Best Fall Crops for a Tower Garden: What to Grow This Fall
For many Tower Garden growers, fall is one of the easiest and most productive times of the year. As summer heat begins to ease, leafy greens, herbs, peas and cool-season vegetables can really take off.
But fall doesn't look the same everywhere. While growers farther north may already be thinking about frost, those of us in Florida may still be waiting for daytime temperatures to finally drop out of the 90s.
That's why choosing fall crops isn't just about looking at the calendar. Think about your actual temperatures, available light and how much growing season you have ahead of you.
If you're growing in Florida, your fall planting window can look very different depending on where you live. Our Florida Fall & Winter Tower Garden Planting Guide breaks down what to grow in North, Central and South Florida and how those choices change from September through December.
🍂 One of the best things about fall: Crops that struggled through intense summer heat often become much easier to grow as temperatures moderate. Lettuce, leafy greens, herbs and brassicas can all become excellent choices.
Jump to a Section
Why Is Fall Such a Good Time for a Tower Garden?
Summer can be tough on both plants and growers. High temperatures increase water use, warm the reservoir and can make many leafy greens and cool-season vegetables difficult to grow.
As temperatures fall, those conditions begin to change.
Cooler weather can mean slower water loss, less heat stress and better growing conditions for crops that simply aren't at their best during the hottest part of summer.
Fall can also bring a change in pest pressure, although don't assume the bugs have disappeared completely. Aphids, whiteflies, caterpillars and other pests can still find your Tower, so regular checks remain important.
🌱 Don't garden by the calendar alone. Fall in Michigan is very different from fall in Florida. Choose crops based on your actual growing conditions, not simply because September or October has arrived.
Leafy Greens: Some of the Best Fall Tower Garden Crops
If you want a productive fall Tower, leafy greens are an excellent place to start. Many are relatively quick to grow, don't need pollination or support and can be harvested repeatedly.
🥬 Lettuce
Lettuce is one of our favorite crops as temperatures cool. Butterhead, romaine and loose-leaf varieties can all grow beautifully in a Tower Garden.
Loose-leaf lettuce can be harvested a little at a time by taking the larger outer leaves, while head varieties can be allowed to form a full head.
🌿 Kale
Kale is a productive leafy green that performs well in cooler conditions and can be harvested continuously by removing the larger outside leaves while leaving the center growing.
It can become a substantial plant, so give it enough room that it doesn't shade smaller crops around it.
🌈 Swiss Chard
Swiss chard gives you repeated harvests over a long period. Harvest the outer leaves as needed and leave the central growing point intact.
Chard can eventually become a very large plant with a thick stem, so don't underestimate how much space a mature plant can occupy.
🔥 Arugula
Arugula is quick, easy and perfect for adding a peppery green to salads and sandwiches. We plant 6–8 seeds per rockwool cube for a fuller cluster.
Although it's often described as a cool-season crop, we successfully grow arugula year-round here in South Florida.
🌱 Spinach
Spinach prefers cooler conditions and can struggle or bolt as temperatures rise, making fall and winter a much better opportunity for many outdoor growers.
Harvest individual outer leaves as they reach the size you want while allowing the center to continue growing.
🥬 Mustard & Other Greens
Mustard greens, collards and Asian greens can add variety to a fall Tower. Many can be harvested leaf by leaf, making them useful when you want an ongoing supply rather than one large harvest.
Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage
Fall is also the season when many growers start thinking about brassicas. Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage prefer cooler growing conditions and can struggle when temperatures become too hot.
There's one tradeoff: these aren't small plants. They can produce a lot of foliage and occupy a planting port for months while you're waiting for the head to develop.
🥦 Broccoli
Broccoli is a true cool-season crop and a great fall choice when your temperatures are suitable. Don't be surprised by its size — the leaves can become quite large.
The central head can take close to three months to form, so this is more of a long-term crop than lettuce or arugula.
🤍 Cauliflower
Cauliflower also prefers cooler conditions and needs patience. Like broccoli, it can take close to three months to produce the head you're waiting for.
It's a fun crop to grow, but if Tower space is limited, consider whether you'd rather devote that port to something you can harvest repeatedly.
🥬 Cabbage
Cabbage is another cool-season crop that can do very well in a fall Tower. It takes time for the head to form and the mature plant needs considerably more room than a lettuce plant.
🌀 Romanesco
Romanesco is closely related to broccoli and cauliflower and has similar cool-weather preferences. Its unusual lime-green spiral head makes it one of the more interesting fall crops to grow.
Like the other large brassicas, plan for the mature size of the plant rather than the tiny seedling you're putting into the Tower.
🐛 Watch your brassicas. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale and collards are all favorites of cabbage worms and loopers. Check leaves regularly — especially the undersides — so you can deal with them before they do significant damage.
Herbs to Grow in Fall
Don't forget the herbs. Some herbs grow year-round in many climates, but fall can provide excellent conditions for parsley, cilantro, dill, chives, thyme, sage and rosemary.
🌿 Parsley
Parsley is a great cool-to-mild weather herb and gives you repeated harvests. We plant six or more seeds per rockwool cube rather than thinning it down to a single plant.
