You all are excited about fall gardening. This week I’m answering: which varieties do I actually plant and when? Last week I introduced you to my fall garden philosophy, “the Goldilocks Method,” and the idea of planting in waves. This week I’m opening up my seed collection. This is the in the weeds companion to last week’s post. Consider it my fall planting playbook.
The Weekly Harvest, things you may have missed:
I’ve been having way too much fun with our new slushie machine. You can find my frosé recipe here.
I’m here to de-influence your skincare routine. I walked through the (mostly free) ways you can actually improve your skin health. Keep. It. Simple.
I think the best way to eat an heirloom tomato is nearly plain. But if you’re in the mood for a fun baking project, try my Mini Heirloom Tomato Galettes.
Not every gathering needs to be a grand fête. For my most recent craft night with the girls, I made my sheet pan fish tacos and the aforementioned frosé.
I started reading Yesteryear... was anyone going to tell me about “the ladies”?
If you missed part one, start here: The Fall Garden Starts Now. It outlines the three-bucket framework today’s post is centered on. And now for today’s newsletter:
where I buy my seeds and why it matters
my specific fall varieties, bucket by bucket, and why I choose each one
a month-by-month fall planting calendar you can adapt to any zone
how to reset your soil
how I plan to keep cabbage moths off my fall brassicas
Before I get into my favorite varieties, I want to talk about sourcing, because a good garden starts with good seed. I rarely, if ever, buy from an unverified seller. When you buy from a reputable company, you’re paying for a couple of guarantees: that the seed will germinate at the rate promised, and that it’s truly what the packet says it is. That isn’t just a courtesy. Seed sold in the US is regulated under the Federal Seed Act, which requires honest labeling of germination rates and purity, among other necessary details. A good seller has tested what’s in the packet.
Some of my favorite places to buy seed online: Uprising Seeds (one of my very favorites), Johnny’s, High Mowing, Row 7, Burpee, Southern Exposure, Territorial Seed, Hudson Valley, Siskiyou, Botanical Interests. Am I missing one that belongs on this list? Let me know in the comments, I’m always adding to my rotation. Bonus tip: check your public library. Many now run seed libraries with free or low-cost heirloom seeds.
One big name you’ll notice I’m leaving off is Baker Creek. They’ve been the subject of enough controversy over the years that I choose to take my dollars elsewhere, and happily, there are so many wonderful companies to support instead.
Two rules guide every variety I pick. I always choose flavor and yield over aesthetics. And whenever there’s a choice, I reach for the slow-bolt version, the one bred to resist rushing to seed when we get a late-summer heat snap. Everything below is filtered through those two rules.
For your convenience, I’ve gathered all the links for the seed varieties mentioned here. I also keep my seeds organized with a label maker and photo storage box.
Today’s post is for paid subscribers. For less than the price of a farmers market tomato haul, you get every post in the archive, my full Garden Index, and a newsletter like this one each week, over a decade of gardening experience distilled down for you. No gimmicks, no tricks.
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