Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Uncover the secrets of successful fall gardening and create a thriving garden on your homestead.
Fall Gardening Tips From A Homestead Expert
I’m passionate about fall gardening, or just gardening in general, as it fills our homestead with bounty.
It not only saves us money in our grocery budget, but it is healthy food for us and keeps us moving and fit.
When Mr. CBB approached me about doing a post for his site, I was excited to share our homestead with CBB readers.
Since we all have different strengths in gardening, I would share how we do fall gardening at our Lil’ Suburban Homestead.
Related: Should gardening be a topic discussed in school?
Fall Gardening at Our Homestead
We were initially frustrated with our gardening results when we moved to the coastal area six years ago.
We learned quickly that we would have to amend our soil, do a lot of raised bed gardening, and use a lot of pots to get that soil mixture just right.
To prep our fall garden, we use a container mix from our local mulch yard (they have already blended it, including topsoil, sand, and peat moss).
However, we add our compost if it needs it, add more sand and peat moss, and sometimes some vermiculite.
This takes years of figuring out. I have to, as my husband, “The Viking” in my life, has fine-tuned this and knows what works for us.
In this regard, I follow his instructions on the mixes mostly because he knows what he’s doing.
He is Mr. Scientific, and I’m a plant researcher.
I am looking for the best time to plant the garden seeds and what is best to plant them with.
This fall, I wanted us to grow many Asian greens, mustard greens, kale, bok Choy, aother of vegetables.
Recently, a speaker said these vegetables grow magnificently in our area.
I have included some photos of some of the greens that are coming up right now in our fall garden.
Join A Gardening Group
Take the time to join a local gardening group and learn from others in your area who have been gardening longer.
We joined a local group and have learned so much already about fall gardening.
If that won’t work for you, join some online gardening forums and try to connect with others in your area.
Many have seed swaps where you trade seeds with other vendors to increase variety for no money.
I have participated in several of these types of activities, and they help keep costs down and allow you to make new friends.
Related: Free Plants and Easy Ways To Save Money On Gardening
I do have some advice for those of you thinking about fall gardening.
Related: How to grow an edible garden in the kitchen
Tip #1 Fall Gardening
My first piece of advice is that if you don’t plant, it won’t grow!
Gardening is an ACTION; you can think all day about how you would like some lovely radishes or lettuce.
However, if you don’t go outside and get your hands dirty, you won’t have either, at least not from your yard.
Tip #2 Fall Gardening
My second piece of advice is to not limit yourself to what you think you can grow and to try lots of different vegetable seeds.
I was unsure how Jerusalem Artichokes would do in our area, but they have done wonderfully!
We also grew some purple okra this past summer, which was just beautiful.
Tip #3 Fall Gardening
My third tip is to find a little space for a Fall herb garden.
There is something magical about growing herbs, as the scent from the garden will soothe your soul.
It’s similar to having a home apothecary; you can explore different home remedies using herbs.
My favorite herb is rosemary, which means “ remembrance,” and I treasure it.
I love to serve it with roasts or on my homemade crash potatoes, a Pioneer Woman’s Blog recipe.
The neat thing about herbs is that you can find so many uses, making them an enjoyable gardening item!
Gardening does not have to be an expensive pursuit.
Truthfully, we swap most of our seeds with local gardening friends.
Also, if you take the time to collect seeds from your plants, it’s a great way to save money.
With hybrid plants, you may or may not want to collect seeds. (if you are unfamiliar with hybrids)
It’s not that you can’t get a good plant to grow from them a second time.
There is no guarantee they are reliable for a second planting.
For that reason, please don’t stay away from hybrids.
I have a pepper plant that is five years old that is a hybrid that still produces.
Building Up Your Gardening Supplies
For a long time, we would just set aside $30.00 a month out of our budget for gardening supplies, which helped us stick to our plans and accomplish our goals.
Our first goal was to build our greenhouse, which we built for under $400.00 with mostly recycled materials.
If $30.00 a month is too much, start with $10.00.
A friend saves eggshells and milk cartons to start seeds whenever she plants a garden.
Related: How to start your frugal garden from seed
Suppose you are primarily interested in growing your food and becoming more self-sufficient.
In that case, I promise you vegetable plants are not picky or fussy, and you can find free containers everywhere.
Truthfully, your most expensive gardening items, in my opinion, are your shears, your gloves, your soil mix, and compost if you don’t have a free source of compost.
Related: How To Source Free Gardening Tools
There are tricks to it all, of course.
Adjust your watering at times, and if it’s raining too much, you may have to move some plants to shelter.
You will learn the defeat of dealing with squash borers and tomato blight, but we gardeners don’t give up.
Tomato blight is a disease that attacks the foliage and fruit of tomatoes, causing rotting.
