Deciding what to plant in fall in Georgia? We may have the perfect plant list for you this year. Did you know that the planting season can extend beyond summer? For many people, the end of summer is usually considered the end of gardening for the year. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
During fall, you can plant a host of different plant types. With the perfect climate and conditions during the Georgia fall season, you can enjoy a pretty fruitful and productive planting season. If you are not ready to put away your gardening tools just yet, check out our recommendations for the best plants to add to your garden this fall if you are in Georgia.
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Why Plant in Fall in Georgia?
The fall season doesn’t just provide the right growing conditions to allow several plants to grow. Several other reasons contribute to a successful fall planting season. Here are the common reasons why planting in fall in Georgia is a good idea;
It’s worth noting that not every plant will successfully thrive when planted in fall. You need to pick the right kind of plants to incorporate in your fall planting. Below, you’ll find a complete list of the best plants for fall in Georgia.
Ideal Timeline for Plant Growth
The fall season offers an ideal timeline for plant growth. Planting in fall gives the plant enough time to root from fall to winter. This, in turn, allows for less energy use and faster plant growth in spring. After all, the plants won’t put too much of their energy trying to root, allowing for easier and faster flowering.
Moreover, planting plants in the fall allows for better tolerance. Compared to their counterparts grown in spring, fall-planted plants have a longer period to root and grow. With a longer period to root, from fall through winter, plants get to develop deeper and stronger roots. So, come summer, these plants will have a better tolerance to the dry and hot summer conditions than spring-planted plants.
Better Growth
The fall season generally promotes better growth, especially rot growth. During this period, the temperatures are cooler (but not extreme), which makes it easier for the plants as they don’t suffer from extreme heat or moisture loss.
As the air temperature cools than the soil temperature, new top growth reduces significantly. This, in turn, allows plants to focus on root development while retaining their energy. This explains why most root vegetables and flowering plants thrive when planted in fall.
Root vegetables enjoy a longer period from fall through winter to transform their starch into simple sugars, making them sweeter and delicious when harvested for eating. On the other hand, flowering plants preserve enough energy to foster better flower and foliage development.
Perfect Conditions
The fall season offers the perfect conditions for plants. During this time, the soil temperature is between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, fall tends to offer milder weather. These warm temperatures and mild weather are ideal for most plant root growth and development. In fact, compared to spring, the fall season offers warmer temperatures since the soil in springtime is still warming up.
Fall is built for Fall Plants
Most ideal fall plants are usually leafy and green. This means that they don’t require any pollinators, especially to produce edible parts of the plant. Apart from creating pest and frost protection, the plants will grow just fine on their own during fall.
Fewer Pests and Diseases
The fall season offers fewer pests and diseases, making it easier for plants to successfully grow. Pests, such as leaf spotters or chewers are more prominent in spring and summer than fall. So, your plant roots will be much better developed in the fall season.
Less water Stress
The fall season offers less water stress due to its slightly lower temperatures than the much hotter summer season. So, even with little to moderate rains, you can expect less water evaporation during fall.
Accommodates Planning
Fall planting is perfect for garden planting. During this time, plants have been established and even lost their leaves. This, in turn, gives you a good vantage point of the garden to allow for easier decision-making. Whether you need to fill up spots, add new textures, or incorporate more plant colors, fall is the perfect period for planning and execution.
Easier on the Gardener
Compared to the hot and sunny summer season, the fall season is much more forgiving on you. Even during the heavier lifting, like ground prep, whether digging or plowing, you remain relatively comfortable, avoiding dehydration and sunburns.
Similarly, the soil conditions are more pleasant – the soil is not too dry from the heat and not too soggy from spring rain. Plants growing in fall benefit in the same way as humans. The cooler climate and soil moisture retention are much easier on the already stressed transplanted plant.
Preparing to Plant in Fall in Georgia
To ensure the best results, you want to prepare your garden before planting in the fall. Here are important things to remember during preparation;
Prep the Soil
As expected, the very first place to focus your efforts is the soil.
- Test the pH and adjust it to between 6.2 and 6.8, if you need to.
- Till the growing site and add organic matter to harness the best-growing results. During fall, the most viable plants to grow in Georgia are heavy-feeding vegetables. So, it’s a good idea to pre-feed the soil with sufficient nutrients to promote the best growth.
- When you add fertilizer in the fall, it’s a good idea to keep high nitrogen fertilizer at a minimum. Nitrogen-rich fertilizer promotes above-ground growth and this is not the main focus during fall. Fall planting focuses more on root development before winter so the plant uses less energy for flowering and foliage growth in spring. Instead, fertilizer with generous phosphorus content can aid in root stimulation and growth. Good microbes also go a long way to promote root growth as they fix nutrients and bring them closer to the roots. A good example is the microbe, mycorrhizae.
- After sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings, immediately water them to ensure proper establishment. After this, follow the watering instructions for each plant you incorporate into the garden.
