If you’re in the process of planning your fall garden right now, here are some easy-to-grow cool-weather vegetables and herbs that you can plant in September!
Never knew before I started gardening, but September can be super similar to the beginning of spring when it comes to growing plants. It is the perfect time to plant a variety of vegetables and herbs. Luckily, those are fairly easy to grow too, even for beginner gardeners!
Planting in early fall has several benefits for your vegetables. There’s less heat stress on your plants, fewer pests compared to summer and many vegetables and herbs simply feel better in cooler weather. Starting your vegetables and herbs in early fall, you will ensure to have a fresh harvest well into autumn and even early winter!
Here’s a list of the best herbs and vegetables to plant in September with tips on how to grow them.
Top 10 Vegetables And Herbs to Grow in September
1. Radishes
Radishes are among the fastest-growing crops and if you’re as impatient as me to see results – these are a must-have for your fall garden. Sow seeds directly and plant every 7-10 days to have a continuous harvest!
Days to Harvest: 20–30 days
2. Spinach
Spinach can get a ton of hate because of its high oxalate content, but that doesn’t stop me from planting it in September. This leafy green feels great in cooled temperatures and can even tolerate light frost. To grow you need to sow seeds directly in well-drained soil and keep them moist until germination.
Days to Harvest: 30–45 days
3. Cilantro
A handful of fresh cilantro can be a great addition to cozy fall meals like stews, curries or soups! And if this plant didn’t smell like a wet mop to me after C-19, I’d be planting plenty of it right now. It’s a cool-weather crop and it’s perfect for fall gardening!
Days to Harvest: 45–70
4. Arugula
Arugula has got to be one of my favorite leafy greens! It’s perfect for salads, as an ingredient in pesto or just as topping for pizza and pasta. Fall and spring are the best time to start it as it grows super fast in cooler temperatures!
Days to Harvest: 20–40 days
5. Kale
I’ve now turned the kale plants I sowed last September into perennials – they’re almost like trees now! They survived the frost, the summer, but they feel best when it’s cool and rainy. You plant once and you get a continuous harvest for months – just pick the older outer leaves and the plant will keep growing and producing.
Days to Harvest: 50–75 days
6. Lettuce
Another great vegetable to plant in your fall garden is lettuce, any variety is good, but Romaine and butterhead might do best during autumn.
Days to Harvest: 30–60 days
7. Carrots
Homegrown carrots somehow taste sweeter and just better! Now is a great time to plant some, make sure to use deep and loose soil so that your carrots can grow better.
Days to Harvest: 60–80 days
8. Beets
Fresh beets are great in salads and you can even use them to make dips or juices. Did you know beets are great for lowering blood pressure too? And if you grow your own you can enjoy the bulb and the greens! When you sow them and get the seedlings, thin them to give the vegetables room to grow.
Days to Harvest: 55–70 days
9. Bok Choy
I personally love bok choy in stir-fries and that’s why I’m putting it on the list! This vegetable loves cooler temperatures and lots of water and it grows fairly quickly!
Days to Harvest: 30–45
10. Garlic
You can plant cloves of garlic and turn each one into a head of garlic at the end of September or early October. You will harvest the mature garlic next summer, but I feel like it’s a must grow vegetable! I also like to eat the garlic greens throughout the cold season – they have a milder flavor and are great for soups, stews or even salads.
Harvest time: Next summer
Tips for a Successful Fall Garden
- When the weather starts getting colder, start using row covers to extend the season and protect against early frost.
- Amend the soil with compost to replenish nutrients after summer crops.
- If fall months happen to be dry, remember to water regularly to keep the plants healthy.
Final Thoughts
As you can see there are plenty of vegetables and herbs that you can plant and grow during September! From fast-growers like radishes to hardy greens like kale and spinach, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy fresh, homegrown veggies for the rest of the year.