21 Vegetables to Plant in September

September is a great month for starting your cool-weather vegetables. The combination of warm soil and cooling air is beneficial to many of the same crops you would grow in the spring. In fact, some refer to fall as the second spring in terms of planting. 

The warm soil in September speeds up the rate of germination for many seeds, which reduces the chance of those seeds rotting due to too much moisture and slow germination. The cooling air means that plants stay hydrated longer and grow faster than they would in the warmer months.

It might surprise you to know just how cold-tolerant spinach is. Even young plants will survive a light freeze. Mature spinach continues to grow when temperatures drop into the 20s (~-7°C). You’ll love ‘Bloomsdale’ for its vigorous growth and reliability. It’s slow to bolt, so a late-season warm front won’t have disastrous ramifications. 

Kale ‘Dazzling Blue’

	common name Kale ‘Dazzling Blue’
	botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Dazzling Blue’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-48”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Kale is another wonderful, cool weather, leafy green vegetable. Plant your kale about 12 weeks before the first anticipated frost date for the longest growing season. Don’t worry about a frost ruining this crop, it is cold tolerant to the 20s, and even down to 10°F (-7 to -12°C) once it’s established. 

‘Dazzling Blue’ is a gorgeous plant with large blue-green leaves and bright purple midribs. It’s known for its exceptional cold tolerance. You can begin harvesting baby leaves in as little as one month. Regular harvesting will encourage more growth. 

Beets ‘Detroit Dark Red’

	common name Beets ‘Detroit Dark Red’
	botanical name Beta vulgaris ‘Detroit Dark Red’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12”-18”
	hardiness zones 2-11

The rich, earthy flavor of beets is wonderful roasted, raw, and even pickled. They germinate in warm soil and tolerate frost. However, they won’t survive a hard freeze, so in cool climate zones, it’s time to make haste. Directly sow beet seeds in the garden at least six—preferably eight—weeks before your first frost date.

‘Detroit Dark Red’ is a classic beet with blood-red, globe-shaped roots. The greens from this variety are surprisingly tasty as well. They tolerate some fluctuations in weather and resist becoming tough and woody if you leave them in the ground a little too long. 

Onions ‘Gladstone’

	common name Onions ‘Gladstone’
	botanical name Allium cepa ‘Gladstone’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4”-5”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Fall is the perfect time to plant onions. Fall-planted onions tend to be larger and more robust when you harvest them in the spring. Plant onions at least four to six weeks before you expect freezing temperatures. This gives them a chance to grow some roots and sprout before the cold weather forces them into dormancy. 

In cold climates, onions will remain dormant until spring, when they will wake up and put on some serious bulk. In warm climates, onions will grow through the winter, and you can harvest earlier. ‘Gladstone’ is a crisp, white onion with a delicate flavor. You can enjoy them raw or cooked. 

Garlic ‘Inchellium Red’

	common name Garlic ‘Inchellium Red’
	botanical name Allium sativum ‘Inchelium Red’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2”-3”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Fall is the best time to plant garlic. Plant your cloves in rich, well-drained soil for the best success. Cover with a layer of mulch to help maintain the soil temperature and avoid drastic fluctuations. Your garlic will sprout best in a soil temperature between 40-50°F (4-10°C). In warmer climates, wait another month before planting your garlic. 

‘Twister’ is a fun variety to grow. Its name comes from the way the leaves grow in a twisting pattern around the heads, providing reliable blanching. If it’s still too warm in your region, that’s ok. Cauliflower transplants well. Start your seeds indoors and transplant them in about a month.

Bok Choi ‘Toy Choy’

	common name Bok Choi ‘Toy Choy’
	botanical name Brassica rap subsp. chinensis ‘Toy Choy’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5”
	hardiness zones 2-11

A favorite mini-vegetable, baby bok choy matures quickly, so it’s good for planting in September in most climates. Baby varieties take about 30 days to mature, and full-sized varieties only a couple of weeks longer. A light freeze will enhance the flavors, making fall planting ideal.

Plant your bok choy about 50 days before your average first freeze date. You can sow these seeds directly in the garden. ‘Toy Choy’ is a baby variety, so it matures in one month. In warmer climates, sow seeds every two weeks for a bountiful and long harvest. 

Peas ‘Sugar Magnolia’

	common name Peas ‘Sugar Magnolia’
	botanical name Pisum sativum ‘Sugar Magnolia’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’-7’
	hardiness zones 2-11

If you still have about ten weeks before that first frost, you can plant delicious peas in your vegetable garden this September. Enjoy their pretty blooms, their tasty pea pods, and their nitrogen-fixing qualities. You might even consider these to be a cover crop! They will enrich your soil for next spring.

