September 17, 2025

From Coast to Valley: Fall Planting in California

As summer winds down and cooler weather strolls in, our vegetable gardens settle into their Fall groove. At Revival Roots Nursery, this is one of our favorite times of year, the switch to Fall plantings. While the rest of the country may be packing up their gardens, California gives us the gift of year-round growing. The trick is understanding your microclimate and giving your soil the reset it deserves.

Fall harvests can often be even more abundant than summer ones. You might still have peppers hanging around, slowly turning color, let them shine a little longer if they want. Now is the perfect time to give your garden a head start with hardy winter greens - kales, collards, and other cool-season staples that can handle a touch of leftover heat as they establish. A small shift now sets you up for a thriving Fall and Winter harvest.

California’s Many Microclimates

One of the joys (and challenges!) of gardening here is that no two backyards are alike. We’ve got:

Coastal Zones: Cooler air, a steady marine layer, and mild temperatures make for a gentle transition into fall. While the rest of the state cools down, the coast stays relatively stable - perfect for slow, steady growth.
Inland Neighborhoods: These areas often hold onto summer heat longer than expected, with warm days lingering well into fall. It's a great time to sneak in one more round of warm-season crops or start hardier greens that can handle the transition.
Valleys: Valleys experience wide temperature swings, hot days followed by crisp, cool nights. This fluctuation can actually work in your favor for fall crops that prefer cooler nights to develop flavor and color.
Mountains and Foothills: The shift to fall happens fast here, with colder nights and early frosts on the horizon. The window for planting is a bit shorter, so it’s best to stick with quick-growing or cold-hardy crops that can handle a light freeze.
Desert Regions: Fall brings much-needed relief from extreme summer heat, but swings between hot days and cool evenings can still be intense. Stick to tough, adaptable crops that can handle the change.

Knowing your microclimate helps you time your fall plantings perfectly, whether you’re sneaking in one last round of heat-lovers or diving right into cool-season crops.

Preparing Your Garden Beds

Before planting, take a little time to refresh your soil. Summer crops are heavy feeders, so your garden is ready for a recharge. We recommend a few simple tips:

Amending the soil with compost to bring back life and texture.
Adding nutrients, like a balanced organic fertilizer to support healthy new growth.
Checking irrigation now is the perfect moment to adjust, repair, or even upgrade to a drip system if you’re looking for water efficiency and ease of use.

Coming Soon to the Nursery

Fall is the season when brassicas and leafy greens take center stage, and we’re excited to share the new varieties about to hit our shelves. From stunning heirloom cabbages to nutrient-rich kales and striking Romanesco cauliflower, our upcoming lineup is as beautiful as it is delicious.

Brussels Sprouts – A gardener’s slow-burn reward. These sturdy stalks produce bite-sized gems that sweeten up as the weather cools, perfect for roasting or sautéing.
Purple Broccoli – A striking twist on the classic, with tender florets in a deep violet hue. Not only eye-catching in the garden, but it also holds onto its rich color when lightly cooked.
Red Sorrel – A tangy green with ruby-red veins that add a lemony brightness to salads, soups, or sautés. It’s as ornamental as it is flavorful.
Heirloom Cabbages – From dense, lightly savoyed violet and green leaves, these traditional varieties bring old-world charm and rich flavor for everything from slaws to ferments.
Cauliflower in Multiple Colors – Beyond the classic white, you’ll find golden yellows, striking oranges, and vivid purples. Each variety brings a slightly different flavor and texture, making them just as exciting to cook with as they are to admire in the garden.

Why Plant in Fall?

Fall gardening is quieter, easier on the plants (and the gardener), and incredibly rewarding. Cooler weather means fewer pests, steadier growth, and harvests that carry you right into winter. It’s a season of abundance that many overlook, but here in California, it’s ours to enjoy.

Keep an eye out for our emails, and be sure to subscribe to stay in the loop, where we’ll share when new varieties arrive. We grow in small batches throughout the season to ensure every plant thrives in your garden. Alongside the exciting newcomers, you’ll always find the classics: kales, cabbages, and other cool-season greens.

At Revival Roots Nursery, we’re here to make the transition into fall smooth and exciting. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just planting your first raised bed, our seedlings are ready for their new home. Get ready to pick your fall favorites, our next wave of seedlings is coming soon, and they’ll keep your garden growing strong all season long!