As the final week of my collaboration with Victoria over at The Young Homestead approaches, I’m delighted to share a glimpse into one of my favorite pastimes: planting an autumn garden. Living in France’s beautiful Loire Valley has given me ample opportunity to embrace gardening, a soulful activity that’s more than just planting seeds. With every handful of soil, every earthworm that wriggles by, and each leaf that flourishes, I’ve found a personal sanctuary—a place to cultivate both food and well-being.
I’m fortunate to be in a growing zone that stretches our planting season well into fall. With a little preparation and the right plant choices, an autumn garden can bring fresh, delicious produce even as temperatures drop. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or completely new to it, I hope this guide offers the inspiration and tips you need to get started this season.
Practical Planting
When planning an autumn garden, I always focus on choosing vegetables and herbs that are not only hardy enough for cooler weather but that also make sense for our family’s needs. After years of experimentation, I’ve realized the value of practicality in gardening. For me, that means hearty greens like lettuce and cabbage, which find their way into our meals in countless ways. Lettuce is a staple in Green Gold, my favorite juice blend, and cabbage has become essential for the sauerkraut we make every month. There’s a certain joy in knowing that our sauerkraut isn’t just homemade but home-grown, with ingredients pulled straight from our garden.
For newcomers, choosing practical plants for your kitchen can help build confidence. Pick one or two vegetables or herbs you use frequently, and start there. They’re not only easier to grow than fussier plants but will also save you trips to the store once they’re thriving in your own backyard.
Power of Herbs
Two herbs I can’t go without in my autumn garden are rosemary and parsley. Each brings unique flavors to our meals and offers health benefits beyond the kitchen. Rosemary, with its woody aroma, is fantastic for both cooking and medicinal uses. It’s a staple in broths and stews, but I also love it in teas for its calming effects and in homemade oil infusions for its reputed skin benefits. As the weather cools, rosemary’s scent and taste add warmth to our meals, making it a perfect autumn addition.
Parsley is another unsung hero of the garden. Often overlooked, it’s packed with vitamins A, C, and K, giving our immune systems a boost as we head into the colder months. Whether tossed into soups or finely chopped into sauces, parsley’s fresh, green flavor adds brightness to dishes that other autumn produce often lacks. And, like rosemary, it’s incredibly hardy, making it ideal for fall gardening.
unique flavors to our meals and offers health benefits beyond the kitchen
Building a Solid Foundation
For a successful garden, nothing is more critical than healthy soil. And for me, that means composting. We’ve been composting for years, and I swear by it as the foundation of our garden’s success. I find that scraps from our juicing—like leftover greens and veggie peels—make particularly nutrient-rich compost. Composting creates a cycle that sustains both the soil and our garden. As organic matter breaks down, it feeds our plants with the nutrients they need, which in turn nourishes our family with fresher, richer produce.
If you’re new to composting, autumn is an ideal time to start. Fallen leaves, old plant clippings, and vegetable scraps from your kitchen all make excellent compost material. By spring, this blend of greens and browns will break down into rich, dark soil that you can add back into your garden beds, ensuring your next growing season is off to a strong start.
Learn more in related article: Food & Wine
Preparing the Garden Beds
Autumn brings a chance to refresh your garden bed by cleaning out old summer plants and readying the soil for cool-weather crops. Remove any dead or diseased plants, as they can carry pests and diseases that could harm your new seedlings. Adding a layer of compost or aged manure will enrich the soil and provide your autumn plants with the nutrients they’ll need for healthy growth.
In the Loire Valley, where the climate is mild, I spend time aerating the soil, which promotes good drainage and root development. This step is particularly important for root vegetables and leafy greens, as it allows them to access the nutrients they need without competing with leftover roots or debris from summer crops. Taking a bit of time to prepare your garden bed properly can make a big difference in your plants’ success throughout the season
Transferring Your Starts
Once your garden bed is prepped, it’s time to transfer your starts, which can be a delicate process. Whether you’ve grown your seedlings yourself or picked up starts from a local farmers market, giving them a good start in your garden bed is essential. I actually learned a method from a seasoned flower gardener who produces breathtaking peonies each year, and it’s worked wonders for me.
- Dig a Generous Hole: Begin by digging a hole deep and wide enough to give your plant’s roots plenty of space to spread. This room is crucial for allowing the roots to anchor firmly and access moisture effectively.
2. Create a “Mud Soup”: Next, fill the hole completely with water. Think of it as creating a small muddy pool, as if you were a kid at the beach digging in the sand and filling it up. Let the water settle in, so the surrounding soil is thoroughly soaked and ready to support the young plant.
3. Set the Plant Gently: Place your start into this muddy “soup,” making sure it sits firmly in place without packing the soil too tightly. This soupy environment cushions the roots and gives them immediate access to moisture, which helps reduce transplant shock. Be gentle but ensure the plant is stable.
4. Tend to Your New Starts: For the first week or so, water your transplanted starts daily. Keep an eye out for any leaves that may begin to wilt or brown—prune these to encourage healthy growth and direct the plant’s energy toward establishing itself. And watch for insects; young plants can be susceptible to getting overrun.
Embracing the Urban Homesteading Life
Throughout this collaboration with The Young Homestead, I’ve wanted to show that homesteading is possible no matter where you live. Our urban homestead here in France may not be large, but it’s a space where we can grow a bit of what we eat and reconnect with the cycles of nature. Gardening, even on a small scale, has taught me valuable skills that I use every day, and it has grounded our family in the simplest joys of self-sufficiency.
So, if you’re thinking about starting a garden, know that even a few potted herbs or a small raised bed can make a difference. The act of growing something—whether it’s lettuce, parsley, or rosemary—offers a sense of fulfillment that’s hard to replicate. And each time you reach for fresh herbs in your kitchen or harvest a batch of greens, you’ll feel the connection to your garden and all the effort you’ve invested.
Wrapping Up the Season
Gardening in autumn is an invitation to slow down, connect with nature, and savor the season. Whether you’re cultivating vegetables, herbs, or just learning the art of composting, you’re contributing to a cycle that sustains your home, feeds your body, and nourishes your spirit. So here’s to planting with purpose, embracing the beauty of fall, and finding joy in the garden—no matter where you are or how big (or small) your garden may be.
Happy planting!
