by Sam Philips, Lisa Giroday and Maxim Winther | The rains are upon us, the days are getting noticeably shorter, and the night-time temperatures are quickly dropping. Tomato and cucumber production is slowing down, and food growers are already thinking about Fall planting.

That’s right: Fall is upon us. The window is closing for planting fall greens and radish, transplanting overwinter broccoli and cauliflower, and it’s almost time to seed broad beans and garlic. There’s still time to throw some stuff in the ground!

We’re lucky to live in Vancouver, one of the most temperate regions in Canada. We can have food in our gardens 365 days a year! Hate watering? Hate aphids? Then Fall gardening is the answer. Fall and Winter gardening means no watering and no pests, plus little maintenance.

Here are our top 3 picks for fall planting:

1. Radish: These spicy little numbers prefer cool conditions, so now is the perfect time to seed ’em. They mature quickly, too, so you can have a Fall crop at your fingertips. French breakfast, watermelon, and easter egg are our favourite varieties to grow. When radishes are planted mid-summer, they tend to bolt, or go to seed early, which means they produce a flower stalk before the roots can fully develop. There is a benefit to planting now, but be sure to do this ASAP. Radishes need at least 6 hours of light per day, and can be planted in less nutrient-rich soils. Pro tip: be sure to thin your seedlings!

2. Fall Greens: This is the time when some of the best greens can be planted. Those that prefer cooler temperatures include: arugula, mizuna, mustard greens, pac choi, spinach, mache, and endive. If you seed them now, you’ll have a nice crop for Fall. Having salad greens, mustards, and pac choi is great in Autumn, when stir-fries are craved the most.

3. Garlic: While it’s a little early to be getting your garlic cloves in the ground, it’s nevertheless the perfect time to be thinking about where you’ll be getting your “seed” and where you will be planting it. Garlic follows the nightshade family – eg. tomatoes and eggplant – nicely, as these crops will be finished by the time the garlic goes in. You can get seed from a reputable supplier, as the farmers save the best bulbs for planting to continue a strong crop season after season. Check out our website – we have seed from Nicola Valley Produce. Inner City Farms or Westcoast Seeds are also good options. Sometimes the Vancouver Farmer’s Market has vendors with bulbs good enough for seed, too. Remember to replenish your soil with a good amount of compost for these hungry alliums before planting, and garlic requires full sun. We typically plant garlic at the end of September and into October. Check out our Youtube video for some tips on planting garlic:

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