Fall Vegetable & Herb Seeds: What to Plant Now for a Second Harvest

If your summer garden is starting to look a little tired — bolting lettuce, sunburned herbs, tomato vines that have given all they've got — late August is actually one of the best times to start again. Many vegetables and herbs are cool-season crops, which means they actually prefer growing as the heat backs off in September and October. Starting seeds now gives you a second harvest before the first frost, and in mild climates, some crops will keep producing well into fall.

Here's what to plant, what to start it in, and a few real picks from our seed and seed-starting collection to help you get going this weekend.

Why Late August Is Prime Time for a Fall Garden

Most leafy greens, herbs, and root vegetables actually grow better in the cooler, shorter days of fall than in peak summer heat. Lettuce, spinach, and herbs like cilantro and dill tend to bolt (go to seed too early) in high summer temperatures, but thrive once the weather starts to moderate. Starting seeds indoors or in trays now means your seedlings will be strong and ready to transplant just as the weather turns, giving you a head start most gardeners miss.

Lettuce Seeds, 10 Varieties Individual Packs — $23.99

Lettuce is the classic fall crop — fast-growing, cold-tolerant, and much happier in September than in July. This set gives you ten heirloom, non-GMO varieties in individual packs, so you can succession-plant a few varieties every couple of weeks and keep a steady supply of fresh salad greens well into autumn. It's an easy, low-fuss way to get a fall garden started even if you've never grown lettuce from seed before.

Culinary Herb Seeds Variety Pack – Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Oregano, Rosemary & Thyme — $22.91

This 18-variety pack covers the herbs most people actually cook with, and several of them — cilantro and parsley especially — genuinely prefer cooler weather and will bolt less than they did mid-summer. With over 4,100 non-GMO heirloom seeds included, this is enough to fill a full kitchen herb bed or several containers on a sunny windowsill, giving you fresh herbs right through fall.

HOME GROWN Non-GMO Dill Seeds for Planting — $8.12

Dill is another herb that tends to bolt fast in summer heat but does noticeably better once temperatures ease up. This pack includes over 1,000 heirloom dill seeds — more than enough for pickling, fall soups, or simply having a fragrant herb bed that keeps producing right up until frost. It's an inexpensive way to round out a fall herb garden alongside a larger variety pack.

Gardzen 10-Pack Seed Starter Kits, 150-Cell Reusable Germination Trays — $47.99

Starting seeds in trays rather than sowing directly outdoors gives you far more control over a fall garden — you can start indoors while it's still warm and move seedlings out once temperatures drop to a more comfortable range. This reusable 10-pack with 150 total cells and humidity domes is a solid, no-frills setup for starting lettuce, herbs, and quick-growing greens in batches, and the trays hold up season after season.

Pattiumo Seed Starter Tray with Grow Lights, 72 Cells with Humidity Dome — $28.49

As daylight hours shrink heading into fall, a seed starter with built-in grow lights makes a real difference for indoor starts. This kit includes full-spectrum LED lights on a timer, so your seedlings get consistent light even on shorter, cloudier fall days. It's a great option for gardeners starting herbs or greens on a kitchen counter or in a spot that doesn't get much direct sun this time of year.

A Simple Fall Planting Checklist

• Start lettuce, spinach, and other quick greens now — they'll be ready to harvest in 4–6 weeks
• Sow herbs like cilantro, dill, and parsley, which prefer cooler weather over peak summer heat
• Use a seed starter tray with a humidity dome to keep germination rates high
• Add a grow light if your indoor starting spot doesn't get strong natural light
• Transplant seedlings outdoors once daytime highs settle into the 60s–70s°F
• Keep soil consistently moist while seeds germinate — trays dry out faster than garden beds

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really too late to start a garden in late August?
Not at all — for cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, and many herbs, late summer is actually an ideal starting point. Most of these mature quickly enough to give you a full harvest before the first hard frost in most climates.

Do I need a grow light to start seeds indoors?
Not always, but it helps a lot as daylight hours shorten. A tray with built-in grow lights, like the Pattiumo kit above, takes the guesswork out of whether your seedlings are getting enough light.

Can I direct-sow these seeds instead of starting them in trays?
Yes, many of these varieties can be direct-sown outdoors once soil temperatures cool down. Starting in trays simply gives you more control and a head start, especially if your region still has warm days in early fall.

Start Your Fall Garden This Weekend

A second harvest is well within reach with the right seeds and a simple setup. Browse the full seed and seed-starting collection at Green Store and get your fall garden going before the season slips away.