As summer fades into autumn, September offers gardeners a final opportunity to plant for fall and winter harvests. Planting in September means cooler temperatures for a more pleasant gardening experience as well. Your planting options will vary depending on your USDA Hardiness Zone. We’ve prepared a comprehensive guide to what vegetables YOU can grow in September and still harvest before cold weather sets in!
Zones 3-4: Last Chance Planting
In these northern zones with the shortest growing seasons, focus on:
- Cold-hardy greens: spinach, kale, arugula
- Root vegetables: radishes (fastest-growing varieties)
- Herbs: Garlic (for next year’s harvest)
- Cover crops: Winter rye, hairy vetch
Zone 5: Cool Weather Crops
Zone 5 gardeners can plant all vegetables suitable for Zones 3-4, as well as:
- Leafy greens: lettuce (cold-tolerant varieties)
- Asian greens: mizuna or tatsoi
- Herbs: garlic (for next year’s harvest)
- Root Vegetables: onion sets (for next year’s harvest) and spring onions
Zone 6: Extended Fall Planting
In Zone 6, you can plant all of the vegetables suitable for Zone 5. Additionally, you may want to consider:
- Root Vegetables: carrots (for baby carrots before frost), beets (for the greens), and turnips
- Cold Hardy Greens: spinach
- Brassicas: mustard greens
Zone 7: Diverse Options
Zone 7 gardeners can plant all vegetables suitable for Zone 6, and:
- Cole Crops: broccoli and cauliflower (fast-maturing varieties), cabbage and kohlrabi
- Peas (for fall crop)
Zones 8-9: Warm Season Extension
These zones benefit from longer growing seasons and can grow all vegetable plants suitable for Zone 7, along with:
- Leafy Greens: lettuce (multiple sowings possible) and Swiss chard
- Brassicas: collard greens
- Bush beans (for fall crop)
Zone 10: Year-Round Growing (Most Years)
In this warmest zone, grow vegetables suitable to Zones 8-9, in addition to:
- Tomatoes: (last chance for fall crop)
- Peppers: (for late fall harvest)
- Eggplants: (for late fall harvest)
- Summer squash: zucchini, yellow squash, and pattypan
General Tips for Successful September Planting:
- Use season extenders like row covers, cold frames, or hoop houses to protect plants from early frosts. Have them ready so that you can install them quickly, if needed.
- Clean up debris from earlier plantings to prevent disease and do away with leftover pests.
- Choose fast-maturing varieties when possible.
- Amend soil with compost to replenish nutrients after summer crops.
- Water newly planted seeds and transplants consistently.
- Consider using mulch to retain soil warmth and moisture.
September gardening varies greatly, depending on your zone. In cooler areas, it’s time to focus on cold-hardy crops and preparations for next spring. In warmer zones, September offers a second spring-like planting season. Regardless of your location, there are still plenty of opportunities to get your hands dirty and extend your harvest into the cooler months.
Remember to check your specific last frost date and the days to germination and maturity on seed packets to ensure your crops have time to produce before winter sets in. Also, consider speaking with local vegetable gardening experts or your cooperative extension office for advice tailored to your specific microclimate (a specialized area of growing conditions, i.e.: next to a heat-retaining concrete wall or filtered light from a tree’s crown).
Happy September gardening!