- For seeds and transplanted plants, drip irrigation or soaker hose are always the best watering methods as they guarantee slow but consistent soil and root hydration. You want to avoid overhead watering options as they target the plant foliage, increasing the risk of diseases.
Don’t Forget Weed, Pest, and Disease Control
Compared to spring, the fall season comes with a much lower risk of pests and diseases. Nonetheless, you want to protect your plants even from the small risks. Add organic mulch or weed fabric to curb weed growth. Moreover, visually inspect your plants weekly to ensure there aren’t any visible signs of disease or pest activity. Doing so will help you identify the problem in the early stages so it’s easier to manage it.
Build Proper Infrastructure
As mentioned earlier, fall offers the perfect conditions to accommodate growth and sufficient root development. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t incorporate even better conditions to foster better results. Building a cold frame garden has always been a go-to method for many gardeners. This is because a cold frame keeps the plants in your garden productive all year long.
The simplest DIY material to use is a wooden box placed on the ground or slightly elevated. You can then cover it with a light-permitting item, like glass or plastic that allows sunlight (which growing plants and seeds need) to penetrate. This creates a mini greenhouse that maintains ambient temperatures and conditions. So, your plants can continue to grow comfortably even when there’s a risk of frost or extreme temperatures.
6 Best Plants to Add to Your Garden in Fall in Georgia
Planting during fall in Georgia gives you reasonable freedom to incorporate a good amount of different plants in the garden. While vegetables are a popular choice, you can also add flowers, shrubs, and trees. Here’s a complete list of the best plants to add to the garden during fall in Georgia;
1. Cover Crops
- Best planting method: Sow seeds
- Planting period: Late summer to early fall (August to September)
Cover crops are the simplest plants to add to your garden during fall. If you haven’t made up your mind on what to plant or want to fill up gaps in the garden, cover crops are the best options. They don’t just help maintain a good-looking garden. They also come with benefits for the soil.
First, when they are growing in the garden, they help to prevent soil erosion as they fill the ground. In fact, adding cover crops is a great way to build the soil around the garden rather than just leaving it empty. Moreover, they add nutrient-rich organic matter to the soil when you till them in spring.
Examples of cover crops include;
- Legumes, such as winter peas or fava beans
- Grains, such as oats, wheat, or rye
Clover
2. Brassicas and Leafy Greens
- Best planting method: Sow seeds or transplant seedlings
- Planting period: Late summer to mid-fall (August to October)
Brassicas and leafy greens are perhaps the most popular plants to grow during fall in Georgia. Most of these plants qualify as winter crops due to their cold and frost-tolerant nature. Moreover, most of these plants can be grown by sowing them as seeds and enjoying sufficient time from fall to winter to develop their roots. After this, they can use their accumulated energy to produce the best foliage during spring.Â
Examples of Brassicas and leafy greens include;
- Collard greens ( Late summer to mid-fall, sow seeds or transplant seedlings)
- Kale ( Late summer to mid-fall, transplant seedlings)
- Swiss chard (Late summer to early fall, sow seeds)
- Broccoli ( Late summer to mid-fall, transplant seedlings)
- Cauliflower ( Early to mid-fall, transplant seedlings)
- Brussel sprouts ( Late summer to mid-fall, transplant seedlings)
- Kohlrabi ( Late summer to mid-fall, transplant seedlings)
- Cabbage ( Late summer to mid-fall, transplant seedlings)
- Napa or Chinese cabbage ( Late summer to mid-fall, sow seeds or transplant seedlings)
- Leaf lettuce (Early to mid fall, sow seeds or transplant seedlings)
- Spinach (Late summer to early spring, sow seeds)
- Mustard greens (Late summer to mid-fall, sow seeds)
- Butternut squash (late summer to early fall, sow seeds or transplant seedlings)
3. Root Vegetables
- Best planting method: Sow seeds or transplant seedlings
- Planting period: Late summer to mid-fall (August to October)
You can also integrate root vegetables into your garden during fall. Planting root vegetables in the fall season allows them to develop the best taste. This is because they enjoy a longer growing season, enough for their root starch to convert to sugar. To ensure you plant them during the right time in the fall season, you can get transplants from a nursery during late summer. Alternatively, you can start your seeds using seed starter trays at least 5 to 6 weeks before you transfer the seedlings outdoors.
Examples of root vegetables include;
- Beets ( Late summer to mid-fall, sow seeds)
- Carrots (Late summer to early fall, sow seeds)
- Radish (Late summer to mid-fall, plant seeds)
- Rutabaga (Late summer to early fall, sow seeds)
- Garlic ( Early to mid-fall, plant bulbs)
- Scallions ( Early to mid-fall, plant bulbs)
- Onions (Early to mid fall, plant seeds or bulbs)
- Leeks( Late summer to mid-fall, sow seeds or transplant seedlings)
4. Spring Blooming Bulbs
- Best planting method: Sow seeds or transplant seedlings
- Planting period: Late summer to late fall (August to October)
In addition to edible vegetables and leafy greens, you can plant a variety of different flowering plants. Spring-blooming bulbs are a common example. Spring blooming bulbs usually require planting between fall and early winter, depending on where you are.
