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Fall Garden Fair Vegetables
- See Cool Season Vegetables for information on how to grow each vegetable.
- Refer to our Vegetable Planting Chart for a month by month guide on when to plant which vegetables. Developed specifically for Santa Clara County.
- Check our Events Calendar for upcoming talks on cool season vegetables.
Below are some varieties that Master Gardeners have found grow well here.
OP: Open-pollinated. Seed saved will breed true to type.
Hybrid: Produced from crosses between two distinct parent lines. Seed saved will not be true to the variety planted. (More on Saving Vegetable Seeds from the University of Minnesota Extension)
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Arugula: Italian, OP
Delicious salad greens with deep, spicy flavor. Will resow if allowed to go to seed. Flowers are edible too. 8–10" tall. Plant 3–6" apart.
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Asian Greens: Bopak Choi Hybrid
Ready in 45 days. Tall, heavy, full-size heads with mild, succulent flavor. 8–10" tall. Plant 8–12" apart.
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Asian Greens: Chinese Broccoli, Gai Lan, OP
Thick, juicy stalks, young leaves and flower buds are tender and delicious. Can harvest shoots repeatedly for weeks.
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Asian Greens: Komatsuna Mustard OP
Also called Mustard Spinach. Mild, sweet flavor, good in salads or cooking. Plant closely for baby greens or up to 10" apart.
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Asian Greens: Napa Cabbage, Minuet, Hybrid
Excellent mini variety. Upright, dense heads. Slow to bolt. 9" tall. Plant 12" apart.
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Asian Greens: Shungiku (Edible chrysanthemum), OP
Clip young leaves frequently to keep plants small and tender. Fine, lacy leaves are mild and tasty. 4–8" tall. Plant close together.
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Asian Greens: Tatsoi, OP
Smooth, spoon-shaped leaves in a compact rosette. Mild flavor is perfect for salads or stir fries. 6–10" tall. Plant 6" apart.
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Beets: Chioggia Guardsmark, OP
Improved version of Chioggia (pronounced ‘kee–OH–jaw’), known for its red & white candy-striped rings. 8–12" tall. Plant 4–6" apart.
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Beets: Cylindra, OP
Tasty, fine-textured beet in a convenient long shape that is easy to peel and slice into rounds. Delicious leaves too. 8–12" tall. Plant 4–6" apart.
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Beets: Detroit Dark Red, OP
Popular heirloom beet, uniform and smooth, with sweet red flesh and tasty 14" tops for greens. 10–14" tall. Plant 4–6" apart.
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Beets: Touchstone Gold, OP
Sweet golden beets are mild and tasty. Beautiful in salads. Greens are delicious and mild. Stabilized OP version of Touchstone Gold hybrid. 8–12" tall. Plant 4–6" apart.
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Broccoli: Belstar, Hybrid
Large 6–8" main head followed by plentiful side shoots which will continue all winter long. Later than Packman. 18–24" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Broccoli: Bravado, Hybrid
Large main head followed by abundant side shoots. Strong and disease resistant. 20–24" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Broccoli: Calabrese, OP
Medium-sized 3–6" main head followed by numerous side shoots for months afterwards. 24–30" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Broccoli: Gypsy, Hybrid
Large 6–8" main head followed by plentiful side shoots. Heat tolerant. 18–24" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Broccoli: Mixed
Mixed four-pack of broccoli. A great way to try several varieties! Plant 12–18" apart.
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Cabbage: Caraflex, Hybrid
Pointed mini cabbage heads weigh just 1½ –2 lbs, have a sweet, mild flavor. 9" tall. Plant 12–24" apart.
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Cabbage: Kalibos, Hybrid
Pointed purple/red cabbage heads weigh 2–3 lbs. Sweet flavor, good storage. 12–15" tall. Plant 18–24" apart.
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Cabbage: Pixie, Hybrid
Fast growing baby cabbage is just 5" across. Sweet and crisp. Plant 10" apart
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Cauliflower: Cheddar, Hybrid
Like a regular cauliflower, but orange! Sweet and tasty, with about 25 times as much beta carotene as white cauliflower. No blanching needed. Delicious and striking. 18–24" tall. Plant 24–30" apart.
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Cauliflower: Fioretto Sprouting, Hybrid
Loose heads have tender stems that elongate as they mature. Harvest sprouts up to 8" long. 18–24" tall. Plant 24–30" apart.
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Cauliflower: Purple of Sicily, OP
Purple Italian heirloom. Big heads with fine flavor, turn green when cooked. 18–24" tall. Plant 18–24" apart.
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Cauliflower: Romanesco Veronica, Hybrid
Light green heads with incredible swirls that form amazing fractal shapes. Sweet nut-like taste. 18–24" tall. Plant 24–30" apart.
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Cauliflower: Snow Crown, Hybrid
Early snowball type is pure white, round and flavorful, weighing up to 2 lbs. each. 18–24" tall. Plant 24–30" apart.
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Cauliflower: Mixed
Mixed four-pack of cauliflowers. A fun way to try different varieties! Plant 24–30" apart.
