Create an edible autumn container garden filled with a variety of cool-weather loving plants like dinosaur kale, vibrant Swiss chard, purple sage, sweet alyssum, and White Icicle radishes for a productive planter that also doubles as a festive fall display.
This post may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.
As I picked tomatoes out in the garden recently, I noticed something - the plants are starting their seasonal change. While the fruit and veggies on the plants are still growing, the plants themselves aren't looking as full and lush as they did the past few months. Fall is coming and with it brings the end of summer gardening season. However, there's a whole new season of gardening ahead.
The autumn garden offers a different variety of veggies like leafy greens, brassicas, and root vegetables. All plants that thrive in cooler weather and may even become sweeter after a frost. And if space is limited, many of these plants can be grown in pots. I wanted to take advantage of the seasonal shift, but with no more room to plant in the garden, I decided to create an edible autumn container garden using a mixture of greens, herbs, and flowers.
I already have a planter full of greens growing in a low deck planter. But I wanted to add even more leafy greens, an herb, an edible flower variety, as well as another type of radish (there are regular red radishes growing in the veggie garden) to really extend the season's harvest. So I headed to the garden center to pick up some plants - dinosaur kale, Bright Lights Swiss chard, purple sage, white alyssum, and White Icicle radish seeds.
- Dinosaur Kale: Can be successfully grown in large containers. Also known as Lacinato kale, this kale has long, narrow, crinkled leaves. It's less bitter than other kale varieties and can be eaten raw or cooked.
- Bright Lights Swiss Chard: This variety of Swiss chard is known for its stunning, colorful stems and green leaves. It's successful in containers as it can be grown in tight spaces. It has a less bitter flavor than other Swiss chard varieties. Its flavor is slightly similar to spinach.
- Purple Sage: Sage can be grown successfully in containers. As its name suggests, purple sage has gorgeous purple-tinted leaves. It's earthy and slightly more intense than garden sage.
- White Alyssum: These tiny, honey-scented flowers grow beautifully in containers. Despite smelling sweet, the edible flowers are slightly spicy. They attract beneficial insects offering natural pest control.
- White Icicle Radishes: Can be grown in a deep container. Unlike regular radishes, these look more like white carrots. They have a crispy texture with a slightly sweeter, less pungent flavor than red radishes.
How to Create an Edible Autumn Container Garden
Since this is an edible autumn container garden, I decided to break out my Jack-o'-lantern planter (a metal tub I found on the curb years ago that's become my favorite fall planter). It's large enough for these plants and adds a fun, seasonal touch. I also marked the White Icicle radishes with a quick DIY ghost radish garden marker. Of course, all you need is large planter with enough depth for the roots - especially if growing radishes.
To start this planter, I filled my container with potting soil. Then, I added all-purpose fertilizer and mixed it into the top layer of soil.
Next, I positioned my plants in the container, leaving enough space to put down my seeds. Then, I started by adding my kale and Swiss chard first.
Once those were planted, I added the purple sage.
Then, I planted the sweet alyssums, leaving a nice space in the front for the radishes to grow.
Once the plant starts were in, I put down some radish seeds and marked them with my DIY garden marker.
Finally, I watered the plants thoroughly and set the container garden in a sunny spot. I'm looking forward to harvesting these delicious veggies and herbs as they fill in and grow.
SUPPLIES
- 12-18" container
- Potting soil
- Optional: all-purpose fertilizer
- Cool-weather vegetables like lettuces, certain herbs, root vegetables, and edible flowers
- Optional: decorative garden stakes
STEPS
- Add potting soil to a large container with decent depth and drainage holes. If desired, add all-purpose fertilizer and mix into the top layer of the soil.
- Figure out where each plant will be grown in the container. Then, add the lettuces and greens in back.
- Working in rows or sections, plant the rest of the veggies, herbs, and flowers firmly pressing the soil around each plant.
- Water thoroughly and set the container garden in a sunny spot.
- If desired, finish the planter with a decorative garden stake.
Not only will this container garden provide a fall harvest of leafy greens, herbs, and other vegetables, but it'll provide some pretty color as well. And if you have a fun Halloween planter that's large enough to grow veggies, you can make it a part of your spooky season decor, too.
Did you make this Edible Autumn Garden Container project? Share it on social media using the hashtag #holokahome. Don’t forget to tag me @holokahome!
