Some of the best salads come from cold weather growing. Most lettuces and spinaches prefer the cool temperatures. They will produce better and grow stronger than if you try to force them in the heat of summer. Carrots are also great cool weather vegetables. If you have children, these can be a fun choice to introduce them to gardening.

Another great benefit of gardening is that you no longer are forced to weed in the heat. The weeds, for the most part, are heat loving annuals that will slow down with the weather. Plus, the drop in temperature means you can work without sweating (or at least with a lot less sweat). The normal pests of the garden (ants, biting insects, and even snakes) also slow down as the temperature goes down.

Fall is not just the time to clean up the tools and get ready for winter hibernation by the fireplace. The cool weather that flows in starting around September opens up a whole new world of gardening possibilities.