Many plants thrive and benefit when planted in the fall, but not all. By planting the wrong varieties, you may be wasting your time and money trying to get a head start on next spring’s growing season. Wait until spring to put these plants in your garden.
Plants require warm temperatures to establish hardy and healthy root systems that can survive winter frost. Most quit growing and become dormant over winter. In many parts of the country, the first frost comes in September–leaving little time for plants to become established. Growth is also slowed by fewer hours of sunlight during fall and winter months.
Coneflowers (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are tough perennials native to prairie regions. Plant them in the spring to give them lots of time to grow a root system capable of surviving winters. If planted in the fall, winter frost damage can cause extensive die-off.
Dahlias
Dahlias are extremely frost-sensitive. The tubers will not survive over the winter if planted in the fall. Dahlias also do not tolerate being too wet. Plan on planting dahlias in the spring.
Tree Fern
Tree ferns thrive in consistently warm temperatures. Fall planting inhibits root growth because winter temperatures damage the plant before they are firmly established. Plant them in the spring when the risk of frost has passed.
Gladiolus
Winter moisture and/or freezing temperatures often rot and kill gladiolus corms. Many gardeners dig out the corms in the fall for winter storage and replant them in the spring when the risk of frost has passed.
Canna Lilies
Canna bulbs should be stored in a cool dry place over winter. Plant them in the spring for best results. The rhizomes do not tolerate cold soil and will likely die off over winter.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus root systems are very sensitive to cold temperatures. The plant needs soil temperatures to be consistently above 60 degrees Fahrenheit to thrive. Fall planting usually does not provide this temperature and you risk winter frost damage.
Mallow (Lavatera)
These fast-growing plants produce lots of leaf and branch growth when first planted. Fall planting does not provide enough growing season to firmly establish a healthy root system.
Vegetables
It is tempting to plant vegetables in the fall so you get a head start eating fresh from the garden as early as possible. None of these popular vegetables benefit from fall planting. Some of them will die and the growth of others will be retarded enough that there was no advantage in fall planting.
- Cucumbers. Warm or hot season crops that need warm soil and temperatures.
- Eggplant. Sensitive to cold temperatures. May not produce fruit if planted in fall.
- Tomatoes. Do not tolerate even a light frost.
- Zucchini. And other squash plants. Fall planting leads to little or no fruit production. Do not tolerate extended periods of frost.
Weather is notoriously unpredictable. When in doubt about plant choices, consult a local garden center. They should have a better understanding and selection of plants that benefit from fall planting in your location. They can also tell you which ones to plant in spring.