It is most common in warm, wet weather and, in some years, can cause almost total yield loss, particularly of susceptible tomato cultivars grown outdoors.
The same pathogen also affects potatoes.
Fall Gardening Is Always A Surprise
My friend and I said the other day one of our favorite things about gardening is that you never know what kind of crop you will have; it’s always a surprise.
Conversely, it would not be so much fun if your life depended on the crop.
I hope we have inspired some would-be gardeners out there.
Please know you can stop by our Lil’ Suburban Homestead any time. I always look forward to seeing you!
Thanks so much, Mr. CBB, for having me here at Canadian Budget Binder.
It was a pleasure to write this post.
It reminded me of where we started and helped me to focus on where we are heading with our garden this Fall so as not to sound too cliché, “Go Grow Something!”
Fondly,
Karen Lynn
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We just planted some parsley and carrots yesterday to go along with our kale. We also just harvested ~15 tomatoes and still have some more to harvest from our summer crop. Growing is the way to go!
We really want to grow Kale next year but am not sure if we can plant it now in Ontario. I still need to do some homework on that. I will be planting spring onions and bringing in a pot of parsley as we have so much of it in the garden. We have plenty of tomatoes and peppers left as well, will be sorting it out all week. Cheers mate for dropping in. Mr.CBB
Mr. CBB kale does amazing here I would love to hear how it does for you and the Mrs! Oh and parsley does great here too. Sounds like you all had a fab garden this year!
Our herbs went wild this year…. I’m hoping to keep some of our egg cartons and start in early March from seed. Is it possible to start too soon and ruin everything?
Yes but its also possible in our area to start too late too timing is everything! I think it depends on your weather and do you have a protective area to protect from too much sun or too little sun and frost…..if you do no matter what you do or where you live its always a guessing game. I would follow the guidelines in the farmers almanac do they have that for Canada? 😉 I never paid attention I always just look for NC! We usually start in the greenhouse in January and Feb so I think March would be fine for you!
My father in law follows the moon… his garden is always amazing.
He is a wise man…that Farmers Almanac is magical!
I never knew that… we have a solarium so we can bring all our plants in.. we have a huge fig tree coming in.. and many other plants.
Thats awesome! Our figs did not do much this year production wise but we are thinking next year is the year of Figs!
I hope so.. we didn’t eat any but we had quite a few on the tree that were getting to size.
Thanks for the post. My wife and I were discussing this very topic the other day. We garden faithfully during the Spring and Summer but never have during the Fall. Just not certain what we can grow in our area during that time of year. We just have to do some research as to what we can grow in our area.
Ya, it really does depend on where you live and what will grow in your climate etc. I’ll be planting spring onions for sure. I’m like you though, still learning about where I live here in Ontario and what I can grow. I am bringing in all the plants this week and cleaning out the potted plants etc.. I have lots as we love flowers. Never ending owning a home…. Cheers mate. Mr.CBB
John I am not sure where you live…..we are in coastal North Carolina so we have sandy soil but I have family in upstate New York that can grow the most beautiful garlic because of the cold winters their. I cannot get garlic like that to save my life here so I harvest the garlic scapes and enjoy them! My understanding is that cabbage loves it cold too although our cabbage does fine here if you beat the ants to it!
Great post. Mr. Canuck Buck has booked the last week in October off and is going to start digging out a garden for me. Knowledge is so important, so we’ll be calling on my parents for all of theirs!
I’ll be doing that this week while I am home.. then off to work I go.. it never ends…Thanks for dropping in mate. Mr.CBB
Very smart to call the parents 🙂 This is why we connect with other more experienced gardeners locally some of them are even commercial gardeners.
I think I’m not mentally there for fall, but I did promise my daughter we’d try to grow some corn next summer. The thought of a whole garden overwhelms me, but maybe if we start small, we can ease into it.
Hmm not sure about the corn part for us… seems too stalky in our yard, but we don’t have a massive yard. Growing is not that bad… it’s the maintenance of the garden, weeding, watering.. but it’s all worth it when you take that first smell of your organic veg, then your fist bite.. ahhh… cheers mate.. thanks for dropping in Kim! Mr.CBB
We cannot grow corn at all! It just doesn’t like the sandy soil and its really cumbersome for pots and containers. Kim if I may suggest one of the things I did and its a fun fall activity for you and your daughter is do an herb garden on your window sill. I think I am going to do one again this year….if nothing else plant a pizza garden. Put some basil, oregano, and a sweet pepper plant to start with! 🙂 Anyway I totally understand about being overwhelmed I work in IT for a local school system and when I am not doing that my son is a Varsity football player but I would love to hear if you ever decide to take the plunge….my friend always tells me in regards to me excercising more…baby steps Karen 😉
We garden but honestly right now it’s more of a hobby than an actual money saver since a lot of our stuff seems to die…haha. We are learning though! And we both really enjoy it. I am hoping eventually the costs will even out…
For the most part we grow only what we would buy in the shops but you can’t compare pricing as organic in the shops cost a fortune. Start out small and build your way up but it is some work… watering is the hard part lol… Mrs.CBB always kills plants so I’m always in charge. Cheers for dropping in… awesome blog you have… babies, babies, babies…. 🙂 Mr.CBB
Great this is where this all starts figuring out what you are good at growing and what you are not. Some things just won’t grow in your area we learned that for sure. Don’t get disheartened and persevere! You guys will surprise yourselves I just know it!
