What we plant in Fall Gardens: The Grocery-Store Staples and the Garden-Only Goodness
Fall gardening in Middle Tennessee is overflowing with abundance. While summer crops like tomatoes and peppers are still producing, the cooler nights bring in a whole new round of greens. At TKG, we’ve filled our gardens with both the familiar staples you’d find in any grocery store—like broccoli, kale, and carrots—and the funky gems you’ll never see on a shelf, from spiraled romanesco to magenta radicchio. These “garden-only” crops remind us that fall isn’t just about food—it’s about flavor, discovery, and delight.

What to plant, harvest, and tend in your Mid-September garden.

I’ve got a cold—and it’s the worst timing. While everyone else is out soaking up Labor Day sunshine, I’m over here nursing a mug of tea and wishing my nose worked. The silver lining? My garden is overflowing with herbs, and they’re exactly what I need.

Many of the same plants we grow for flavor and beauty—mint, lemon balm, thyme, rosemary—also double as soothing, wellness-boosting remedies. With just a little chopping, steeping, or drying, you can turn that garden abundance into teas, steams, and blends that hydrate, comfort, and support your immune system.

This week I’m sharing four simple recipes (plus a handy cheat sheet) to help you sip the season and put your herbs to work.

What to plant, harvest, and tend in your early September garden.

Should you clear out all your summer crops to make way for the fall garden? Not necessarily. In Middle Tennessee, peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants often keep producing well into September. By interplanting thoughtfully, you’ll enjoy summer harvests right alongside fall greens and root veggies — creating a smooth, abundant transition from one season to the next.

After two whirlwind days of building, planting, and styling — and a down-to-the-wire finish — our 10'x10' raised bed garden display for the Tennessee State Fair came together beautifully. We filled it with not just lush plants, but also the personal touches that make a garden feel lived in: weathered tools, baskets of fresh veggies, and a perfectly styled potting bench. The judges loved it — and we’re thrilled to share that it won First Place!

What to do with sprawling tomatoes? Let them sprawl, cut off their unruly sprouts, or redirect them? Consider what option will work best for you.

By late summer in Middle Tennessee, your tomato vines may be ragged, your squash may be long gone, and you might feel ready to throw in the towel. But August is the perfect time to pull what’s struggling, give your soil a boost, and plant crops that will thrive in the cooler days ahead. In this week’s blog, I’ll walk you through clearing out disease-prone summer plants, refreshing your soil with quick amendments, and choosing fast-growing fall varieties so you can enjoy fresh greens, crisp roots, and flavorful herbs all the way into winter.

Mid-August in Middle Tennessee is the perfect time to savor the summer harvest, refresh your garden, and gear up for fall planting. From picking peak-season produce to tackling pests and planning for cooler weather crops, this to-do list will keep your garden thriving through the late-summer heat.

What to plant, harvest, and tend in your early August garden.

Still waiting on ripe tomatoes? You’re not alone. In this post, we explain why your plants might be slow to produce, when peak tomato season really hits in Middle Tennessee, and how factors like variety, weather, and planting dates affect your harvest. Plus, we make the case (again!) for keeping garden records — and share a few delicious ideas for using green tomatoes in the meantime.

It’s 100 degrees outside, and everyone’s asking for lettuce — but your garden has other ideas. In Tennessee, mid-summer is the time to get creative with what is growing: juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, tender squash, okra, beans, and more.

In this week’s blog, I’m sharing four no-lettuce salad recipes that celebrate the season and help you eat like a gardener. Plus, a little pep talk on why skipping grocery store lettuce is one of the best choices you can make for flavor, freshness, and local living.

In this blog post, we reflect on a recent photo shoot that reminded us of a simple truth: the best gardens aren’t built from templates—they’re shaped by lifestyle. From a charming farm plot to a refined estate to a Mediterranean-inspired courtyard, each space told the story of the gardener behind it. This post is a celebration of gardens as living expressions of home, rhythm, and personality—not just layout.

What to plant, harvest, and tend in your Late-July garden.

We know it’s hot, but we also know you’re craving more lettuce and arugula. Unfortunately, these cool-season crops just aren’t at their best in a Tennessee July. Instead of fighting nature, this is your moment to embrace seasonal favorites like cucumbers, okra, and peppers. That said, if you’re feeling bold, there are ways to push the limits: plant in shade, water often, and choose bolt-resistant varieties. We’ve got some ideas for keeping cool-season greens going—even in the heat. But don’t forget to enjoy the bounty that summer is offering right now!

Mid-summer marks the start of peak pest season in Middle Tennessee gardens—and it's time to fight back.

This week, we're launching Bug Week, a six-day crash course on the most destructive garden pests in our region. Each day, we’ll teach you how to identify them (from egg to adult), recognize the damage, and take action—organically and effectively.

🔍 Know your enemy. Defend your garden. Join us starting Sunday, July 6 on Instagram.

Letting your herbs bloom isn’t a clear-cut yes or no—it depends on your goals. While flowering can reduce the flavor or vigor of leafy herbs like basil, it also attracts pollinators, supports beneficial insects, and gives you seeds to cook with or plant for next season. Some flowers, like chamomile and calendula, are grown specifically for their blooms, while others—like cilantro and fennel—produce delicious seeds. If you’ve had your fill of basil or chives, go ahead and let them flower. Just be mindful of timing; woody herbs like thyme and sage may not recover if pruned too late.

What to plant, harvest, and tend in your early July garden.

The easiest, fastest way to turn an over abundance of cucumbers into a tasty snack that will last months in the refrigerator. It’s Quick Pickle Time!

What to plant, harvest, and tend in your late June garden.