Seasonal Gardening

Which Perennials to Plant this Fall to Thrive on Your Land

January 22, 2026

Fall landscaping isn’t just about raking up the pretty leaves. It’s also prime time for planting or transplanting certain perennials, and considering which cool-season edibles would make the best side dishes at your winter meals. Folks throughout Illinois, Wisconsin and beyond are figuring this out and planting assortments of veggies in their gardens so they have something tasty and home-grown to look forward to as winter approaches.

There’s a lot you can accomplish this time of year. Unless you’re a pro, you may need the support of a full-service landscaping company to lay the groundwork and make it all worth the effort.

What Are Cold-Weather Perennials?

It’s a good question! There are a few categories of plants, which can get a bit confusing when you’re mapping out your garden according to season. By definition, perennials are plants that survive for three growing seasons or more. In other words, they should last for years, not just a few seasons within the same year. That enables them to develop strong roots, allowing you to put a little less work into ensuring their survival.

As for the cold weather kind, you’ll need to locate ones that can be planted later in the year so they can survive and even thrive in colder weather.

Which Vegetables Will Grow in Late Fall in the Midwest?

From fast-growing Asian greens to hardy Midwestern kale, the sky’s the limit. Or maybe we should say the ground is limitless. However, only you – and mother nature – can decide what best to include in your fall garden. Carrots, beets, spinach, Swiss chard, certain varieties of lettuce and even parsley are possibilities. You may have more success starting them in pots and then transplanting them to the ground when they become established. This is partly due to the amount and quality of light they need to get started. But once established and planted properly, many such varieties can tolerate temperatures down to the mid- or upper-20s.

Use a Plant Hardiness Zone Map to Guide Your Gardening Choices

Now that you have a plan in mind, take a closer look at your plot of land. Honing in more specifically on the ground and air temperatures you can expect in the coming month should act as your guide in choosing plant varieties.

Use this USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map as a guide. It lets people know throughout the country which perennials are most likely to thrive according to geographical area. Zones range from 1 (the warmest) to 13 (the coldest). By familiarizing yourself with the limitations of the lower temperatures in your area, you’ll get a sense of the time frame that realistically remains before things should be indoors.

Choose Plants According to Humidity, Temperatures and Sun Exposure

For better results, do a little sleuthing to match your area’s relative humidity and the sun exposure where you’re planting. While precipitation can be hard to predict, consider this year’s weather predictions and choose accordingly. This online almanac is a great source for late fall planting ideas. It explains which types of kale can withstand the cold the best (winterbor and redbor), which peas are the sweetest in cold weather, and how long it should take for your plants to mature.

Get Professional Advice on Caring for Your Cold-Weather Garden

The team at Schmechtig Landscapes can play an active role in getting your cold-weather garden started. Our horticulture experts can help you germinate everything you want to add and create seedlings before recommending the ideal time for transferring them to a larger area. We will let you know when and how much to water, fertilizing best practices, and how to continue caring for your plants once the ground gets frosty.

Contact Schmechtig Landscapes for All Your Fall & Winter Landscaping Needs

We Midwesterners are lucky in that we can design our landscapes with different seasons in mind. Just don’t overlook all the potential that your garden has to offer this time of year. It’s worth investing in the proper maintenance so that you reap all the benefits of your vegetable garden.

There are other cold-weather options. We can help you create gorgeous winter displays in time for the holidays. If you prefer to transfer your perennials into your home or a greenhouse equipped with grow lights, we’re happy to help with that too! We’re not just landscapers; we’re also builders and landscape designers.

Contact Schmechtig Landscapes to start planning your fall garden, or call us today with any questions!

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