Young pea plants are tolerant of frost, but freezing weather can damage flowers and developing pods. ‘Sugar Magnolia’ is so pretty, you might mistake it for an ornamental. It does double duty in the garden with its pretty purple flowers and pods. 

Broccoli ‘Di Cicco’

	common name Broccoli ‘Di Cicco’
	botanical name Brassica oleracea var. italica ‘Di Cicco’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Young broccoli plants appreciate the warm September soil when it’s time to sprout, but these vegetables truly shine as they mature in the chilly autumn weather. Because of this, you would want to start broccoli seeds indoors in the spring. You can directly sow in the fall, which is a definite bonus.

Broccoli tolerates frost, and temperatures down to the 20s (-7°C). It produces sugars in reaction to the cold, making it more flavorful after a bit of frost. ‘Di Cicco’ produces an abundance of small to medium heads. The heads and leaves both have good flavor, and it yields for an extended period. 

Carrots ‘Scarlet Nantes’

	common name Carrots ‘Scarlet Nantes’
	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Scarlet Nantes’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6”-7”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Carrots are garden candy, and they grow nicely in cool soil. Make sure to always direct sow carrot seeds because they don’t like any disturbance. Transplanting carrots might leave you with some funny-looking root vegetables. 

Plant these famous root vegetables in September if you have ten weeks left before a freeze. They are cold tolerant, but lower than 20°F (-7°C) and you could end up with damaged roots. Layer mulch around your carrots after they sprout to give them some insulation. In warm climates, you can grow them throughout the winter.

Mustard ‘Mizuna’

	common name Mustard ‘Mizuna’
	botanical name Brassica rapa subsp. nipposinnica ‘Mizuna’
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 12”
	hardiness zones 2-11

My dear husband is a Southerner through and through (I’m a transplant). But, even he will admit that when it comes to greens, the collard isn’t king. That distinction goes to the more refined mustard green. Directly sow these seeds in the fall for harvest in as few as 30-50 days. Mustard greens prefer cool weather, like most leafy greens. 

Mustard greens are cold tolerant and will be fine in a light freeze. They are not quite as tough as kale in the face of frost, but they’re still pretty sturdy. ‘Mizuna’ is a spicy, Japanese variety with a fine and tender texture. Its delicate appearance sets it apart from tougher greens, making it a nice addition to salads.

Bush Beans ‘Gold Rush’

	common name Bush Beans ‘Gold Rush’
	botanical name Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Gold Rush’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 16”-20”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Bush beans are a great fall crop for warm climates with a long growing season. A frost will typically knock them out, so make sure to plant 10-12 weeks ahead of the first frost date, if you have one. You can grow them in containers, easily, and bring them under cover to extend your harvest time. 

‘Gold Rush’ produces beautiful, golden beans and pretty, pink flowers. They are well suited for container growing. They also hold their flavor and texture for a long time after harvesting. 

Arugula ‘Rocket’

	common name Arugula ‘Rocket’
	botanical name Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa ‘Rocket’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12”-24”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Spicy and strong, arugula is much more spirited than it looks. These unassumingly delicate leaves pack a powerful flavor punch. In cool climates, you can plant this leafy green up to four to six weeks ahead of frost. In warmer ones, go ahead and plant any time. 

‘Rocket’ is a good container variety, and has plenty of peppery flavor. It matures quickly and is ready to harvest in three to four weeks. The more your harvest, the more it will produce, so harvest early, and regularly. 

Brussels Sprouts ‘Long Island Improved’

	common name Brussels Sprouts ‘Long Island Improved’
	botanical name Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera ‘Long Island Improved’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 20”-24”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Like other brassicas, fall is the perfect time to grow Brussels sprouts. They taste sweeter after a frost, so you want to wait until it’s good and cold before you harvest these fun little vegetables. In warm climates, you can grow them through the winter. In cooler climates, try to get them planted 16 weeks ahead of that all-important date. 

‘Long Island Improved’ is the gold standard for Brussels sprouts varieties. They are small and sweet, and the plants look like tiny palm trees. Let them sweeten up, and then roast them to caramelize the sugars. Even the kids will gobble these up!

