As the weather cools, it’s time to think about your second season salad garden. While spring salads are a familiar sight, fall offers unique opportunities to grow vegetables that often struggle in warmer months. The cooler temperatures and shorter days of fall allow you to enjoy greens and radishes that would otherwise bolt or quickly fade in the spring. This season, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of flavorsome vegetables that thrive during these cooler months.
Top Fall Salad Greens
Let’s start with the greens. Arugula, which can be tricky in spring due to its tendency to bolt when temperatures rise, thrives in the fall. The cooler weather enhances its flavor, making it milder and more enjoyable. Fall-grown arugula also stays free of the flea beetles that often damage spring crops. For a standout variety, try the striking ‘Dragon’s Tongue’, known for its red-veined, finely lobed leaves, or the bold and peppery ‘Wasabi’, which pairs beautifully with sushi.
Spinach is another salad favorite that shines in the fall. Varieties like ‘Red Kitten’ or ‘Reddy’ bring color to your garden, while larger-leafed types like ‘Giant Winter’ and ‘Oriental Giant’ excel in low-light conditions, producing bigger, stronger plants that can overwinter. I recommend using a cold frame to protect your spinach from harsh winter weather, allowing it to survive and continue growing as temperatures warm in early spring.
Fall Radishes for Speedy Harvests
Radishes are quick to grow, making them an excellent choice for fall gardens. While the season is ideal for classic round salad radishes, it’s also the perfect time to experiment with colorful and exotic varieties like the purple-skinned ‘Amethyst’, or the long, carrot-shaped ‘Breakfast’. Fall is also prime for growing Chinese radishes, such as the spicy ‘China Rose’ and the nutty ‘Mantanghong’, or the crunchy ‘Misato Rose’. Watermelon radishes are another unique choice with a mild, sweet flavor.
If you’re looking to try something a bit more adventurous, consider growing daikon radishes. These large, versatile radishes are fantastic for fermenting, and with a little care, they can store for months in the fridge. While germination can be unpredictable, the fall season offers them the best chance to thrive.
Sowing Seeds Under Protective Cover
To get your salad garden off to a good start, sowing seeds under cover is often a smart move. On particularly hot or rainy days, I like to start spinach indoors and then transplant the seedlings to ensure even spacing. For other crops, a simple shade cloth or row cover is a great way to protect seeds from extreme weather. This setup helps maintain moisture in the soil, which is crucial for germination, especially when the days are still warm but the nights are chilly. If you’re concerned about drying out, consider using a double layer of row cover, which reduces evaporation while still allowing light and rain to penetrate. Once the seeds sprout, you can remove the cover to let them continue growing freely.
By carefully choosing the right crops and protecting your garden, you can enjoy fresh, flavorful salad greens and radishes all fall and into the winter months. Happy planting!