Fall planting season is here, and I’m excited to share everything I’ve got going in the seed trays this year! I recently posted a YouTube video walking through the whole process, and I wanted to put it all in writing too.
Trying a New Seed Starting Mix
One of the biggest changes this season is my seed starting mix. I’ve been reading The Compact Garden, and I follow the authors on YouTube — their channel has honestly become one of my go-to sources of inspiration for how I approach my own garden. This season I decided to try their seed starting mix recipe, which is simple:
- 1 part coco coir
- 1 part perlite
- 1 part compost
I’ll report back later in the season on how germination and seedling vigor compare to the bagged mixes I’ve used in years past.
The Full Fall 2026 Seed List
Here’s everything I started this fall, organized by type:
Vegetables & Greens
- Collards – Burpee, Georgia
- Mustard Greens – The Okra Lady, Florida Broadleaf Mustard Green
- Turnips – The Okra Lady, Seven Top Turnip
- Cabbage – Ferry Morse, Early Golden Acre
- Cucumbers – Ferry Morse, National Pickling
- Kale – Ferry Morse, Dwarf Blue Curled
- Swiss Chard – American Seed, Mixed Colors
- Green Beans – Burpee Organics, Tendergreen Garden Bean
- Lettuce – Burpee Organics, Black Seeded Simpson
- Lettuce – Ferry Morse, Buttercrunch
Melons
- Watermelon – Back to the Roots, Sugar Baby
- Cantaloupe – American Seed, Hale’s Best
Herbs
- Cilantro – Back to the Roots, Slow Bolting
- Basil – American Seed, Sweet Italian
Flowers
- Marigold – American Seed, French Dwarf Double Mixed Colors
- Cosmos – Back to the Roots, Sensation Mix
- Nasturtium – Ferry Morse, Empress of India
- Calendula – Ferry Morse, Pacific Beauty
- Coneflower – Ferry Morse, Purple Coneflower
- Sunflower – Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Procut Orange
- Sunflower – American Seed, Mixed Colors
- Sunflower – Ferry Morse, Chocolate Cherry
- Zinnia – American Seed, California Giants
- Zinnia – Ferry Morse, Giant Double Violet Queen
- Zinnia – Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Benary’s Giant Mix
What’s Next
I’ll be sharing updates as the seedlings progress, especially on how that new starting mix performs. If you want to see the process in action, check out the YouTube video linked below — and let me know in the comments what you are planting for fall.
YouTube Video – What are we Growing this Fall
Chat soon! 🌱