It’s time to plant salad in the fall garden

K-State horticulture expert says salad crops favor slightly cooler soils

At a glance: Radishes, spinach, turnips, mustard, lettuce and other leafy greens can be planted from mid-August to early September, says K-State horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.

More information: Cynthia Domenghini, Cdom@ksu.edu

Closeup, spade taking lettuce out of the soil

Lettuce is among the fall crops that grow well because of lower soil temperatures.

Aug. 6, 2025

K-State Research and Extension news service

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Got Salad?

Many Kansas gardeners may already know that extending the year’s harvest into fall means planting many crops that would make a tasty mix.

“Radishes, spinach, turnips, mustard, lettuce and other leafy greens can be planted from mid-August to early September, extending the harvest into fall,” said Cynthia Domenghini, a horticulture expert with K-State Research and Extension.

“If you plan to plant seeds into the ground, plant them slightly deeper than recommended for spring,” Domenghini said. “This will give seeds access to slightly cooler soil that retains more moisture.”

Growing a salad garden means providing regular water until the seeds germinate, according to Domenghini. “Sprinkle a light layer of compost over the top of the seeds to prevent the soil from forming a crust,” she said.

An alternative way to grow crops suitable for a salad is to use a bag of potting media. Domenghini outlined steps to grow salad crops in this manner:

Lay the bag flat and cut it open on the long side, exposing the potting media.
Place the bag on a pallet or similar support, which will allow you to move the planting, as needed. If not placed on a support, the bag should not be moved after planting to avoid displacing seeds.
Plant the seeds as recommended on the packet.
Add fertilizer, if it is not already included in the potting media.

“One benefit of growing fall greens in a potting media bag is the temperature of the media can be regulated by relocating the bag,” Domenghini said. “This is particularly helpful during August and September when the heat can hinder germination and negatively affect flavor of certain cole crops.”

Domenghini added that due to the limited amount of soil in a potting media bag, it is important to monitor moisture while the crop is growing.

Domenghini and her colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens.

Interested persons can subscribe to the newsletter, as well as send their garden and yard-related questions to Domenghini at cdom@ksu.edu, or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.

***

KSRE logo
K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.