Key Takeaways
September is a great time to plant cool-season crops in many regions.Leafy greens, root veggies, and garlic thrive when planted this month.Use fast-maturing varieties and row covers to ensure a fall harvest.
For gardeners, September means shorter days, cooler temperatures, and the last of the summer vegetables—but that doesn’t mean planting season is over.
Here’s what you need to know about planting fall vegetables in September.
Why September Is Still a Great Time to Plant Fall Veggies
In many regions, September is the perfect time to plant another round of cool-season vegetables. The hottest summer weather has passed, days are still warm and sunny, and nights have cooled to the lower temperatures that many leafy greens, lettuces, and other fall crops require.
Planting these vegetables in September, rather than waiting until later in the year, gives them as much time as possible to mature before temperatures get too cold.
It’s also a good time to plant crops like root vegetables and greens that can overwinter and even improve in flavor before they’re harvested the following spring.
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7 Vegetables to Sow in September
Lettuce: Fast-growing lettuces thrive in cooler fall temperatures. Baby lettuces can be harvested in as little as 30 days from planting seed.Kale: Seed kale in September to harvest baby greens in as little as one month. Speed up the process by planting starts and extend the season past your first frost date by protecting plants with row cover.Spinach: This tender salad green does well planted from seed in fall, as the cooler temperatures and shorter days can help prevent bolting. Baby spinach can be ready to harvest in as little as 40 to 50 days.Radishes: One of the fastest-growing cool-season veggies, radishes can be ready to pick in as little as 3 weeks. Sow a new crop every 2 weeks starting in September to harvest through fall.Carrots: Fast-maturing carrot varieties can be ready to harvest in 60 days or so. Seed a new crop every 2 weeks to overwinter and harvest extra-sweet carrots in spring.Beets: Choose quicker-maturing varieties intended for late summer planting and fall harvest, which can be ready to pick as baby beets in as little as 48 days. Beets sown in fall can also be overwintered until spring.
Garlic: In colder zones (2-5), you can plant garlic in early or mid-September for a harvest the following summer. In warmer zones, wait until mid- to late October when temperatures are cooler.
How to Maximize a Late-Season Fall Planting
Look for early-maturing varieties. Check seed packets for “days to harvest”—how long that particular plant should take from seed or transplant to mature. Choose early-maturing varieties that will be ready to pick before your growing zone gets too cold for that crop.
Mulch soil to protect roots. After your seeds have sprouted or your seedlings have been transplanted, mulch the soil to protect root crops when temperatures drop.
Protect tender veggies with row cover. Cool-season crops typically tolerate frosts, or temperatures between 32°F and 36°F, easily. However, you may want to protect crops like leafy greens from temperatures between 28°F-32°F, especially if the plants are young. Use wire hoops, a row cover, or reemay to cover the plants and protect them from damage on very cold nights.
Use cloches, low tunnels, or cold frames to extend the growing season. After September planting, you can continue seeding many of these crops every two weeks. Cover later successions with glass or plastic cloches, low tunnels (wire hoops covered with clear plastic sheeting), or cold frames to protect them from the coldest temperatures and enjoy a late fall or winter harvest.
FAQ
Can I plant vegetables in September for fall harvest?
Yes. In many regions, you can plant leafy greens, root vegetables, and garlic in September to harvest later in fall.
Do I need to protect fall plantings from frost?
Yes, if the plants are very young or newly transplanted. Many cool-season crops that thrive in fall weather can survive a frost, but you may want to cover tender plants with row cover or an old sheet during an early freeze.
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