If I had any semblance of a green thumb I would so do a fall garden!
If Mrs.CBB who kills everything can grow mint, basil and tomatoes anyone can do it.. lol… the hard part like I mentioned to Newlyweds on a budget is remembering to water. Cheers for droppin in mate.. been a while .. awesome site you have! Cheers Mr.CBB
I have to say I am not a natural at gardening for sure. I had to work at it and learn a lot about it so I always say if I can do it anyone can….to echo Mr. CBB’s sentiments 🙂
I am trying brussels sprouts this year for the first time which are harvested in the fall. I never gardened until 3 years ago when I wanted to try it with my young daughter as something we could do together and watch grow. We have enjoyed it and learned a few things over these years. I still have a ton to learn and have stuck to a small garden but we are hoping to expand a little next year. I love your advice to try different seeds and not limit yourself, my only limitation is space. Next year I plan on starting from seeds, this year I bought plants, and taking your advice on the herbs. I haven’t planted herbs before, but looking at all the posts from Mr. CBB about how easy it is and the great added flavour it adds it is definitely something we will be adding next year. I do enjoy reading your guest posts Karen and look forward to reading more of them.
I’ve heard that things like carrots and other root crops will be OK if you can mulch heavily over them…. I want to try to grow some salad greens inside in the plant stand, under the lights. I have catmint and lavender in the back garden, smells great and the local furballs love the cat mint!! Lol!! We have a very small yard and are at the bottom of a hill so we put in raised beds around the edges as nothing would go, even the weeds turned their noses up!! The perennials are growing great and will need to be divided next year, assuming I can find homes for the little darlings. I have collected some seeds from the annuals in the pots and hanging baskets we have to try to grow more next year. I’ll start those Feb/March or there about. Most annuals you can figure anywhere from 6-8weeks to maybe 12 weeks before the last frost date to start. The information should be on seed packages when they show up in the stores. Or check things like gardening books or websites that sell the seeds… Stokes seed is awesome for info on planting on the seed packs……Good luck…
Yes, we normally start end of Feb early March to grow from seed. This year worked out great. This week the plan is to start ripping the yard apart. Fun job… cheers Christine. Mr.CBB
Very cool! We have a little patio garden but I’ve only grown flowers so far. I may venture into food next season. I have a friend that has grown peppers from the seeds she got out of the fruit she bought and ate from the grocery store!
That would be awesome if it were that easy. I need to learn more about seeds. I’m going out to the garden tomorrow to see what I can find for seeds and start getting the garden ready for winter. Thanks for dropping in FF. Cheers Mr.CBB
Nice post!
We wrote about our SFG earlier this year. I love gardening, just wish I was better at it! 🙂
http://www.myownadvisor.ca/2012/07/investing-in-our-health-july-update-on-square-foot-garden/
I used to love growing my own fruits, veggies and herbs.
Since we got our dog we have been unable to grow anything as he will go and eat it the minute it starts to ripen or emit any type of odor.
We have tried to keep him out with chicken wire and fencing but the little bugger always finds a way in while we are at work. The only thing left standing is an avocado plant which I grew from seed, it seems to be the only thing he leaves alone.
Same here it’s tough with the dog so we have to try and keep our dog away. You can never win, can you. You are right we should start putting our pets to work while we are gone.. even picking or digging weeds will work. LOL Mr.CBB
I’ve started growing tomato plants in our greenhouse in the back garden, not only do you have money but it’s a great hobby! 🙂
I wish we had a greenhouse, that would be awesome. Good for you. Mr.CBB
Thanks Mr. CBB! 🙂 you should try and pick one up yourself, you can buy smaller scale ones too which can sit on the side cabinet in your kitchen.
I might just do that, great idea! Cheers Mr.CBB
Very Cool! I;m hosting a giveaway of Heirloom Garden seeds for a Salsa Garden. Perfect timing! My own garden has seen ups and downs this year with the heat and lack of rain. The Basil did AMAZING!
I love it when people come together and share thoughts.
Great website, stick with it!
Why thank-you very much. Cheers Mr.CBB