This time of year is one of the most productive times in my garden. I love all of the fresh produce that I get to harvest! As plants start dying off or as you harvest the last of your summer crops, it’s a great time to start thinking about fall planting. Planting in September is a great way to extend your harvest into the fall!
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This article is specifically for those of you living in zones 7 & 8. If you aren’t sure what your garden zone is you can follow this link to find out!
Not in zones 7 or 8? Check out our articles on zones 5 & 6, or 9 & 10.
Planting in September: Tips
It’s important to keep your first frost date in mind when you are planting in the fall. You’ll want to make sure that you aren’t planting anything too late!
Use this frost date calculator to determine when your first frost is expected. You can then count back for two weeks. This date becomes your “drop dead date” for your final fall plantings. Keep in mind if you are planting that close to your first frost you should plan on protecting your harvest with a hoop house, cold frame or some Heavy Fabric Row Cover.
If you live in zone 7 you will definitely need to plan on protecting any of the crops you plant this month using one of the methods I listed above. Also, in both zones 7 & 8, you need to plant transplants NOT seeds for any crops on this list that are in the cabbage family!
Planting in September
Most of the crops on this list are the same for both zones 7 & 8. However, if you live in zone 7 you will want to get these crops planted in early September! If you live in zone 8 you can get away with planting these crops later in the month.
Beets
Beets are so good for you! They are packed with nutrients and I personally think they are delicious. If you want to learn more about growing beets you can check out this article: Complete Guide to Growing Beets
Broccoli
We love eating broccoli grown from our garden! We actually freeze any extra harvest, so that we can have garden grown broccoli year-round!
Cabbage
Having cabbage from your own garden is one of the great things about planting in September! Remember that you need to plant transplants NOT seeds for any crops on this list that are in the cabbage family!
Kale
Kale is so hardy, it will grow unprotected in your garden until early winter. Even then, in all but the coldest areas, the only winter protection kale will need is a piece of heavy fabric row cover. Kale tastes great in the winter and there are several different types of kale you can plant. You can learn more about the different types of kale you can grow in your garden in this article.
Lettuce
September is a great time to get lettuce started in your garden! As the weather starts to get cooler it makes great conditions for growing lettuce!
Peas (Zone 8)
If you live in zone 8 you can plant peas this month for a fall harvest! Planting peas in the fall requires a little bit more work, but it is definitely worth the effort. If you want to learn more about planting peas this month you can check out my article here: Planting Peas in the Fall
Spinach
Spinach is another hardy crop that you can get started this month! We actually grow spinach in our garden all winter long!
Carrots
I love growing carrots in the winter and fall. The cooler temperatures make the carrots much sweeter! They’re like eating candy! If you want to learn more about growing carrots in the winter you can read this article: Growing Carrots in the Fall & Winter
Radishes
I love slicing up some radishes to add to my fall salads. Give them a try in your garden this month!
Other Crops you can plant this month
- Collards
- Cauliflower
- Swiss Chard
Planting in September is a great way to extend your harvest into the fall and early winter. What will you be planting in your garden this month? Is there anything that I missed?
5 Crops you can still plant in September
