Planting a Fall Food Garden
In zones 5b and 6a (including the Chicago area), our first frost is usually mid-October. Plant your seeds and seedlings in July and August. See the planting calendar below. Some fast growing, fast maturing, cold-hardy vegetable seedlings can be planted as late as mid September. They thrive in cooler days and can even sweeten after a light frost. Cover the bed with “floating row cove” (lightweight white fabric) for extra warmth.
Tips for Success
Buy seedlings locally - here are some local sources we recommend:
Empowering Gardens in Forest Park
Address: 7730-36 Madison St, Forest Park, IL 60130
Phone: (708) 689-8332Good Earth Greenhouse
Address: 7900 Madison St, River Forest, IL 60305
Phone: (708) 366-9500Gethsemane Garden Center
Address: 5739 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660
Phone: (773) 878-5915We Grow Dreams
Address: 1055 W Washington St, West Chicago, IL 60185
Phone: (630) 293-0100Buying locally is important! Local seedlings will be acclimated to local conditions.
Floating row cover is lightweight white fabric that allows sunlight, water, and air through, and protects crops from frost and pests. A lightweight row cover might provide 2ºF of frost protection, whereas a heavy-weight row cover might provide as much as 6ºF to 10ºF of frost protection. Learn how to Install Hoops on Raised Beds. Remove it to allow pollination.
Harvest continuously—baby greens and radishes give quick results while slower crops catch up.
Fast growing fall crops from seedlings
Leafy Greens (Very Reliable for Fall) - These can be planted to mid September .
Spinach – plant seeds in mid-November for germination in spring.
Lettuce - Opt for loose-leaf varieties, which mature quickly and are more frost-tolerant than crisp-head types. Plant seedlings, harvest as baby leaves in 3–4 weeks.
Arugula –plant seedlings, ready fast (3–4 weeks), perfect for cut-and-come-again harvest.
Swiss Chard –plant seedlings, tolerates cool temps but may slow in late fall.
Bok Choy and baby kale are short-season varieties that are easy to grow and produce baby greens in just a few weeks.
Brassicas (Hearty Cool-Weather Crops) - Best planted by late August in Zone 5b/6a. If planting in September, focus on faster maturing types (kohlrabi, broccoli raab). Brassicas are harder to grow recently because of an invasion of tiny fly called Swede Midge that attacks only brassica plants. Covering your brassicas with bug netting helps. Swede Midge Fly Management. Ask our customer support about buying or borrowing a large bug netting bag.
Roots (Quick Harvest Varieties Only) - Stick to radish and turnip seedlings for reliable results.
Radishes – super fast, 25–35 days; can re-seed weekly until frost.
Turnips – 40–60 days; tender greens + roots to enjoy before frost.
Beets – possible if seeded in July or early August; seedlings planted later may still size up if fall is mild.
Alliums - for germination in spring
Garlic – planted in late September through October; harvested next summer.
Onions/Shallots – some can be fall-planted to overwinter.
Fall Planting Calendar – Zones 5b & 6a
Here’s a clear planting chart for a fall garden in Zones 5b & 6a (Chicago area). It starts in mid-summer (July) and runs through early fall (October), showing both direct seeding and transplanting seedlings.
Notes for Success
Mid-July to Early August → Plant longer-season brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) as seedlings.
Late July to Mid-August → Sow roots (carrots, beets, turnips) and leafy greens that take 45–60 days.
Late August to Early September → Focus on fast crops (radish, arugula, spinach, lettuce).
September–October → Plant garlic, shallots, overwintering onions for next summer’s harvest.
Frost protection → Use row covers to extend harvest of spinach, lettuce, and kale well into November.
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