When gardeners think of fall planting, they usually focus on familiar favorites like spinach, kale, and carrots. But fall is also the perfect season to grow underused, underappreciated crops that thrive in cooler weather — and often outperform their spring counterparts.
If you’re ready to expand your fall garden beyond the basics, this guide introduces you to the overlooked crops that deserve a spot in your raised beds, containers, or backyard rows this season.
Why Plant in Fall at All?
Fall offers key advantages:
- Cooler temperatures reduce stress on crops
- Fewer pests and diseases
- Improved flavor for many vegetables
- Moisture retention helps reduce watering
- Less competition in the soil after summer crops
And best of all, many crops that struggle in spring heat thrive in the fall.
Top Overlooked Crops That Love Fall
These underrated veggies are hardy, productive, and flavorful, yet often ignored in fall garden plans.
🥦 Kohlrabi
- Mild, crunchy, and fast-growing
- Ready in 45–60 days
- Flavor improves in cool temps
- Edible both raw and cooked
Why it’s overlooked: Many gardeners don’t know how to use it
Why it’s great for fall: Doesn’t bolt and thrives in short days
🧄 Garlic
- Technically not harvested in fall — but planted now for next summer’s bounty
- Needs winter chill to form cloves
- Comes in softneck (milder) and hardneck (stronger) varieties
Why it’s overlooked: Delayed gratification
Why it’s great for fall: Easy to grow and worth the wait
🌿 Mâche (Corn Salad)
- Tender, nutty salad green
- Thrives in cool weather and tolerates light frost
- Harvest in 40–60 days
Why it’s overlooked: Not widely available as a seedling
Why it’s great for fall: One of the few greens that grows in near-freezing temps
🧅 Shallots
- Plant like garlic in fall for early summer harvest
- More delicate than onions, with rich, complex flavor
- Require less space than bulb onions
Why it’s overlooked: Less common in garden centers
Why it’s great for fall: Fall planting leads to larger bulbs and stronger plants
🥬 Claytonia (Miner’s Lettuce)
- Fast-growing and frost-hardy
- Round, succulent leaves with mild flavor
- Grows well in low light
Why it’s overlooked: Unfamiliar name and look
Why it’s great for fall: Survives in cold, dark corners where other greens fail
🥬 Endive & Escarole
- Slightly bitter leafy greens — perfect for soups and sautés
- Cold-tolerant and flavorful after frost
- Ready in 60–90 days
Why they’re overlooked: More popular in European kitchens
Why they’re great for fall: Don’t bolt, even in fluctuating fall temps
🧅 Egyptian Walking Onions
- Perennial onions that “walk” as they reseed from top bulbs
- Hardy and low-maintenance
- Fall planting = early spring harvest
Why they’re overlooked: Not sold in most nurseries
Why they’re great for fall: Almost indestructible in cold climates
🧄 Leeks
- Hardy alliums that improve with age
- Take 90–120 days, but fall planting makes spring harvest easier
- Excellent in soups, stews, and sautés
Why they’re overlooked: Long maturity discourages late planting
Why they’re great for fall: Can overwinter in many climates with mulch
🥬 Asian Greens (Tatsoi, Komatsuna, Mizuna)
- Fast-growing and frost-tolerant
- Great for stir-fries, salads, or steamed dishes
- Maturity in 30–50 days
Why they’re overlooked: Less familiar in Western gardens
Why they’re great for fall: Grow fast and keep producing even in chilly weather
Why These Crops Deserve a Spot in Your Garden
| Crop | Maturity | Frost Tolerance | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kohlrabi | 45–60 days | Moderate–High | Raw slaws, roasting |
| Garlic | Planted now | High (overwintered) | Early summer harvest |
| Mâche | 40–60 days | Very High | Salads |
| Shallots | Planted now | High (overwintered) | Cooking |
| Claytonia | 30–50 days | Very High | Fresh eating |
| Endive/Escarole | 60–90 days | High | Salads, soups |
| Walking Onions | Perennial | Very High | Green onion alternative |
| Leeks | 90–120 days | High | Cold season staple |
| Tatsoi/Mizuna/Komatsuna | 30–50 days | High | Stir-fries, baby greens |
Tips for Success with Overlooked Fall Crops
✅ Use fresh seed — especially for cold-season greens like mâche or claytonia
✅ Mulch heavily — keeps roots warm and moist
✅ Provide frost protection — row covers or tunnels extend your season
✅ Harvest young for tender, fast regrowth
✅ Pair with known crops to diversify your fall garden
FAQs
Are these crops hard to find?
Some are uncommon at big box stores, but most can be found from online seed suppliers or local garden centers in fall.
Can I grow these crops in containers?
Yes! Many — including kohlrabi, tatsoi, and mâche — do well in containers or grow bags.
Will these crops survive winter?
Some (like garlic, mâche, and walking onions) overwinter naturally in cold climates. Others need protection below freezing.
Can I plant these after the first frost?
Fast-maturing crops like tatsoi and claytonia can be planted right up to the first frost in many zones, especially with covers.
Final Thoughts
If you’re only growing the usual lettuce and kale this fall, you’re missing out. There’s a whole world of overlooked crops that thrive in cooler months, often with better flavor, lower maintenance, and greater diversity.
Whether you’re planting garlic for next summer, tucking mâche into shady corners, or harvesting kohlrabi in early November, these crops prove that fall gardening can be just as exciting — and delicious — as spring.