Ohio gardeners, it’s go-time! If you’re dreaming of pumpkin patches, hearty greens, or crisp fall tomatoes, there’s no moment like THIS week to kickstart those seeds indoors.
I’ve prepped exactly 16 varieties myself, and watching those green sprouts pop through the soil feels like magic every single time. Starting seeds now gives your fall garden a head start—strong roots, earlier blooms, and more bountiful harvests come autumn.
Let’s roll up our sleeves and get planting for a season worth savoring!
1. Kale
Ready for some cold-weather superfoods in your Ohio garden? Kale thrives when temperatures drop and actually tastes sweeter after light frosts.
Grow ‘Lacinato’ or ‘Red Russian’ varieties for the best fall performance. Many Ohio gardeners find kale keeps producing well into December with minimal protection.
2. Spinach
Fast-growing and cold-hardy, spinach makes a perfect addition to your fall garden plans. Ohio’s cooling autumn temperatures prevent the bitter bolting that happens in summer heat.
Try ‘Bloomsdale’ or ‘Tyee’ varieties for excellent cold tolerance. With row covers, Ohio gardeners can harvest fresh spinach even after the first snowfall.
3. Lettuce
Nothing beats fresh-picked lettuce, and fall crops often taste sweeter than spring plantings. The Buckeye State’s gradually cooling temperatures create perfect conditions for crisp, tender leaves.
Loose-leaf varieties like ‘Red Sails’ or ‘Oak Leaf’ mature quickly for Ohio gardens. Start succession plantings two weeks apart for continuous harvests through autumn.
4. Broccoli
Fall-grown broccoli develops sweeter heads and fewer pest problems than spring crops. Starting indoors gives these plants the necessary head start for Ohio’s shortening fall days.
Quick-maturing varieties like ‘Arcadia’ and ‘Green Magic’ perform beautifully in Ohio’s autumn weather. Remember to harden off seedlings gradually before transplanting into your garden beds.
5. Cauliflower
Ever noticed how cauliflower prices spike in winter? Growing your own solves that problem! Ohio’s fall conditions are ideal for developing perfect white heads without the discoloration summer heat causes.
Varieties like ‘Snow Crown’ and ‘Amazing’ mature in about 50-60 days from transplant. Many Ohio gardeners find fall cauliflower easier to grow than spring plantings.
6. Cabbage
Want homemade sauerkraut this winter? Start cabbage indoors now! Fall-grown cabbage develops sweeter, denser heads in Ohio’s cooling temperatures without the splitting common in summer.
Compact varieties like ‘Stonehead’ and ‘Fast Ball’ mature quickly for fall harvests. Ohio gardeners appreciate how cabbage can withstand light frosts, actually improving flavor after cold snaps.
7. Collards
Looking for the most cold-hardy greens for your Ohio garden? Collards stand up to freezing temperatures better than almost any vegetable. Their nutritional content actually increases after frost exposure.
Varieties like ‘Champion’ and ‘Georgia’ perform exceptionally well in fall gardens. Ohio gardeners often harvest collards well into December, making them true cold-weather champions.
8. Swiss Chard
Bring vibrant color to your fall garden with rainbow chard varieties. The bright stems pop against autumn’s browns and yellows while providing nutritious greens for Ohio dinner tables.
‘Bright Lights’ and ‘Fordhook Giant’ varieties offer beautiful colors and cold tolerance. Many Ohio gardeners find chard survives light frosts and continues producing until hard freezes arrive.
9. Kohlrabi
Curious about this alien-looking vegetable? Fall is actually the best time to grow kohlrabi in Ohio gardens! The bulbs develop sweeter flavor and better texture in cool weather without becoming woody.
Quick-maturing varieties like ‘Early White Vienna’ and ‘Korridor’ are perfect for fall harvests. Ohio gardeners find kohlrabi’s crisp, apple-like texture makes delicious fall salads and slaws.
10. Beets
Fall-grown beets develop sweeter flavor and fewer pest problems than summer crops. The cooling Ohio temperatures prevent the woodiness that sometimes develops in summer-grown roots.
Varieties like ‘Red Ace’ and ‘Chioggia’ mature quickly for fall harvests. Many Ohio gardeners appreciate how both the roots and greens can be harvested from the same plant.
11. Carrots
Fall carrots develop incredible sweetness as soil temperatures cool in Ohio gardens. Starting them indoors gives them the head start needed to mature before winter, though they’ll need careful transplanting.
Short varieties like ‘Napoli’ and ‘Mokum’ mature quickly for fall harvests. Ohio gardeners can often leave carrots in the ground with mulch protection, harvesting sweet roots throughout early winter.
12. Radishes
Want the quickest fall crop possible? Radishes mature in just 3-4 weeks! Their peppery bite becomes milder and sweeter when grown in Ohio’s cooling fall temperatures.
Varieties like ‘Cherry Belle’ and ‘French Breakfast’ perform beautifully in autumn conditions. Many Ohio gardeners plant radish seeds between slower-growing fall crops to maximize garden space.
13. Turnips
Rediscover this old-fashioned vegetable that’s making a comeback in modern kitchens. Fall-grown turnips develop sweeter roots and tender greens that are both delicious in Ohio autumn meals.
Varieties like ‘Tokyo Cross’ and ‘Hakurei’ mature quickly with mild, sweet flavor. Ohio gardeners appreciate how both the roots and nutritious greens can be harvested from the same plant.
14. Arugula
Spice up your fall salads with peppery arugula that thrives in Ohio’s cooling temperatures. Its distinctive flavor becomes milder and more complex when grown in autumn conditions rather than summer heat.
Both wild and cultivated varieties grow quickly for multiple fall harvests. Many Ohio gardeners find arugula self-seeds readily, returning year after year with minimal effort.
15. Mustard Greens
Add bold flavor to your fall kitchen with fast-growing mustard greens. Their spicy kick mellows beautifully when grown in Ohio’s cooler autumn temperatures, making them more versatile in cooking.
Frilly varieties like ‘Ruby Streaks’ and ‘Southern Giant’ add beautiful texture to the garden. Ohio gardeners find mustard greens continue producing until hard freezes, often surviving light frosts with improved flavor.
16. Pak Choi
Bring Asian flavors to your Ohio fall garden with this versatile vegetable. Also called bok choy, pak choi develops sweeter stems and tender leaves when grown in autumn’s cooling temperatures.
Baby varieties like ‘Mei Qing Choi’ mature in just 30-40 days from transplant. Many Ohio gardeners find pak choi performs better in fall than spring, with fewer pest problems and less bolting.