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Chard: Bionda di Lione, OP
Large, light green leaves on thick white stems. Excellent flavor. 18–24" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Chard: Bright Lights, OP
Gorgeous stems are red, yellow, gold, orange, white, pink, violet, and striped. Delicious and tender. Multicolored stems and leaves make a wonderful show. 18–24" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Chard: Peppermint Stick, OP
Beautiful chard with hot pink and white striped stems, delicious as well as ornamental. 18–24" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Collards: Georgia Southern, OP
Harvest delicious outer leaves for a constant supply. Cabbage/kale flavor. 24–36" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Fennel: Di Parma, OP
Superior bulbing fennel, large and uniform, with great flavor. Flowers attract beneficials and swallowtail butterflies will lay eggs on the feathery greens. 24–36" tall. Plant 10–12" apart.
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Italian Greens: Mixed
Mix of chicories (such as Sugarloaf chicory, Blonde Full Heart escarole, Orchidea Rossa radicchio, Cuor d’Oro frisée, or La Rosa del Veneto). 8–12" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Kale: Black Magic Lacinato, OP
Improved lacinato kale. Same great rumpled leaves grow more tightly, also more bolt resistant. 18–20" tall. Plant 12–24" apart.
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Kale: Dazzling Blue, OP
This striking kale features blue-green savoyed leaves with dramatic pink midribs. Upright growth. New from Wild Garden Seed. 24–30" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Kale: Mars Landing, OP
Beautiful leaves in bronzy maroon color with scalloped edges. Stays tender, holds well. 24–30" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Kale: Premier Blend, OP
You'll get a beautiful variety of colors, textures, sizes and flavors with this special five kale blend (Dwarf Blue Curled, Improved Dwarf Siberian, Lacinato, Premier, and Red Russian). 24–30" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Kale: Rainbow Lacinato, OP
Beautiful cross between Redbor and Lacinato kale. Some plants turn deep purple in cold weather. 24–36" tall. Plant 18–24" apart
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Kale: Tronchuda Beira, Hybrid
Portuguese variety. Paddle-shaped, deep green leaves with mild, rich flavor. 24–30" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.
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Kohlrabi: Kohlibri, Hybrid
Beautiful purple bulbs look like alien vegetables. The white flesh inside is sweet and juicy. Can be eaten raw or cooked. 8–10" tall. Plant 4–6" apart.
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Kohlrabi: Superschmelz, OP
Giant 8–10" green bulbs stay sweet and tender even at full size. Can be eaten raw or cooked. 10–16" tall. Plant 6–12" apart
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Leek: Carentan, OP
Long, thick leek grows strong and vigorously, with a delicate and delicious flavor. Up to 2 inches across. An old European heirloom variety. 18–24" tall. Separate the individual seedlings and plant them 4–6" apart in trenches. Gradually fill in the trench as they grow to promote a long, blanched stalk. When leeks are planted early enough in the fall, they will start to size up in early winter, so can be harvested all winter long.
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Leek: Sweet Garleek, Hybrid
Unusual leek with a garlicky flavor. Best harvested at ½" diameter when tender enough to use tops and all. 12–18" tall. Plant 4–6" apart.
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Lettuce: Buttercrunch, OP
Loose butterheads with sweet, crisp, thick, delicious leaves. 5–7" tall. Plant 8–10" apart.
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Lettuce: Italian Mix, OP
A beautiful mix of 14 different red and green lettuces. Plant closely (2–4") for cut and come again harvesting
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Lettuce: Salad Bowl Blend, OP
Sweet red and green oak leaf lettuces make a delicious heat tolerant blend. Plant closely (2–4") for cut and come again harvesting or space apart 8–10" for heads.
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Lettuce: Skyphos Red, OP
Large, dark red butterhead with green centers. Resistant to downy mildew and mosaic virus. 6–8" tall. Plant 10–12" apart.
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Lettuce: Summer Bibb, Butterhead OP
Loose heads with sweet, crisp, thick, delicious leaves. Heat tolerant. 5–7" tall. Plant 8–10" apart.
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Lettuce: Sweet Valentine, OP
Green leaves blushed with bronzey-red edges form a loose head. Sweet flavor, slow to bolt. 8–10" tall. Plant 8–10" apart.
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Lettuce: Truchas, OP
Compact, dark red mini romaine heads are crisp and delicious. Mildew and virus resistant. 6–8" tall. Plant 6" apart.
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Mustard: Mixed
Tasty and ornamental mix of mustards (such as Spicy Green, Ruby Streaks, Red Giant, and Mizuna). 12–15" tall. Plant 6–12" apart.
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Peas: Tall Telephone (shelling), OP
Large pods of delicious peas on tall vines. Heirloom variety. Needs a trellis. 6' tall. Plant 4" apart.
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Peas: Mammoth Melting Sugar (snow pea), OP
Heirloom variety with sweet 4–5" long flat pods are borne on vigorous vines. 4–5' tall. Plant 3–4" apart.
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Peas: Super Sugar Snap, OP
Vigorous vines yield heavy crop of delicious, edible-podded sugar snap peas. Healthy and mildew resistant. Thick, juicy pods are great raw or cooked. 5–6' tall. Plant 3–4" apart.
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Spinach: Oriental Giant, Hybrid
Giant arrowhead-shaped leaves are sweet and crisp, on long stems held high off the ground. Vigorous plants will produce all winter long. 18–24" tall. Plant 8–10" apart.
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Turnip: Scarlet Ohno Revival, OP
Smooth scarlet turnips in rounded to flattened shape. Glossy green leaves have pink to red stems. 10–12" tall. Plant 2–4" apart.
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Turnip: White Hakurei, Hybrid
Smooth, crisp white turnips, excellent for eating raw or lightly cooked. Greens are smooth and tender. Best harvested young, at 2" or smaller. Plant 2" apart.
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