8 Vegetables to Grow in Fall Container Gardens
Growing vegetables in container gardens in the fall and winter can keep your kitchen thriving through the months when your local farmers markets and grocery stores are stocking wimpy, high-priced imported veggies. Choosing the right vegetables to grow on your porch or balcony makes all the difference in keeping your kitchen freshly stocked throughout the year, no matter what the temperature is. Here are eight vegetables to try planting in your fall container garden (update: don’t forget to check out our indoor grow kits picks down below for year-round herbs, veggies and leafy greens!).
Greens and root herbs are the way to go with fall gardening. When you plant in September or early October, germination can actually happen more quickly since the ground is still warm. However, you may need to wait a few extra weeks for maturation if you’re in a cold winter climate. Some of the best plants to grow in your fall containers are these hearty greens and herbs:
1. Arugula: These greens are so hearty, they’re incredibly easy to grow. And since they’re also super expensive at the grocery store, growing them at home is both tasty and frugal. Arugula is great in fresh green salads or on sandwiches instead of lettuce.
2. Garlic: This root herb is a MUST in cold winter climates like the Northeast. These hearty little bulbs can thrive underground or deep in a container even under a layer of frost. And fresh garlic has so many uses in your kitchen, you’ll never grow tired of these beauties. If you are low on space, you can even plant a small container inside your kitchen using just one clove of garlic! The clove will sprout and multiply in very small spaces. You should also try out windowsill gardening if you’re tight on space for your kitchen garden.
3. Kale: A hearty and lovely green, kale thrives in fall and winter in all but the coldest climates. It’s somewhat cold tolerant, so it will survive early winter gales. But bring it inside if the frost is persistent for several weeks in a row. If you’re not sure whether this will work in your climate zone, check fall gardening guidelines by zone.
4. Spinach: Another hearty green, spinach is a favorite for salads and savory baked meals alike. Spinach won’t survive the harsh winters of the Northeast, but will tough it out through the seasons in the rest of the U.S.
5. Asparagus: Both asparagus and brussels sprouts are long-term projects (think: a couple of years in your garden before yielding edible veggies). But, fall gardening is a great time to start these plants out. Start them now, when you have less containers to deal with and you’ll be able to give them a little extra attention. And, in a couple of years, you’ll have delicious asparagus to grill in the summer months.
6. BrusselsSprouts: These sprouts are a favorite in roasted winter vegetable mixes. They’ve gotten a bad rap over the years as an undesirable vegetable for picky kids. But roast them in a hot oven and let them caramelize a bit and you’ll swear you always loved these sweet tiny cabbage-like treats.
7. Turnips: Root vegetables are a great choice for the cooler container gardening months. Deep in the soil of your larger container pots, turnips will keep warm and thrive. And they’re also a great addition to those oven-roasted winter vegetable mixes.
8. Carrots: A family favorite, carrots survive larger containers by keeping warm deep in the soil. If it’s possible, you might even try burying your container in the soil to keep it even warmer. Carrots are great raw or roasted or even grated into sweet treats like carrot cake and muffins.
If you have more space for a full fall vegetable garden, see what else you can plant this season. Don’t pay too much for your vegetables because you think gardening is only for spring and summer! With these eight fall vegetables on your list, you’ll have a thriving container garden to get you through the tough (and expensive) months at your farmers’ markets and grocery stores.
Update: Considering the times we live in (you know…global pandemic and all), you might want to take your green thumb one step further and invest in an indoor grow kit. These units liven up your indoor spaces (quite literally) while supplementing your produce runs. Trust us, they are worth the investment!
Indoor Grow Kits for Year-Round Herbs, Veggies & Leafy Greens
Our team researched far and wide to find indoor grow kits. Purchases made after clicking our links, may earn Organic Authority a commission, which goes a long way to support the good work our team does – as well as our Valrhona Chocolate habit!

Having a “green thumb” has never been easier. With the Smart Garden 27, you can grow fresh, organic food all year round without worrying about which region you are in. This vertical shelf unit comes with three self-watering Smart Garden 9s which can be smartly stacked to maximize vertical space and add a little green to your home.
Shop: The Smart Garden 27
Click and Grow

You can grow up to 24 plants five times faster with the AeroGarden Farm Family (available in standard, plus, and XL sizes). Each system comes with two adjustable height full spectrum 60W LED lights, which allow you to maximize vertical grow space. And did we mention it only takes up three square feet of space? Now you can skip the produce aisle and grow what you need: lettuce, vegetables, herbs and more…
Shop the AeroGarden Farm Family.
AeroGarden

Available in 12-plant, 18-plant and 24-plant units, these hydroponic farm stands are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. The footprint of each unit is only 4 square feet and utilizes 95% less water while optimizing yields on an accelerated grow time. Don’t let the upfront cost scare you, when compared to the price of organic produce, you’ll save more money in the long run as each refill pod is only $2.25 – the math checks out!
And if you plan on growing your own produce indoors past the traditional growing season – a good idea during the pandemic – we highly recommend pre-ordering these indoor LED Halo Glow Rings to ensure delivery by October.
Shop: The Farmstand | PRE-ORDER Glow Rings
Lettuce Grow

This indoor system brings new meaning to “living space” and is designed for both form and function. Whether you live in an apartment or house, this unit is made to be placed right into your home. Grow up to 12 herbs and leafy greens at a time without worrying about seasons, planting zones, or weather. And if you’re serious about growing as much of your own produce as possible, consider buying these adaptors from Aerogarden for stacking two Miracle-Gro Twelve Indoor Systems.
Shop: Miracle-Gro Twelve Indoor Growing System | Miracle-Gro Twelve Stacking Kit
Home Depot
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