Five Vegetables to Plant in Autumn

Now we’re into the cooler autumn months, gardeners might consider what to grow this time of year. To take advantage of the seasonal changes, there are many hearty vegetables to grow that can be planted and thrive during Autumn.

Beetroot: Plant your beetroot in a medium-rich soil, sowing your seeds at least 10cm apart and a few centimetres deep. You can plant the seeds in a raised garden bed or planter. Beetroot likes to be planted in full sun but be careful as high temperatures can burn the leaves. Give your plants a drink when the topsoil has become dry. Soil that is too wet can cause root rot, while dry soil can cause the plant tubers to dry out.

Brussel Sprouts: If grown from seeds, they should first be planted into seed trays or smaller pots and can be transferred to the garden once established. Brussel sprouts require sunlight but can tolerate some shade. Keeping your soil moist and well fertilised is the best way to look after your Brussel sprout plants. Once they have begun to grow, you’ll need to stake them to keep them growing upright.

Cauliflower: If you plant cauliflower now, you’ll find yourself with mature vegetables in about two months ready to be picked. Make sure to begin growing in smaller individual seedling trays, and then you can transfer to your garden or vegetable patch after a few weeks. Ensure plenty of space is given between each cauliflower plant when transferred, so they have room to grow. Cauliflowers love to be planted in full sunlight. Too much shade can inhibit their growth. Cauliflowers will benefit from mulching and weekly fertilising so that they receive sufficient nutrients.

Fennel: If growing fennel from seeds, germinate the seeds by soaking them in water for a few days. Once they have begun to sprout, they are ready to plant. Sow your seeds around 20-30 cm apart so they have enough room to grow. Fennel can be planted in the garden, pots or a vegetable bed. This plant is not picky when it comes to soil type, and can happily grow in most gardens, and is ideally planted in autumn. Fennel does prefer some sunlight during the day but can withstand shady positions in your garden. Like most bulb vegetables, they like to be kept moist, but not soaked or they can risk becoming waterlogged or rotting at the roots.

Garlic: Make sure to plant your garlic bulbs in a sunny position during the autumn months. Garlic grows best in light soil that has good drainage and can be planted directly into the garden, or in small pots. Ensure to keep the bulbs about 10cm apart to give the roots ample room. Garlic plants need plenty of sunlight during the day. Even though it’s best to plant garlic in Autumn, place a thick layer of mulch over your plants to protect them from frost and cold temperatures. Too much water can rot the plants roots, so ensure to only give them a drink when the topsoil has become dry.

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