Autumn vegetable garden: what to sow and when to harvest?

🍂 Autumn, a season all its own in the vegetable garden

When the days grow shorter and the tomatoes give their last breath, the autumn vegetable garden takes center stage. It is a key period for preparing winter harvests, but also for anticipating those of spring. Contrary to popular belief, September and October are months full of possibilities for attentive gardeners, whether they have a large garden or simply a small vegetable patch.

Here is a selection of the autumn sowings to prioritize, along with practical advice and varieties suited to each use. Find our complete selection in the Autumn sowings collection.

🍃 What to sow in September?

🌱 Fast-growing leafy vegetables

• Cambrai green lamb’s lettuce: sow in place until mid-October; it quickly forms small, tender rosettes, perfect for winter salads. Harvest in as little as 6 to 8 weeks.

• Arugula : very fast-growing and slightly peppery, it can be sown from September for crisp leaves as early as October.

• Marvel of Four Seasons lettuce: well suited to cool conditions, it can be sown under cover or in a tunnel for a harvest from February onward.

🥕 Slow-developing roots

• Black Winter Radish, Large Round or Daikon Radish: sown until the end of September, these hardy varieties are harvested from November to January and store very well in a cellar.

• Round Nancy turnip: sown until the end of September, it produces small, mild roots in 6 to 8 weeks.

🌿 Hardy herbs

• Chives, flat-leaf parsley or coriander: sown now, they emerge slowly before winter and start growing vigorously again in spring.

🌾 Green manures to sow

• Phacelia, white clover, white mustard or rye: these plants protect, nourish and aerate the soil until spring while limiting weeds.

🍁 And what to sow in October?

• Common garlic or pink garlic: plant the cloves in well-drained soil in a sunny position. Harvest in June.

• Monstrueux de Viroflay spinach: a productive variety, ideal for autumn. Sow in rows and harvest as needed, leaf by leaf.

• Broad beans and winter peas (e.g., mangetout peas): sown at the end of October in mild regions, they ensure an early harvest from the following spring.

🛠️ Tips for successful autumn sowings

• Prepare the soil well: loosen it without turning it over too much, and incorporate mature compost or vermicompost.

• Sow more densely: the young plants will protect one another from the cold.

• Protect your crops: a mulch of dead leaves or dry grass clippings insulates against the cold and limits weeds.

• Watch out for slugs: very active in autumn, they love young leaves.

📅 Calendar of autumn sowings and harvests

🌿 Conclusion

The vegetable garden does not stop at the end of summer. Quite the contrary, autumn is a season of transition and anticipation, when every sowing is a promise of greenery in the heart of winter. By choosing the right varieties and following a few simple steps, you give your soil new life… and your kitchen unexpected flavors.

🍂 Discover our complete Autumn sowings collection to find all these varieties in one click.