Back to School, Back to the Garden
Hands down, my favorite garden season is the fall—and what could be more fall than back to school?
When my kids were younger, summer always felt like a sprint: travel lacrosse, swim team, summer jobs, camp, carpools, and finally our big family vacation. By the end of August, I was ready for a reset. September brought a shift—still busy days, yes, but also a rhythm and routine. I could breathe again. And what always gave me joy (and a little peace amongst the chaos) was my garden.
Why Fall Gardening is the Best
Many people think of spring as the prime gardening season, but fall is honestly a gardener’s dream. The weather cools down, the air feels crisp, and the soil is still warm enough to keep crops growing strong. You get fewer weeds, fewer bugs, and crops that thrive in cooler temps—what’s not to love?
Plus, fall gardening gives you a second chance. If your summer tomatoes were eaten by chipmunks, or the zucchini took over, you can reset the beds and start fresh with cool-season crops. And bonus: harvesting a head of broccoli in November or pulling up sweet fall carrots right before Thanksgiving is downright magical.
What to Plant Now
When planning your fall garden, think back to the crops you loved in the spring—they’re often the same ones that thrive in fall. Some of my favorites include:
🥬 Lettuces (butter, romaine, mesclun mixes)
🥗 Kale, Swiss chard, and Asian greens
🌱 Spinach (which actually gets sweeter with cool nights)
🥦 Broccoli & cauliflower
🥕 Root veggies: carrots, beets, and radishes
As your summer plants slow down, your fall garden swoops in with a fresh round of excitement. It’s like hitting the “refresh” button on your backyard harvest.
Where to Find Great Fall Transplants
This week, I visited three of my favorite local garden centers to pick up transplants for clients. The beauty of fall gardening is that you don’t need to start everything from seed (unless you want to!). Quality transplants will save you time and get you harvesting faster.
Here’s where I stopped in—and what looked especially good:
🌿 Copia Home & Garden (South Salem, NY)
Copia has a gorgeous selection of leafy greens right now—lush lettuces, strong kale starts, and Asian greens that look ready to take off once planted. Their staff is also great about answering questions if you’re unsure which varieties to try.
🌿 Gilbertie’s Organics (Westport, CT)
If you want variety, Gilbertie’s is your spot. I picked up a mixed tray for a client of some of her favorites - mixed lettuces, spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower and fennel. Of course I visited the herb house - rosemary, cilantro and thyme - great for extending your seasoning power into fall soups and stews. They had a good variety there wasn’t a huge amount of transplants so get there soon!
🌿 Ganim’s Garden Center & Florist (Fairfield, CT)
Ganim’s is so convenient for those living near I-95 - their selection of of high quality Gilbertie’s transplants didn’t disappoint - lettuces, kale, collards, cabbages, cauliflower, swiss chard, asian greens (mizuno is great in a mixed salad). I love supporting a small family business like Ganim’s!
A Little Garden Bonus 🌱
While you’re planting your fall crops, don’t forget to enjoy the last hurrah of your summer harvests. If your counter is overflowing with tomatoes (lucky you!), I’ve got you covered.
I’ll be sharing my family-favorite Summer Tomato Salsa recipe this week over on my social media channels—saucy, fresh, and perfect for back-to-school dinners. Be sure to follow along, give it a like, and share it with friends who also have too many tomatoes (as if you can ever have too many tomatoes in August)…
👉 Find me here for the recipe and more garden inspiration:
Instagram: @SimplyGrownCT
Facebook: Simply Grown
Pinterest: Simply GrownCT
I love seeing what you make with your garden treasures, so don’t forget to tag me or share what you’re cooking for your family or whats’s growing in your own fall garden!
And if you’re feeling inspired to refresh your beds or plan your fall crops, now’s the perfect time to book a fall garden consultation with Simply Grown. Let’s make sure your garden keeps giving well into the cooler months!