinato that is extra cold-tolerant, or you can try a blend to see which ones you like. Ready in a month or two!Spinach
Bloomsdale is a classic, ready to harvest in about a month an a half!Lettuce
Parris Island Romaine, Salad Bowl Blend, and Black Seeded Simpson are my reliable go-tos. But I am excited to try Truchas Mini Romaine this year for that beautiful red color!Mustard
Apparently Japanese Mustard Spinach isn’t really mustard, but I like it! I am also trying Mizuna Mustard this year. Both need just a month or two until harvest.Arugula
I literally just sprinkle in Arugula seeds in all the gaps in my garden. Works great!Broccoli
I tend to have better luck with variations that grow lots of smaller shoots like Rapini Broccoli Raab and DiCicco (ready in about 6-8 weeks) vs waiting for one big floret head (sometimes 12 weeks). This year I am also trying Chinese Broccoli Kailaan.Bok Choy
Try Baby Choi or Tatsoi — they are really pretty in the garden too.Swiss Chard
Fordhook Giant is easy to grow and tolerates both heat and frost. Ruby Red has beautiful, bright stems. In addition to eating the leaves, you can also use the stems like celery!Radish
Try French Breakfast or Cherry Belle for mild flavor. They are great for kids or beginners to grow because they are easy to germinate and so quick to harvest (often less than a month!). Daikon radish is a longer white one often used in sushi, which is also sometimes used as a cover crop to help break up heavy soils.Carrot
Red Cored Chantenay and Shin Kuroda seem to do well even if your soil isn’t perfectly loose and fluffy. My best tips for carrots are to amend the soil with a bit of worm castings before planting, loosen things up a bit with a shovel, and make absolutely sure that the seeds do not dry out before they sprout!Beet
Compared to radishes, beets take a little longer to mature and need a little more space, but they are still fun to grow. Early Wonder is a little quicker to harvest than most beets, and I also like the mild flavor of Touchstone Gold.Cilantro
To help them sprout, you can gently crush cilantro seeds (coriander) or soak them overnight.
If you are late getting started on your fall garden, you can still go for it, just be prepared to cover your seedlings with a clear tarp or an old sheet if we get a hard freeze. Most of these plants can handle a little frost, but they might struggle if we get into the 20s (especially while they are still getting established). Since seeds tend to be pretty affordable, I think it’s worth giving it a shot to see what happens! Good luck out there!