Radishes ‘Cherry Belle’

	common name Radishes ‘Cherry Belle’
	botanical name Raphanus sativus ‘Cherry Belle’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2”-3”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Radishes are spicy and crisp, and wonderful vegetables for September planting. They take about one month to mature. Plant these 4-10 weeks ahead of freezing weather for best results. 

Like carrots, radishes prefer direct sowing. They are root vegetables, so they don’t transplant well. ‘Cherry Belle’ is a popular radish with a clean, mild flavor and crisp texture. They grow well in containers, and it’s fun to see their little red tops peek above the soil when it’s time to harvest. 

Lettuce ‘Marvel of Four Seasons’

	common name Lettuce ‘Marvel of Four Seasons’
	botanical name Lactuca sativa ‘Marvel of Four Seasons’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8”-12”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Lettuce loves cool, moist conditions, and sweetens in cold weather. I love all types of lettuce, for how quickly it grows, and how attractive it looks in the garden. If your soil is still too warm, you can start your seeds indoors. Lettuce is fine for transplanting. Protect the leaves from heavy frost.

Butterhead lettuce is as delicious as it sounds. The soft, buttery leaves are perfect for salads, sandwiches, lettuce wraps, and more! ‘Marvel of Four Seasons’ has beauty and brains. Sweet, tender leaves form gorgeous, red, ruffled mounds in the veggie garden. 

Cabbage ‘Red Acre’

	common name Cabbage ‘Red Acre’
	botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Red Acre’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5”-7”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Cabbage falls into the same category as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower in terms of cold responsiveness. Frosty weather sweetens it by making it release sugars, so it’s tastier after a cold snap. Plant about 10 weeks before the first frost date, but don’t stress if you miss it by a week or two. Just cover the heads if you’re going to see temperatures in the lower 20s (-7°C). 

Select ‘Red Acre’ if you love jewel-toned vegetables. This glowing purple variety is as pretty as a picture. The heads are solid and sweet, and they are stored excellently in a cool cellar or refrigerator. 

Chard ‘Fordhook Giant’

	common name Chard ‘Fordhook Giant’
	botanical name Beta vulgaris spurs. vulgaris ‘Fordhook Giant’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 24”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Chard has a more tender texture and refined flavor than kale if you like that sort of thing. Just because it’s not quite as sweet doesn’t mean it’s not a great September crop. As long as you harvest before the thermometer falls below 20°F (-7°C), you should get to enjoy this tasty, leafy green. 

Sow your chard seeds about two months before you expect freezing weather. ‘Fordhook Giant’ is a great grower that has broad leaves and stems. It’s a white stem variety, which tends to be more cold-tolerant than the more colorful types. 

Collard Greens ‘Georgia Southern’

	common name Collard Greens ‘Georgia Southern’
	botanical name Brassica oleracea var. viridis ‘Georgia Southern’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 2-11

I hope I didn’t give you the wrong idea about collard greens, because they certainly have a place in my garden every year. These are some of the toughest winter veggies, surviving down 20°F (-7°C). In warm climates, you can plant all through fall and winter. It takes about 50-80 for them to reach maturity, but harvest them young, and they will be nice and tender. 

Let your collards go through a frost or two to sweeten them up, you’ll be glad you did. ‘Georgia Southern’ is a popular variety because it’s tolerant of heat and cold. It grows nicely in containers or in the ground.

Turnips ‘White Lady’

	common name Turnips ‘White Lady’
	botanical name Brassica rapa ‘White Lady’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2”-5”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Turnips like cool weather, and they mature as soon as 30 days after planting, so they make a great September vegetable crop in most climates. They don’t mind a moderate freeze. You can sow these seeds directly in the ground about eight weeks ahead of your first frost. 

‘White Lady’ turnips look pretty on a plate and have a sweet flavor. When cooked, the texture is smooth, and the flavor is mild compared to most varieties. You can harvest after 30 days for small, tender turnips, or allow them to mature for an additional 10 days for larger ones. 

Kohlrabi ‘Purple Vienna’

	common name Kohlrabi ‘Purple Vienna’
	botanical name Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes ‘Purple Vienna’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10”-12”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Rounding out our list is another member of the Brassica family. These wonderfully cold-tolerant vegetables taste better after a freeze or two. Kohlrabi is often mistaken for a root vegetable. It does resemble one, but this veggie grows on top of the soil.

In milder climates, you can grow kohlrabi through the winter. ‘Purple Vienna’ is crisp and sweet with a nutty finish. The outside is reddish-purple, and the flesh is tender and white. The flavor is similar to an apple, with the slight earthiness of a turnip.