Fall Garden Fair Vegetables | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

In Santa Clara County, we can grow delicious vegetables year round. Our cool season lets us grow vegetables that are typically grown as early spring vegetables elsewhere in the U.S.

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.

All sale plants are in 4-packs unless otherwise noted.

Note: This year, the Succulent, Garlic, and Vegetable Seedling sale on Sept 20 (9 am–noon) will have the widest selection of vegetable seedlings. Only a subset of the ones listed below will be available at the Fall Garden Fair event on Oct 11.

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)

Artichoke: Violetta Precoce, OP
Violet purple globes, medium-sized, thorn-free. Perennial, full sun. Cut to ground level after spring production. 3–5' x 2–3'

Arugula: Italian, OP, Eruca sativa
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.

Asian Greens: Chijimisai, OP
Cross between tatsoi and komatsuma. Smooth, spoon-shaped leaves in a loose, upright rosette. Great spinach substitute for salads, soups, stir fries, and more. 8–12" tall. Plant 12" apart.

Asian Greens: Chinese Broccoli, Gailon, Gai Lan, OP
Thick, juicy stalks, young leaves and flower buds are tender and delicious. Can harvest shoots repeatedly for weeks.

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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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.

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.

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.

Broccoli: Gypsy, Hybrid
Large 6–8" main head followed by plentiful side shoots. Heat tolerant. 18–24" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.

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.

Swirl of magenta red leaves around a tight conical center

Cabbage: Kalibos, Hybrid
Pointed purple/red cabbage heads weigh 2–3 lbs. Sweet flavor, good storage. 12–15" tall. Plant 18–24" apart.

Cabbage: Red Acre
Compact plants produce 2–4 lb red heads. 12–15" tall. Plant 12–24" apart.

Cabbage: Tiara, Hybrid
Delicious 6” mini cabbages are just 1–2 lb each. 10–12" tall. Plant 12" apart.

Cabbage: Mixed
Mixed four-pack of cabbage. A great way to try several varieties! Plant 10–24" apart.

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.

Cauliflower: DePurple, Hybrid
7" lilac purple heads, keeps color when cooked. No blanching needed. Great color and flavor. 18–24" tall. Plant 24–30" apart.

Loose cluster of white cauliflower curds on thick green stems

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.

Cauliflower: Flame Star, Hybrid
Pastel orange cauliflower, sweet & tasty. No blanching needed. Excellent heat tolerance. 18–24" tall. Plant 24–30" apart.

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Cauliflower: Veronica Romanesco, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kale: Mars Landing, OP
Beautiful leaves in bronzy maroon color with scalloped edges. Stays tender, holds well. 24–30" tall. Plant 12–18" apart.

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.

4 leeks with long white and pale green stems

Leek: Carentan, OP
3½" pot. 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.

Leek: Tadorna, OP
3½" pot. Vigorous leek, thick, medium-length shank. Holds well in garden. Moderate leaf disease resistance. 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.

Lettuce: Bauer Green Oakleaf, OP
Dense heads with small, tender, crisp leaves. 5–7" tall. Plant 8–10" apart

Lettuce: Salanova Green Butter, OP
Dense heads with small, delicate, buttery leaves. 5–7" tall. Plant 8–10" apart.

Lettuce: Salanova Red Batavia, OP
Compact, dense heads have bright green leaves tipped in purple-red. 5–7" tall. Plant 8–10" apart.

Lettuce: Salanova Red Oakleaf, OP
Dense heads of shiny red, finely lobed oakleaf leaves. 5–7" tall. Plant 8–10" apart.

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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.

Lettuce: Summer Bouquet Mix, OP
Delicious mix of European lettuces: red loose leaf Redina, crisp green Nevada, and burgundy/green Cardinale. Plant 8–10" apart.

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.

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.

Peas: Tall Telephone (shelling), OP
Large pods of delicious peas on tall vines. Heirloom variety. Needs a trellis. 6' tall. Plant 4" apart.

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: 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.