In Georgia, planting them during the fall season is ideal. This is because spring bulbs require long winter sleep to harness energy so they can produce the most appealing blossoms and a colorful garden during spring. You can start sourcing for and planting bulbs in late summer and plant them from early to mid-fall.
You want to plant bulbs at least 5 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes to allow for adequate time for roots to develop. While you should do this no later than October in northern parts with low temperatures, the southern part is a little more forgiving. In warmer southern climates, you can extend this period to late fall, around November.
Spring-blooming bulbs can grow both on the ground and in pots. Plus, if you want a longer blooming season throughout spring, mix and match your spring bulbs.
Examples of spring bulbs include;
- Alliums
- Crocus
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Hyacinths
- Iris
- Snowdrops
- Freesia
- Dahlia
- Lilies
- Bluebells
5. Cool Season Annuals
- Best planting method: Sow seeds or transplant seedlings
- Planting period: Late summer to early fall (August to September)
Cool season annuals are another great flower option to add to your garden during fall. Most cool season annuals don’t mind first and can handle extremely low temperatures. Planting them in the fall season gets them ready for a wonderful bloom from spring to summer.
You can get seedlings for annuals from your local nursery and plant them when the outside temperature remains below 80 degrees during the day. Alternatively, you can plant annuals by sowing seeds from late summer to early fall.
Examples of cool season annuals include;
- Pansies and violas
- Sweet alyssum
- Snapdragons
- Lobelias
- Dianthus and carnations
6. Trees, Shrubs and Perennials
- Best planting method: Transplant seedlings
- Planting period: Early to mid-fall (September to October)
You can also plant a selection of trees, shrubs, and perennial plants in fall. Planting them during the fall season gives them enough time for the roots to develop during winter for bountiful growth in spring. During fall, you can plant deciduous shrubs and even spring-blooming broadleaf evergreens.
Trees, shrubs, and perennials should be planted from early to mid-fall. Delaying the planting process to late fall can lead to poor root growth as they will not have enough time to establish themselves before frost forms on the ground.
Examples of trees, shrubs, and perennials include;
- Rhododendrons
- Azaleas
- Peonies
- Bearded iris
- Garden Phlox
What to Avoid Planting in Fall in Georgia
While a variety of plants grow well in fall, not every plant should be added to the garden during this time. Several plants don’t do so well when planted during this season. You want to avoid adding plants that aren’t cold hardy and need pollination to your garden during fall.
In addition to the cold temperatures, the lack of insects to pollinate the plants will stunt their growth. This is why the cold hardy root and leafy vegetables do better in fall. A good example of plants to avoid planting in the fall season include tomatoes and watermelons.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the Two Main Planting Seasons in Georgia?
The two main planting seasons in Georgia are the spring and fall season. Plants that do better in warmer temperatures and require pollination are better off planted in the spring season.
On the other hand, the fall season is ideal for leafy greens, vegetables, and flowering plants that require sufficient rot development time and energy building to support foliage and flower production during spring.
Can you Plant Herbs in the Fall in Georgia?
It is a better idea to plant most herbs in Georgia during spring instead of fall. Doing so protects the herbs from extreme winter frost. However, if you really want to, you can sow seeds or transplant perennial herbs in pots or containers and keep them indoors until springtime. Doing so gives the herbs enough time to get well established before summer.
Can I Grow Fruits During Fall in Georgia?
You can grow several types of fruit trees in Georgia during the fall season. A good example of a fruit tree to grow in fall is the apple tree. These cold hardy trees can be transplanted from late summer through late fall. You can also grow blueberries, blackberries, and huckleberries in Georgia during the fall season.
Can I Grow Potatoes in Fall in Georgia?
While potatoes are root vegetables, they are among the few you should avoid planting in the fall. Instead, you should plant potatoes during spring in Georgia. This is because the soil is still too warm for potatoes from late summer to mid-fall.
However, when you plant the potatoes during late fall to early winter when the soil has cooled, you put the potatoes at risk of freeze damage. Therefore, you are better off saving off the planting for spring.
Conclusion
Knowing what to plant in fall in Georgia is the best way to maintain an interesting garden all year round. The good news is that you can find a wide variety of plants to incorporate in your garden. The best part of having a long list of options for planting in fall is you can design your garden how you want.
You can incorporate a wide range of edible root vegetables and leafy greens. Alternatively, you can layer a variety of colorful spring-to-summer blooming blossoms with foliage plants that offer various patterns and textures to complement the blossoms even after they lose their flowers.
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