Harvest the larger outer stems and allow the center to keep producing.
🌿 Cilantro & Dill
Fall is a great time to add cilantro and dill, particularly where hot summer temperatures make them harder to keep productive.
Both are useful additions to a mixed Tower because they don't require the space or support of large fruiting plants.
🌿 Thyme, Sage & Rosemary
These herbs fit perfectly into fall cooking, but that doesn't mean they're only fall crops. Depending on your climate, they can remain productive much longer.
Give them good light and harvest regularly without removing too much of the plant at once.
🌿 Chives
Chives are compact, easy to fit into a mixed Tower and useful for repeated harvesting. Trim what you need and allow the plant to regrow.
Peas and Other Cool-Weather Crops
Peas are one of those crops that really appreciate the change from summer heat to cooler conditions.
We plant two pea seeds per rockwool cube. One thing to watch during germination is moisture: pea seeds have a tendency to rot when kept too wet, so don't leave the rockwool sitting or “swimming” in water.
Most peas will need support as they grow, so plan for a trellis or another way to manage the vines.
Read our complete Pea Growing Guide →
What About Carrots, Beets, Onions and Leeks?
You'll often see these included on fall vegetable lists, but they're not necessarily the crops we'd prioritize for a Tower Garden.
Root and bulb development changes the equation in an aeroponic system. Just because something can be grown doesn't always mean it's the best use of a Tower planting port.
If your goal is a productive Tower, leafy greens, herbs, peas and other crops that make good use of the system are generally where we'd start.
Don't Forget Strawberries
Strawberries are another crop worth considering as temperatures cool, especially in warmer climates where fall and winter can provide excellent strawberry-growing conditions.
Variety matters. Some strawberry varieties respond to day length while others are day-neutral, so the best choice depends on where and how you're growing.
Strawberries don't require a trellis, but pollination may need some help when they're grown indoors or where pollinator activity is limited.
Starting Your Fall Tower Garden
One of the trickiest parts of fall growing is that the calendar may say fall before the weather agrees.
In warmer climates, you may be ready to start broccoli, lettuce or other cool-season crops while outdoor temperatures are still too hot for reliable germination.
Starting seeds in a more controlled environment can help bridge that gap. Once seedlings are established and outdoor conditions improve, they can move into the Tower.
If you're starting your own plants, our Seeds & Seedlings Guide covers rockwool, germination and getting young plants ready for your hydroponic system.
🌱 Don't want to start from seed? Living Towers ships hydroponic-ready seedlings throughout the lower 48 states. Our selection changes with the season, so you'll often see more cool-weather crops becoming available as fall arrives.
Does Tower Garden Care Change in Fall?
Yes, because your plants and reservoir respond to the weather around them.
Water Use Usually Changes
A Tower that needed frequent refilling during hot summer weather may use considerably less water once temperatures fall. Keep checking the reservoir rather than continuing a summer refill routine out of habit.
Return to Full-Strength Nutrients When Conditions Allow
We sometimes reduce nutrient strength during extreme summer heat. As those stressful conditions ease, established plants can generally return to the standard Tower Garden rate of 20 mL Mineral Blend A and 20 mL Mineral Blend B per gallon of water.
For young seedlings, start at approximately half strength.
Keep Checking pH
Maintain pH between approximately 5.5 and 6.5. Don't wait until plants are obviously struggling before checking your water, nutrients and pH.
Our Water Guide and Nutrients Guide go into much more detail.
Watch the Forecast
Fall can also mean sudden temperature swings. Growers in colder climates may need to prepare for frost or freezing conditions while growers farther south are still dealing with heat.
That's another reason there isn't one universal date when everyone should plant the same crops.
Can You Move a Tower Garden Indoors for Fall and Winter?
Yes. If outdoor temperatures become too cold for the crops you want to grow, an indoor Tower Garden lets you continue growing through fall and winter.
Indoors, your biggest consideration becomes light. Tower Garden grow lights should generally run for around 14–16 hours per day, followed by complete darkness overnight, and should remain approximately 6–8 inches from the tops of the plants.
You'll also need to think about mature plant size. Lettuce and herbs are easy to manage beneath lights, while large tomatoes, cucumbers and other fruiting plants require more planning.
Some fruiting crops may also need help with pollination indoors.
See our Tower Garden Light Guide and Best Compact Plants for Indoor Tower Gardens for more help planning an indoor garden.
🍂 So, what should you plant this fall? Start with what you actually like to eat, then match those crops to your temperature, light and available Tower space. Lettuce, leafy greens and herbs are great choices if you want something relatively simple. Add peas, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower or strawberries if you want to mix things up.
Keep Exploring
🌱 Hydroponic Crop Library
Compare crops and find detailed growing guides for vegetables, herbs, greens and fruiting plants.
Explore the Crop Library →🥬 Shop Seedlings
Skip the germination stage with hydroponic-ready seedlings shipped directly from Living Towers.
Shop Seedlings →🌱 Shop Seeds
Start your own fall crops from our selection of seeds for Tower Garden and other growing systems.
Shop Seeds →
