Fall Garden Planting Guide for Zone 5: What to Plant & How to Get Ready

Just because summer is winding down doesn’t mean your garden season is over. In Zone 5 (as in Wisconsin), late summer and early fall are the ideal times to plant cool-season vegetables that thrive as temperatures drop. With a bit of planning, you can enjoy fresh greens, root crops, and herbs well into October—sometimes even longer with the right protection.

Radishes get sweeter with the cooler temps

Step 1: Refresh Your Garden Beds for Fall Planting

Before you sow new seeds, prep your space:

• Clear out spent plants and weeds to make room for fresh crops.

• Loosen and amend your soil with compost or organic fertilizer to give your plants a boost.

• Check your watering setup. Fall can still have dry spells, so make sure your beds stay evenly moist.

Step 2: What to Plant in a Fall Garden (Zone 5)

Choose fast-growing, cool-weather crops that can mature before your first hard frost (usually mid-October in Wisconsin). Many of these vegetables actually taste sweeter after a light frost!

Best Vegetables to Plant for a Zone 5 Fall Garden:

• Leafy Greens: Lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, Swiss chard.

• Root Vegetables: Radishes, carrots, beets, turnips.

• Brassicas (Cabbage Family): Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage (transplants work best).

• Cool-Loving Herbs: Cilantro, dill, parsley (all thrive in cooler temperatures).

• Garlic: Plant in October for a summer harvest next year.

Step 3: Protect Your Fall Vegetables from Cold Nights

Cool nights can arrive earlier than expected, but you can extend your harvest with a few simple tricks:

• Use row covers or cold frames to hold in heat and keep frost off your plants.

• Mulch around plants to regulate soil temperature and conserve moisture.

• Have frost cloth or sheets handy for those first unexpected chilly nights. (Buy them before you need them!

  
  

Fresh kale is delish in fall soups.

Why Grow a Fall Vegetable Garden? (Also why I love it!)

Planting a fall garden means:

• Fewer pests and weeds.

• Less watering than summer crops.

• Better flavor (cool weather brings out natural sweetness).

• Fresh, homegrown produce long after most gardens are done for the year.

Zone 5 Fall Planting Calendar

(For Wisconsin and similar climates — adjust by 1–2 weeks based on your local frost date.)

This is a ballpark calendar and so much depends on the weather and your microclimates.

Crop	When to Plant (Direct Seed or Transplant)	Days to Harvest (Approx.)	Notes
Lettuce	Aug 1 – Sept 1	30–50	Plant every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest. Protect with row cover if needed.
Spinach	Aug 1 – Sept 15	35–45	Can overwinter under protection and come back in early spring.
Arugula	Aug 15 – Sept 15	20–40	Quick-growing and frost-tolerant.
Kale & Swiss Chard	Aug 1 – Aug 31	50–60	Start with seedlings for faster harvest. Very frost-hardy.
Radishes	Aug 15 – Sept 20	20–30	Super quick; plant in succession every 1–2 weeks.
Carrots	Aug 1 – Aug 15	60–80	Mulch heavily; harvest into late fall or leave in ground under cover.
Beets	Aug 1 – Aug 20	55–65	Leaves are edible too! Harvest roots before hard freeze.
Turnips	Aug 15 – Sept 10	40–60	Sweetens after a light frost.
Broccoli & Cabbage (Transplants)	July 20 – Aug 10	60–80	Use nursery starts for best results this late in the season.
Cilantro, Dill, Parsley	Aug 15 – Sept 10	40–60	All prefer cooler temps and can survive light frosts.
Garlic (for next year’s harvest)	Oct 1 – Oct 31	Harvest next July	Plant individual cloves, mulch well over winter.

Start Your Fall Garden This Weekend

Clear your beds, grab some seeds or transplants, and get growing! With the right crops and a little prep, your Zone 5 fall garden can keep your kitchen stocked with fresh veggies well into the cool months.