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Don’t scroll through seed catalogs and wish you had planted earlier. October is not too late, it’s actually perfect for some of the easiest crops to grow. While your neighbors are saying goodbye to their gardens, you will be able to get the earliest harvests and the best spring displays on the block.

Fall planting or \”reverse seasonal gardening\” is an easier way to grow a garden. Instead of focusing on summer heat, the seeds can develop a strong root system over the winter. In spring when everyone is planting their summer gardens, you’ll be able to start harvesting. You’ll be able to grow sugar snap peas, spinach, garlic, and pansies long before everyone else and it’s guaranteed to taste sweeter than anything you’ve grown.

To fully bloom, these 12 flowers and vegetables need to be planted in the fall.

1. Garlic

Garlic that is planted in October will produce larger bulbs and more flavorful than anything that can be grown from spring planting. The chilly temperatures trigger adequate bulb creation and fall planting allows garlic to be one of the first crops to sprout come spring. Hardneck types grow garlic scapes in the summer. These are harvestable stalks that are edible and provide a nice preview of the garlic harvest to come.

2. Spinach

The flavor of fall-planted spinach actually improves after the leaves are touched by a light frost. That’s what makes growing spinach at the end of the growing season so great! Fall spinach lasts longer than spring spinach, since spring spinach tends to bolt as soon as the weather warms up. However, cooler temps slow weed growth and reduce pest populations which helps fall-planted spinach leaves to be more tender, stronger, and more plentiful.

3. Kale

The starches in kale leaves are converted to sugars after several nights of frost making the taste of this leafy green incredibly sweet. The cool weather is responsible for increasing the observed sweetness and tenderness of kale. These traits will not develop in spring and summer plantings. Some varieties of kale are able to survive temps as low as the teens and are able to be harvested during the whole fall and winter.

4. Pansies

Pansies are one of the most durable flowers that can be planted in early Fall, as they are able to build strong root systems prior to the winter months. This self-generating flower can survive frost and even single-digit temperatures, showing new growth in the late Fall and early Winter. When the Winter season ends and early Spring months of February and March come around, expect a surprise. Pansies may have doubled in size in a matter of days and will also be a variety of bright colors.

5. Violas

Compared to pansies, violas can survive colder and warmer weather, and will produce more flowers on smaller plants from autumn to spring in warmer regions. The flowers, along with the leaves, are edible, and the high vitamin A and C content makes them great as garnishes or toppings for salads. Planting in the fall helps violas develop roots in warmer soil, which supports amazing growth for the following spring.

6. Carrots

When pulled from the ground, winter carrots are sweeter and tastier than the carrots that are harvested in spring or summer. This in part is due to the fact that the cold soil causes the carrots to \”sugar\” (turn starch into sugar) as well as causes the carrots to enhance their flavor and crunch. Breeders developed some carrot varieties that are bred for fall and winter seasons that are specifically designed to have significantly improved flavor after the first frost.

7. Turnips

Carrots, parsnips, and beets that are planted at the end of summer are expected to be sweeter and less fibrous than those same crops planted in the spring. Livestock and other pests will minimize damage by being less active during the fall. After a few light frosts, turnips are expected to taste sweeter and many gardeners delay harvesting until after several frosts to maximize the flavor. Young leaves (from turnips, carrots, etc.) are especially tender and tasty.

8. Lettuce

Lettuce planted in the fall will grow tender, crisp leaves all the way until the ground freezes and will not bolt like spring planted lettuce will. The cooler temperatures dramatically reduce the amount of pests and weeds allowing the lettuce to grow with much less competition. During the fall multiple phases of growth can be harvested from tiny seedlings to large heads from many different types of lettuce.

9. Peas

Peas, when grown during cooler seasons, develop a sweeter taste. They are also easier to grow when the soil is cool, making fall planting the best time to sow pea seeds. During the fall, the roots of the pea plants will become stronger as they grow without facing much weed competition, pest issues, or disease pressure. If you plant your peas in October, they will be one of your earliest harvests of the spring.

10. Broccoli

For best results while growing broccoli, make sure it gets plenty of sun and is in soil that is slightly acidic and rich in organic matter. Growing fall crops is typically easier than growing spring crops as seedlings are heat tolerant. However, the seedlings will need cooler temperatures when they reach the mature stage. If this doesn’t happen, the seedlings will bolt and become bitter. To harvest broccoli before the first fall freeze, plant it in mid-August and make sure it gets weekly watering.

11. Shallots

You can grow shallots from the allium family, like garlic and onions, that are ready to harvest by mid-summer if you plant them in September. There are softneck and hardneck varieties. After harvesting shallots in early spring, you can replant the largest one the next year to restart your crop.

12. Arugula

Arugula grows quickly from seed, with baby leaves ready for harvesting in 4 to 6 weeks, faster if using transplants, and it has better cold tolerance than lettuce. This spicy green can be broadcast seeded, or planted as seedlings for fast additions to fall salads. The peppery flavor intensifies in cooler weather, adding kick to salads and sandwiches.

Timing Your Fall Planting

Due to winter dormancy, plant roots can develop and grow strong with the warm ground during parts of fall. Planting after the autumn equinox in late September is the best option. This allows roots to establish before the ground freezes. Northern gardeners should start early August and southern climates can plant as late as mid November.

Soil Preparation

Prior to planting, a layer of rich and loose soil, compost, aged manure, and good draining soil is needed. Make sure large lumps are gone because seeds need contact with soil. Mix a balanced fertilizer to replenish the nutrients in the soil that were used.

Protection and Care

Protection to an extent is provided by mini hoop tunnels and cold frames. Mulch will help control the weeds, regulate temperature, and keep the moisture in the soil. Dry roots can freeze damaging them. When temperatures drop be sure to cover the tender plants with a frost cloth. During the day be sure to remove the cover to allow air circulation.

Fruits of your labor will be worth the wait. Sweeter, stronger, and earlier harvests are all the result from fall planting. With the work half done by the cool weather, when spring arrives you will be weeks ahead of every other gardener.