13 Fast-Growing Fall Crops You Can Grow in Less Than 60 Days

It’s fall, and the first frost is fast approaching. You may be thinking that you’re running out of time to start more crops, but there are actually many cool-weather crops that can produce prolifically in autumn. Best of all? Plenty of them only need 60 days to grow, or less.

Gardeners often plan their fall gardens around the last frost, when temperatures first hit 32° F (0°C). Fortunately, not only can you still grow many of the following crops before the first frost, but a lot of them are actually freeze tolerant.

Radishes

	botanical name Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-36 inches
	hardiness zones 2-11

When it comes to fast-growing crops, radishes might be the fastest. Many cultivars of radishes are ready to harvest in as little as a month after starting from seed. You can grow radishes in both spring and fall, as they’re cool-weather crops, but fall is preferable.

If you start radishes in spring, there’s a risk of unexpected hot weather towards the end of your spring season. Radishes suffer in hot weather. However, on the far end of fall, radishes can tolerate a frost or two without damage.

There’s a wide variety of radishes you can grow, too. Large, red ‘Crimson Giant’ radishes, long, bi-colored ‘French Breakfast’ radishes, and the colorful ‘Easter Egg Blend’ that includes red, white, and purple radishes will all be ready to harvest in about a month.

You’ve got even less time this autumn? Try ‘Cherry Belle’ radishes, which only need 24 days to mature. Gardeners have prized this reliable heirloom variety for decades.

Spinach

	botanical name Spinacia oleracea
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-12 inches
	hardiness zones 2-11

Spinach is a cool-weather crop that not only thrives in fall but might also even last well into winter, depending on your region. Many spinach varieties are on the same trajectory as radishes, only needing about a month of growth before harvest time.

Of course, the convenient aspect of spinach is that you don’t need to wait for it to reach a certain size. You can gather spinach leaves at any point in their growth cycle. So while it’s intended that you harvest baby spinach greens when the leaves are small, you can do the same with any type of spinach.

‘Matador’ spinach and ‘Bloomsdale’ spinach are both ready in as early as 28 days, and they’ll reach their full size in about six weeks. Both are extremely cold-hardy. In fact, they’ve been known to survive in sub-zero temperatures.

Spinach is a cool-season crop that grows in far less than 60 days, but you may find yourself enjoying it for much longer.

Kale

	botanical name Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group)
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3 feet
	hardiness zones 2-11

Kale has a lot in common with spinach. You can direct sow these leafy green seeds in fall, and in less than two months, you can pretty much assume that at least baby kale leaves will be ready for you to add to salads, pastas, and more.

In the proper growing conditions, kale matures even faster than spinach, with varieties like ‘Red Russian’ reaching their full height in just 50 days. Classic, Italian ‘Lacinato’ kale needs about 60 days for its full size, but you can harvest the baby leaves in more like 20.

While it’s true that kale is fast-growing, it will also survive for most—if not all—of winter, depending on where you’re located, so there may not be any rush. Kale will continue to produce harvestable leaves all winter in zone 7.

In my personal experience, some kale survives until spring in zone 6. Some say kale is even sweeter after frost.

Beets

	botanical name Beta vulgaris (Garden Beet Group)
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12-18 inches
	hardiness zones 2-11

Hearty, earthy beets add color and flavor in fall dishes, and you can grow beets in less than two months. Some cultivars are meant for harvest at the baby size (which is about an inch in diameter for beets), though others reach their full size in this short timeframe.

Check out ‘Robin’ if you’re looking for baby beets. They’re perfect for canning or roasting, and you can even eat these tender beets raw. ‘Early Wonder,’ on the other hand, is a full-size variety that’s ready to harvest in 48 days. People have loved this variety since the early 1900s.

Beets only need a few hours of sun per day, though their greens will likely perform better with more sun exposure. Make sure you plant these seeds in well-draining, nutrient-rich soil that doesn’t have any rocks that could get in the way of root production.

These root veggies are frost-tolerant, but harvesting them before a hard freeze is best.

Arugula

	botanical name Eruca vesicaria
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3 feet
	hardiness zones 2-11

Arugula, also known as rocket, is a popular salad green from the mustard family. It’s known for its peppery leaves, which pack a punch when added to pretty much any meal. It’s also known for being super easy to grow, as it’s not very picky about conditions.

You can grow arugula in full sun or in partial shade. Though arugula prefers well-draining soil, it can tolerate slightly soggy soil, too. Just don’t let it dry out too much. Arugula is also not only frost-tolerant but also survives freezing temperatures with a bit of help from some row cover fabric.

Once you get arugula seeds in the soil, you can expect to start harvesting in about three weeks. Baby leaves will be ready quickly, and the plants will reach their full size in about 45 days. 

Arugula is also fairly compact and grows well in containers. It’s an excellent choice for fall container gardens and window boxes.

Lettuce

	botanical name Lactuca sativa
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-12 inches
	hardiness zones 2-11

From buttercrunch to romaine, there are plenty of lettuces you can start in fall and harvest within 60 days, making the perfect base for a fresh, crunchy salad to accompany cozy cool-weather meals.

Lettuces usually form heads, which can take some time, but you can just use the cut-and-come-again method to harvest the exterior leaves of these plants well before they reach maturity. Some of them can form full heads in about 60 days in ideal conditions, such as ‘Great Lakes 118’ crisphead lettuce.

For smaller heads of lettuce that will reliably grow within the 60-day window, give the red ‘Truchas’ and the green ‘Little Gem’ mini romaine varieties a shot. Both are frost-tolerant. ‘Truchas’ is particularly special, with rich purple leaves and impressive disease resistance.

