Ah, Fall! Cooler temperatures, the crisp snap of leaves underfoot, and steaming bowls of butternut squash soup. It’s also time for Philly’s Community Gardens to begin their fall plantings. We checked in with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Community Gardens they support to see what’s happening. Whether you belong to a Community Garden or have a container garden on your terrace, here are tips for a successful fall harvest.

Sally McCabe, PHS Associate Director of Community Education, suggests sowing fall crops before October 10th while the soil is still warm enough for seed germination. “Crops sown before then have the best chance to mature before the first hard frost,” said McCabe. “Fall gardening isn’t just about extending the season; it’s about discovering some of the best, sweetest, and most satisfying flavors of the year.”

Since 2009, Old Tennis Court Farm (OTCF), adjacent to Cloverly Park in Germantown, has brought together a diverse group of community gardeners for a common cause: to combat environmental degradation and reduce the carbon footprint. Originally a tennis court on property belonging to Germantown Friends School, the gardeners dug into their own pockets to remove the asphalt, dig a well, bring in compost, and install solar panels. Now, where people once played mixed doubles, they are planting fall crops.

Fall Crops

Mark Gearney, OTCF Membership Coordinator, provided a rundown of crops currently being planted:

• Asian greens (bok choy, choy sum)
• Cabbage (seedlings)
• Lettuce
• Mustard greens
• Radish (seedlings)
• Scallions (seedlings)
• Spinach

“In the next month or so, we will be planting garlic and wildflower seeds,” he said. Meanwhile, they are currently harvesting:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Collards
• Kale
• Eggplant
• Herbs
• Zucchini
• Summer squash
• Beans
• Melons

Coming up soon will be OTCF’s harvest of:

• Winter squashes
• Pumpkins
• Cabbages
• Carrots

“OTCF is a PHS Community Gardens City Harvest participant where we have dedicated space for growing crops specifically to be donated to local food pantries,” said Gearney. “This year, the dedicated crops are tomatoes and winter squash. We also encourage all garden members to support the Share Food Program Community Fridge initiative. Since the beginning of August, OTCF members have donated over 200 lbs of produce to Community Fridges in Germantown, East Falls, and Mount Airy.”

PHS Tips for a Successful Harvest

To help ensure a fruitful fall harvest, here are some expert tips and vegetables ideal for planting now:

• Prepare your soil: Add compost or organic matter, especially if summer crops depleted nutrients.
• Keep watering: Cooler weather doesn’t eliminate the need for moisture. Newly planted crops need consistent watering.
• Try succession planting: Sow greens and radishes every 10–14 days for a steady harvest.
• Protect before frost: Use row covers, cold frames, or mulch to extend your harvest and safeguard crops from hard freezes.

Best vegetables to plant now

• Spinach: Less likely to fail in fall and can survive winter with protection.
• Lettuce: Looseleaf types mature quickly in just 30–45 days.
• Kale & Collards: Super hardy, sweeten with cold.
• Arugula & Swiss Chard: Fast-growing, frost-tolerant, and full of flavor.
• Asian Greens (Bok Choy, Tatsoi, etc.): Popular and versatile, they thrive in cool weather and can be harvested young for tender leaves or allowed to mature for hearty cooking greens.
• Radishes: Ready in as little as 25 days.
• Beets & Turnips: Thrive in cool weather, growing sweeter after frost.
• Carrots: Choose quick-maturing varieties and mulch well for insulation.
• Broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage need a head start. Plant them from transplants well before October 10 to ensure maturity. A cold frame or row cover helps extend their season.
• Cilantro: Ideal for fall planting since it loves cooler temps.
• Parsley, thyme, chives, sage, rosemary: Hardy options that can keep producing into winter.

Get Involved

Beyond planting and harvesting, Philly’s gardens also nurture community and food equity. PHS provides organic growing supplies, access to tools, educational resources, and other support to help more than 170 community gardens, urban farms, and grow spaces improve the quality of life in local neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Parks & Rec hosts the Philadelphia Community Gardens Network, which manages 23 community gardens on park land where 800 community members grow over 25,000 pounds of food each year. They share this nutritious food within their communities through farm stands, farmers’ markets, and food donations. In the process, they create a larger sense of community and advocacy. If you are interested in locating, joining, or starting a Community Garden, contact Farm Philly.

Ready to roll up your sleeves and join Philly’s vibrant community garden movement? Whether you want to grow your own fresh produce, contribute to local food justice, or simply connect with neighbors, there’s a place for you in Philly’s community gardens. Find one of Philadelphia’s community gardens to volunteer at, like the Philadelphia Orchard Project, get involved, or start your own with support from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Farm Philly.