Plant these Vegetables in Summer for a Fall Harvest

By Melinda Myers - horticulturist and gardening expert
July 19, 2025

It’s not too late to plant, grow and enjoy fresh from the garden or garden container vegetables. Fill in empty spaces or replant rows of early vegetable plantings that have already been harvested. Look for other spaces in flowerbeds, mixed borders and containers that have room to grow a few vegetables.

ruby red lettuce in garden

Start Counting Frost-Free Days

Calculate the number of frost-free days left in your growing season. You’ll find frost dates for your location online, in extension publications, and from other gardening resources.  This date varies from year to year and from one neighborhood to the next. Gardens in the warmer urban heat islands are usually the last to suffer, while those growing in low spots or rural areas are the first to be damaged.

Count the number of days until the average first fall frost for your area. Next, check the plant tag or seed packet to find out how many days that plant needs to grow and produce. Keep in mind that the number of days to harvest varies based on the variety grown and the weather conditions. Cooler summers may delay the harvest, while warmer temperatures may shorten the time to the harvest. Let's use bush beans, for example, with a variety that needs an average of 50 to 60 days to mature and begin producing. Add a little extra time for the harvest period. We will need about 75 days to grow and harvest these bush beans before the first killing frost. Compare this figure to the number of days remaining in your growing season

Vegetables to Plant in Mid to Late Summer

Select vegetables suitable for your growing conditions that will be ready to harvest in the days remaining in your growing season. All vegetables prefer full sun, but root crops like beets and radishes will tolerate some shade, and greens like lettuce are the most shade-tolerant. Some vegetables like lettuce, beets, and peas will tolerate a light frost, and others like broccoli taste even better after being touched by frost.

harvesting kale

Shorten the time from planting to harvest by starting with transplants. This is especially helpful for those gardening in an area with a shorter growing season and for plants that take longer to reach maturity. Some garden centers sell transplants in the middle of summer for just this purpose. If yours doesn’t, consider asking them to do so. They might be willing to provide mid-summer transplants if enough gardeners express interest in purchasing them.

Here are 20 vegetables you can plant in the garden in summer for a fall harvest:

Vegetable – Average Number of Days from seed to Harvest – Cold/Frost tolerance

Basil - 30 to 60 days – killed by frost

Beets   - 50 to 60 days  -  28 to 32º F

Bush Beans – 45 to 65 days – killed by frost

Broccoli - 58 to 75+ days - 26 to 32º F

Cabbage – 50 to 90 days – 24 to 28º F

Carrots – 50 to 70 days – 28 to 32º F

Cauliflower – 60 to 80 days – 28 to 32º F

Cilantro – 60 to 70 days – 28 to 32º F

Collard Greens– 40 to 65 days 24 to 28º F

Cucumbers -    50 to 70 days – killed by frost

Kale - 40 to 65 days – 24 to 28º F

Kohlrabi – 50 to 60 days – 24 to 28º F

Leaf Lettuce – 40 to 60 days – 28 to 32º F

Mustard Greens 30 to 40 days – 28 to 32º F

Onions, green 60 to 70 days – 28 to 32º F

Peas – 70 to 80 days – 28 to 32º F

Radishes – 30 to 60 days – continue harvesting until ground freezes

Spinach 35 to 45 days – 28 to 32º F

Swiss Chard 40 to 60 days – 28 to 32º F

Turnips 50 to 60 days – 24 to 28º F

Prepare the Soil, Plant & Provide Proper Care

Get the most out of your summer plantings by preparing the soil before planting seeds and transplants.  Remove any plant debris left from the previous planting. Add any of these that are free of insect pests and disease to your compost pile. Mix an inch of quality compost and Milorganite low-nitrogen slow-release fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil. You’ll improve the soil and feed your plants throughout the remainder of the season. Milorganite won’t burn seedlings and transplants even when the weather is hot and dry, and the non-leaching phosphorus promotes root development, flowering, and fruiting. Plus, the 85% organic matter in Milorganite helps feed the soil as well as your plants.

You may need to wait for the soil to cool before planting lettuce and other vegetable seeds that require cooler temperatures to germinate. Or start the plants indoors and move them into the garden as transplants during hot weather. Shading the soil can also help these heat-sensitive seeds break dormancy to sprout and grow.

sowing seeds in the garden

Once your seeds and transplants are in the ground, be sure to water properly.  Keep the seedbed and roots of transplants moist the first few weeks. Gradually reduce watering frequency as seedlings sprout and grow and transplants become established. Water thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are crumbly and slightly moist.

Apply a layer of shredded leaves, evergreen needles or other organic mulch over the soil surface around your summer planting. It helps conserve moisture, keep roots cool and moist, and suppress weeds.

Extend the Harvest Season

Don’t let the first fall frost end your garden season.  The first frosty days of fall are often followed by warm weather perfect for the vegetables and you. Give your plants a bit of protection and gain several weeks of beauty and pounds of harvest for your efforts.

Simply cover plants with a sheet or lightweight blanket in late afternoon whenever frost is in the forecast.  Protect individual plants with rose cones or 5-gallon buckets.  Cut away the bottom of a milk jug and use it to cover small plants.  Remove the frost covering in the morning once temperatures rise above freezing. Keep them handy to cover your plants on the next frosty night.

Cold frames are often used to jump-start the season, harden off transplants, and extend the growing season. You can make your own or purchase one online or from a local retailer. Vent them on warm sunny days and close the lids when frost is in the forecast.

floating covers on vegetables

I am a fan of floating row cover fabrics designed to let air, light, and water through to the plants while protecting them from frost. They are easy to use, reusable and no construction is needed. You can find them in different sizes and weights, providing different levels of protection. Just loosely cover the plants with the fabric and anchor the edges with stones, boards, or landscape pins. Lift the fabric to harvest, recover and leave in place until the harvest is complete or temperatures drop below what the row cover and plants can handle.

Containers are another way to extend the season. Just move the plants into the garage or other protected location when frost is in the forecast. Then place it back outside when temperatures are safe.  Many gardeners, myself included, bring some of our plants indoors to grow in a sunny window or under artificial lights. There is nothing better than picking a few peppers, tomatoes or greens when it is snowing outside.

So, check your calendar, seed packets, and plant tags and get busy planting.