6 Veggies I Plant in the Fall & Harvest In Just 30 Days
As summer ends and fall begins, it’s the perfect time to spice up your garden with some fast and easy-to-grow veggies. Planting things like lettuce and mustard greens now means you’ll be harvesting in just 30 days.
These plants are super simple to take care of and they’re good for your garden too, attracting helpful insects that keep pests away. That’s a win for your garden, a win for ease, and a win for quick results!
Let’s get those seeds in the soil—fresh, tasty veggies are just a month away.
Lettuce
Lettuce, with its varieties like looseleaf, butterhead, and romaine, is perfect for autumn planting. The cooler weather prevents it from bolting too early, which means you get sweeter, softer leaves. This easy-to-grow green is ideal for beginners and doesn’t need much space, making it great for small gardens or containers.
What’s neat about lettuce is that it also attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies, which help keep pests away. Plant it early in September, and you’ll be enjoying your own harvest in just 30 days.
Mustard Greens
Mustard greens are your go-to if you like a quick crop with a bit of kick. Plant these spicy leaves in early September, and in just 30 days, you can start harvesting. Mustard greens are perfect for spicing up salads, stir-fries, and soups. Plus, they’re packed with nutrients and grow easily in the cooler fall weather.
Besides their bold flavor, mustard greens are good for your garden. They attract bees and other beneficial insects, helping keep pest populations under control. They’re not invasive, but they do reseed easily, which can be a bonus for future planting.
Baby Kale
For those who love their greens with a side of quick results, baby kale is your new best friend this fall. With its tender, milder leaves ready for harvesting just about 25 to 30 days after planting, you can kickstart your September gardening with a superfood.
Baby kale isn’t just easy on the palate—perfect for a quick sauté with garlic or a fresh smoothie—but it’s also a breeze to grow. Plus, it’s tough enough to thrive in cooler temperatures, meaning more greens for longer!
Besides its tasty leaves, baby kale helps the garden’s ecosystem. Its blossoms are like a beacon for bees and other helpful pollinators, boosting the health and beauty of your space.
Spinach
If you’ve got 30 days and a spot in your garden, you’ve got what it takes to grow spinach—a true garden champion. Planting spinach on September 1st sets you up for a quick harvest of lush, baby leaves that are as versatile as they are nutritious.
Spinach loves the cooler days of early fall, flourishing in the mild weather and giving back to the garden by helping to keep the soil moist and weed-free. It’s easy to grow and sticks to its patch, so you won’t have any surprises with it spreading where it shouldn’t.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or trying out your green thumb for the first time, spinach delivers satisfaction with speed and ease, not to mention a tasty boost of vitamins A and C!
Arugula
Plant arugula in early September, and you’re on track to add some new veggies to your plates in no time. This peppery favorite grows so fast that in about three weeks, you could be sprinkling these spicy leaves over your pizzas or tossing them into salads. What’s not to love about a plant that keeps up with your busy schedule?
And for those who like their garden to serve more than one purpose, arugula’s delicate flowers do more than beautify your space—they draw in bees and butterflies, giving pollinators a late-season feast.
Plus, arugula is super low-maintenance. It’s content to grow without taking over, and if you let it flower, it might just seed itself for next year’s crop. That means less work for you and more fresh greens on your table. Start your seeds in early September, and get ready to enjoy the fresh, tangy kick of homegrown arugula.
Radishes
Radishes are the go-to for anyone looking to see quick results in their garden. These crunchy snacks can go from seed to salad in as little as 25 days. Start them in early September, and by the month’s end, you could be crunching on your own homegrown radishes.
Radishes are garden helpers, too. Their roots are nature’s ploughs, breaking up compacted soil and making it friendlier for whatever you plant next. They also attract helpful critters like ladybugs, which help keep pests like aphids in check. And don’t stress about them taking over; radishes play nice and stay where you plant them. Pop those seeds in the ground on September 1st, and you’re set for a speedy, satisfying harvest.