Autumn is an ideal time to take advantage of the cooler weather. Depending on where you live, some root vegetables and salad greens grow just as well in the fall as they do in the spring. Growing an autumn garden allows you to keep fresh produce on the table without having to tend to a garden in the hot summer sun. At the very least, lettuce, spinach, and other greens with a short maturity time can be planted later in the season. If you want, you can even extend the growing season by planting under floating row covers or cold frames that will shield plants from frost but still allow light, air, and water to penetrate.
Work Backward From the Frost Date
To plan your fall garden, you will need to find out when your area typically expects its first frost. To find when you need to get your seeds in the ground, determine the number of days to maturity per vegetable then count back the number of days from the first average frost date. Maturity information is typically on seed packets. Most everything you plant in the spring can be grown in your fall garden, too. Spring-sown seeds are considered cool-season plants, meaning they will tolerate a light frost, thrive in short daylight hours, and perform best with mild temperatures. Some vegetables even taste better when nipped by a light frost. Below are lists organized by U.S. region featuring the vegetables and herbs you can plant in September. Unless specifically listed as “transplants,” the items in this list can be directly sown in your garden during September.
Arugula Collard greens Lettuce Mache Mustard greens Peas Radishes Spinach Turnips
ArugulaBok choyLettuceMacheRadishesSpinach
ArugulaLettuceMacheSpinach
ArugulaBok choyCollard greensLettuceMacheMustard greensRadishesSpinach
Arugula Beets Bok choy Broccoli (transplants) Brussels sprouts (transplants) Carrots Cauliflower (transplants) Collard greens Kale Lettuce Mustard greens Radishes Spinach Turnips
Arugula Beets Bok choy Broccoli (transplants) Brussels sprouts (transplants) Cabbage (transplants) Carrots Cauliflower (transplants) Collard greens Kale Leeks Lettuce Mustard greens Radishes Spinach Swiss chard Turnips
