October 29, 2026
Fall at Rose Sharon Gardens: roots, seeds, and why fall is the best time to plant
Hello friends,
If you signed up years ago, you may notice things look different. Rose Sharon Gardens is now a small nursery in northeastern Pennsylvania, growing medicinal, at-risk, and Northeast native plants. Thank you for staying with me. Here is what is happening in the garden this fall.
Harvesting medicinal roots in fall
Fall is root season. Once the tops yellow and die back, usually after the first frosts, the plant has sent its energy down into the roots for winter. That is when roots are at their richest. Dig on a dry day, take only part of a clump if you want the plant to keep going, rinse the soil off, and slice larger roots before drying them in a warm, airy spot out of direct sun. Many perennial roots, like echinacea, are best harvested after the plant has grown for two or three seasons.
Saving seed from native and medicinal perennials
Watch for seed heads that have turned brown and dry. Snip them into a paper bag, let them finish drying indoors, then shake out the seed and store it in labeled paper envelopes somewhere cool and dry. Many perennials need a cold winter before they will sprout, so you can also scatter fresh seed outdoors now and let winter do the work.
Why fall planting beats spring planting
The soil is still warm while the air is cool, so new plants put their energy into roots instead of leaves. Fall rains mean less watering, and by spring the plants are settled in and ready to grow. Try to get plants in the ground a few weeks before the ground freezes, and give them a light layer of mulch.
New plants are available now in the shop at rosesharongardens.com.
Warmly,
Sharon
Rose Sharon Gardens