Your Garden Guide to Fall Planting
Spring is often considered the optimal time for planting in a garden. And it's true, there are a lot of things to plant in spring, including heat-loving annuals such as sunflowers, petunias, and marigolds, as well as tomatoes, eggplants, corn, melons, and squash.
That said, fall is also a fantastic time for planting certain plants. If youve ever wondered what plants top plant in the fall, then this article is for you. Of course, this all depends on the climate you live in as well as your personal taste in cool-season vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Here at Southwoods, Sappington, Missouris premier apartment community, we love to help residents with their personal gardens. Our community also features its very own community garden which makes our team particularly interested the St. Louis growing seasons. Read on to learn about what to plant in a fall garden.
What is St. Louis' Planting Zone and Why is It Important to Know?
The St. Louis planting zone is in the hardiness zone 7a, which means outdoor plants here should be able to endure winter temperatures of 0F to 5F, whether planted in the ground or in containers. In the coldest temperatures here, potted plants can be temporarily sheltered up against a wall or in the garage, especially at night. And those in the ground can be covered when necessary.
What Plants to Plant in the Fall
If you live in a complex that offers community gardening, you can have space of your own or share to plant what you want, when you want. There are a lot of fall planting options, including vegetables, herbs, flowers, bulbs, and shrubs. You can also make room on your porch or patio for some container plants, if you so desire.
Community Gardening
Community gardening can be especially fun as it offers time to socialize with your neighbors while rooting around in the ground together. Check out what others are growing and consider choosing other options to make the garden more festive and more functional.
Cool-season vegetables: Fall is the perfect time to plant cool-season veggies such as spinach, kale, or broccoli. You can also plant in the fall for spring production, like garlic and shallots. Planting garlic cloves in the fall and allowing their roots to grow before they fall dormant in the winter leads to great home-grown garlic to harvest in late spring through mid-summer. The same type of planning and planting works for shallots.
Flowers and bulbs for fall planting: Some of the best flowers to plant in the fall include cool-season annuals such as pansies and violas, as well as perennials that will attract pollinators, including sedums, asters, and black-eyed Susans.
What to plant in fall for spring: Fall is also the time to put in any bulbs or rhizomes you want to see bloom the following spring and summer. Daffodils, tulips, and irises should all be in the ground before the first frost.
Besides planting, there are some other fall chores in a community garden, such as cleaning up plant debris to avoid fungus, while leaving leaves behind for wildlife, suggests the Missouri Botanical Garden. Continue to water trees and shrubs if it is dry, mulch for winter, and pick all squash, including pumpkins, as well as acorn, butternut, Hubbard, and spaghetti squash before wintry weather sets in.
Container Gardening
Having your own container garden on your patio or balcony offers a more personalized approach to flowers you enjoy, and herbs and vegetables you use most in your cooking. Parsley, chives, dill, sage, oregano, cilantro, and more are prime herbs for fall gardening in containers. The Old Farmer's Almanac recommends choosing dwarf and fast-maturing root crops to plant late summer so you can harvest before the first frost comes, including collards, broccoli, radishes, carrots, and beets. You can also plant cool-season greens such as spinach, kale, lettuce, and Swiss chard in containers.
Almost any of the perennials you can plant in the community garden will also do well in containers. Choose your favorites to brighten up your space.
Some general recommendations for container gardens include using quality potting mix with good drainage, checking moisture regularly as containers tend to dry out fast, yet avoid overwatering. Place your pots where they get good sunlight, but when the temperatures start reaching freezing, move them to sheltered, but unheated spots. Feed your plants regularly.
Some Neighborhood Shops for Your Gardening Needs
There are many great small business nurseries in St. Louis, as well as big box stores. Some nurseries that offer personalized attention and are always willing to help with garden growing advice include: Locally and family-owned Crabapple Cove Nursery specializes not only in plants that grow well in the area but also in hand-painted, one-of-a-kind indoor and outdoor pottery. Check out Haegele Nursery and Garden Center, offering a wide fall selection of flowering mum plants as well as their selection of house plants found in their greenhouse. You can shop online or in-store at Rolling Ridge Nursery, and they offer custom planting services for your choices in container plants.
View Available Apartment Homes in Sappington, MO with Community Gardens
There you have it folks! We hope this helps when you go to plant your favorite fall crops.
If you are looking for your next apartment home in Sappington and the St. Louis area, then visit us at Southwoods Apartments & Townhomes. Our 1, 2, and 3 bedroom floor plans are designed to maximize comfort, style, and spaciousness, providing residents with the ultimate living experience. Best of all, we are not just plant-friendly— we are also pet-friendly! Alongside our community garden, Southwoods also features an enclosed dog park, a swimming pool, a sports court, and much more. Schedule your tour today and discover your next home at Southwoods Apartments & Townhomes.