Before we can say goodbye to the garden for the year, it’s time to plan for spring. Whether you experience a sunny winter or a snow-covered one, many seeds don’t mind waiting for winter to pass before making an appearance. Scatter these seeds to plant in the fall for a stunning display of blooms next year.
It may feel unnatural to plant seeds in the fall. After all, we’re preparing to put the garden to rest and hoping for a sleepy winter. However, many annuals and perennials also enjoy this cold spell to nestle in the ground for the winter and get a head start next spring.
Just like planting spring bulbs, you can find seeds to plant in the fall to get some extra spring (or summer) blooms.
This list covers some flowers to plant in the fall for both warm and cold climates. If you’ve still got the time and energy to do some more gardening, your spring self will forever be grateful!
Today, I’ll be covering…
When Should You Plant Fall Seeds
Just like nature, many plants naturally shed their seeds for the fall, survive throughout the winter, and sprout come spring.
The question I always get about plants is when can I plant them? Usually, the answer is vague, like late fall. The reality is that it’s going to be different depending on where you live!
Your best bet is to track frost dates regionally (a local gardening club may be able to help you with that). For fall planting in cold climates, you want to wait until after a killing frost has happened. AKA, nothing has grown since the summer season.
If you plant them too early, they may sprout. We want them to hibernate for the winter and emerge come spring. If you notice fall seedlings outside, mulch over them. This will try to prevent them from freezing.
In warm climates, plant your seeds right before the rainy season begins. Depending on where you live, this typically falls between late fall or early winter (check dates with your local gardening club!).
How to Plant Fall Seeds
When planting seeds, your best bet is to always read the label. You may notice that some seeds ask you to cold stratify. This is when seeds require a period of extreme cold in order to sprout. All thanks to a thick coating, their outer shell prevents them from breaking and sprouting early.
You can force cold stratification by using your fridge as it mimics winter conditions. But if it asks for cold stratification, this probably means it can be planted in the fall and naturally get its cold fill during the winter.
To plant your seeds, prepare the bed as you normally would any time of the year. Clear all debris and add in a layer of organic compost to give the seeds their best start next spring. Follow the seed packet for light and soil requirements.
Warm Climate Seeds to Plant in the Fall
For these flowers to plant in fall, no freezing is required. This list is ideal for those living in zones 9-11.
- Morning Glory Ipomoea tricolor — zones 10-11
- Honeywort Cerinthe — zones 9-10
- Calendula Calendula — zones 9-11
- Cosmos — zones 9-10
- Spider Flower Cleome hassleriana — zones 10-11
- Standing Cypress Imopsis rubra — zones 6-10
- Virgina Stocks Mattiola martima — zones 9-11
- Nasturtium Tropaeolum — zones 7-10
- Bells of Ireland Moluccella laevis — zones 2-11
- Sweet Peas Lathyrus odoratus — zones 2-11
- Love-In-A-Mist Nigella damascene — zones 2-11
- Purple Chinese Houses Collinsia heterophylla — zones 2-11
- Baby Blue Eyes Nemophila menziesii — zones 2-11
Cool Climate Seeds to Plant in the Fall
This list covers both annuals and perennials to plant in the fall. These seeds either require cold stratification in order to bloom the following spring or they don’t mind the cold. Some will still grow in warmer zones!
- Bells of Ireland Moluccella laevis — zones 2-11
- Cornflower Centaurea cyanus— zones 3-8
- Blanket Flower Gaillardia — zones 3-10
- Poppy Papaveraceae — zones 3-8
- Coneflower Echinacea — zones 3-9
- Columbine Aquilegea — zones 3-9
- Sweet Peas Lathyrus odoratus — zones 2-11
- False Queen Anne’s Lace Ammi majus — zones 3-9
- Foxglove Digitalis — zones 4-8
- Sea Holly Eryngium — zones 4-9
- Tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria — zones 3-9
- Snapdragon Antirrhinum — zones 8-9
- Hollyhock Alcea — zones 3-8
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia — zones 3-9
- Forget-Me-Not Myosotis — zones 3-8
- Penstemon Penestemon — zones 3-8
- Sweet William Dianthus — zones 3-9
- Ashy Sunflower Helianthus mollis — zones 4-9 (and other perennial sunflowers)
- Pansy Viola — zones 5-10
- Love-In-A-Mist Nigella damascene — zones 2-11
- Delphinium — zones 3-8
- Basket of Gold Alyssum Aurinia saxatilis — zones 3-7
- Chinese Forget-Me-Not Cynoglossum amabile — zones 6-9
- Common Woolly Sunflower Eriophyllum lanatum —zones 5-8
- Lunaria Lunaria annua — zones 5-9
- Bigleaf Lupin Lupinus polyphyllus — zones 3-6
- Veronica Veronica spicata — zones 4-8
- Purple Chinese Houses Collinsia heterophylla — zones 2-11
- Globe Gilia Gilia capitata — zones 7-10
- Baby’s Breath Gypsophila elegans — zones 3-10
- Baby Blue Eyes Nemophila menziesii — zones 2-11
Vegetables to Plant in The Fall
Not interested in flowers? Here’s a little bonus of vegetables you can plant in the fall and enjoy next spring and summer. You might as well get the work in now, right!?
Onions, Garlic, and Shallots
All part of the allium family, onions, garlic, and shallots are best planted in the fall due to their long growing season. It isn’t until next summer that you will be able to reap the rewards of your fall planting.
Turnips, Carrots, Radishes, and Beets
These root vegetables don’t mind hanging out in the cold. You may see minimal growth, but they will certainly get a head start come spring. You may even notice a sweeter taste.
Lettuce and Leafy Greens
Did you know you can have fresh greens year-round? By using a cold frame or mini-greenhouse, you can grow lettuce outside throughout the winter.
Broccoli and Cauliflower
In mid to warm climates, you can grow both broccoli and cauliflower to harvest next spring.
Peas
This is another one for an early spring harvest! Peas can also be grown in mild climates during the colder months. Make sure to build a trellis for them to climb on.
FAQ About Fall Planting
It’s true that many flowers and plants will go to seed in the fall if left on the plant. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll naturalize in your climate. The conditions for summer might be favourable enough to grow the plants, but the fall, winter, or spring might be too cold or wet or even not cold enough!
Follow the path of nature. Some plants may naturalize in your area all on their own. When in doubt, use the instructions that come on the seed package.
Just because the weather is cooling down, it doesn’t mean you can’t grow things still. You can actually continue to grow some vegetables that are speedy growers, such as radishes, lettuce, spinach, and turnips. Find a full list of those vegetables here.
I also like to plant bulbs in the fall for the spring, and add in perennials since they’re on sale and can grow a root system in the fall before hibernating for the winter.
You should always track your suggested last frost date (try this tool). Most plants you want in the ground before it freezes so they have some time to get settled in before the cold hits.
For seeds that you plant in the fall, you actually want to wait until after the frost, as you don’t want the seeds to sprout until the spring. Plant normally, clearing the area and covering it with a layer of soil (but read the seed packet instructions).
When in doubt, the end of October to early November is usually the best time for planting for most places.
More Fall Gardening Tips and Tricks