The perfect setup varies depending on variety, but lettuces will grow better with more sun in the fall. Keep the soil consistently moist, as lettuces tend to have shallow root systems.

Bok Choy

	botanical name Brassica rapa (Chinensis Group)
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2 feet
	hardiness zones 2-11

Bok choy is another leafy vegetable that you can grow in less than 60 days, and autumn is a wonderful time for it. Of course, you can put the raw leaves in salads, but they really shine in warming soups and stir fries. Perfect on a chilly day.

Usually, gardeners harvest bok choy once it has formed a full, small head, and the entire head of bok choy is left intact. Smaller cultivars like ‘Toy Choy’ reach a height and width of about five inches in about a month, whereas ‘Baby Choi’ may take slightly longer but get slightly bigger, 

You can easily fit bok choy into a container garden, so it’s great for apartment gardeners who want to add home-grown freshness to their fall meals. Bok choy is frost-tolerant and may survive for quite a while into winter, depending on your zone.

There are plenty of elegant dishes you can make with bok choy, but it seriously doesn’t get any easier than adding small heads of bok choy into instant ramen, adding instant nutrition.

Broccoli

	botanical name Brassica oleracea (Italica Group)
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2 feet
	hardiness zones 6-9

Broccoli is another cool-weather crop that you can grow in spring or in fall. In spring, you run the risk of broccoli starting to bolt if the weather is surprisingly warm or you get a string of unexpected hot days. In fall, however, you won’t have to worry about bolting.

Plus, broccoli is more than just frost-tolerant. It will be just fine as long as the temperature stays above 26°F (-3°C). This gives you a pretty wide window of time to grow broccoli, especially in milder zones. That said, you probably won’t need it, as many varieties of broccoli grow in less than 60 days.

Patty Pan Squash

	botanical name Cucurbita pepo
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3 feet
	hardiness zones 3-11

Most gardeners think of zucchini and other summer squash as plants they’d start in the spring to grow through summer. Depending on your climate, these types of squash (those that are harvested when young, as opposed to pumpkins) can also thrive in fall.

One of the faster types is patty pan squash. There are many cultivars of patty pan squash, but one thing they all have in common is their unique and compact size. These squash are often referred to as “UFO-shaped,” and though you can harvest them at a size of your choosing, they’re often plucked from the vine when about three inches wide.

These plants are prolific producers when grown in full sun. They’re on the further end of the 60 days needed, but squash selections like ‘Scallop Blend’ may be ready in 45 days. Pick the squash when small to encourage the plant to send out as many as possible before the first frost.

Swiss Chard

	botanical name Beta vulgaris (Leaf Beet Group)
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2 feet
	hardiness zones 2-11

Swiss chard is another leafy vegetable that you can grow in the fall in a short amount of time. Like with spinach and kale, you can harvest the baby leaves whenever you want, so you don’t have to wait for Swiss chard to reach its full size. That said, most cultivars reach maturity in about 50 days.

Many gardeners are surprised to learn that Swiss chard and beets are two versions of the same species. While beets have been cultivated over time to produce large roots, Swiss chard has been cultivated to send all its energy to its leaves. This is why chard has a somewhat earthy, beet-y taste.

As the days get shorter, plant Swiss chard in a full sun location for best results. For a classic, red-veined Swiss chard, try growing ‘Ruby Red,’ which can withstand a freeze or two. ‘Fordhook Giant’ produces white-veined chard that can reach two feet in height in under 60 days.

Napa Cabbage

	botanical name Brassica rapa (Pekinensis Group)
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12-18 inches
	hardiness zones 4-7

While most traditional cabbages take more than two months to reach their final size, napa cabbage is ready to harvest in about 55. This veggie is more closely related to bok choy than to the green and purple cabbages usually seen at the grocery store.

Napa cabbage has more of a narrow, upright growth habit, though it still forms a head. It’s delicious in soups and stir fries, and it might be most famous for its bulk role in kimchi. You could plant napa cabbage in fall, harvest before winter, and make spicy kimchi to keep you warm all winter.

‘One Kilo Slow Bolt’ is best planted in early fall and in full sun. While napa cabbage can bolt in consistently cold conditions, this cultivar resists bolting more than others. Make sure you have space for this vegetable, which needs a few feet in width to grow unencumbered.

Turnips

	botanical name Brassica rapa (Rapifera Group)
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12-18 inches
	hardiness zones 2-11

Like radishes and beets, turnips are another root vegetable that flourishes in cold conditions and should be ready to harvest in less than two months. Turnips are in the mustard family and are grown for both their starchy roots and their nutrient-packed greens.

Turnips are best grown in full sun, especially in autumn as the days get shorter. Many varieties should be ready in about 50 days, though there are some that you can harvest in as little as one month, like ‘Turnip White Lady,’ a cultivar that gardeners appreciate for its opaque, white color.

These root vegetables will form their best roots in consistently moist but well-draining soil. Ideally, harvest them just after the first frost, which is when they’ll have the best flavor. Try boiling and mashing the turnips, like potatoes, for a nutrient-packed side dish. Sauteed turnip greens are also a quick, healthy side for any dinner.

Scallions

	botanical name Allium cepa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12-18 inches
	hardiness zones 5-10

Finally, consider growing scallions in your fall garden. Full-sized onions take quite a while to grow. They’re usually planted in spring for a fall harvest, or vice versa. Either way, they require multiple months to form full bulbs.

Scallions, on the other hand, are kind of like the equivalent of picking “baby spinach” instead of waiting for the spinach leaves to reach their full size. You can grow scallions in just about 60 days, adding onion-y flavor to meals without a full onion. A sprinkle of scallions adds freshness to any meal.