It’s almost time to get the fall garden in full swing! This is such an exciting time of year, harvesting the last of your summer crops and sowing your fall/winter garden. There’s a lot to get done as the seasons start changing, so, let’s get into what seeds to sow in September.
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Growing Conditions In September
It’s still pretty hot and wet this month. However, towards the end of September the rains will start slowing down and the weather will begin to feel a little drier. We are still in peak hurricane season so keep that in mind as you plan out your garden. For more on how to prepare your garden for a hurricane, check out this post.
The UV index is at 10 down south and 9 for central and north Florida. The average temperatures range from the upper 80’s to the low 70’s. Typical rainfall for this month varies between 6-8 inches.
The buggies are still plenty active this time of year, but don’t worry. They typically munch happily on the established crops and leave the seedlings alone. If need be, you can always sow a second or third round of seeds since we are not limited to a short growing period.
What Seeds To Sow In September
Brassica’s
If you’re anything like me, growing brassica’s is a highlight of the fall/winter season. Now we can get started with basically any and all brassica’s you love ❤ I love to grow these guys in the shade of taller crops like tomatoes. These plants protect the brassica’s from hotter winter days.
Plus, all of parts of these plants are edible. If you want to enjoy some cabbage, but your plants haven’t produced heads yet, simply eat the outside leaves 🙂
- Cauliflower – this variety from Baker’s Creek has produced large heads with tight curds year after year despite extreme temperature changes. Think, frost on Sunday, eighty degrees by Saturday. It’s a winner in my garden.
- Mustard – I love growing mustard for use as a green manure. It has a deep taproot that brings nutrients from the sub soil into the top soil when chopped and dropped. Plus, it’s beautiful and tasty. If you want to fertilize your garden without bringing in outside inputs, mustard is going to be a big help.
- Bok Choy – Perfect in soups and stir fry’s, this crop will grow through hot and cold weather like a champ. Also, so beautiful. I like to harvest with a cut and come again approach.
- Kale – absolutely beautiful in the garden and sooo hardy. If you don’t love it, turn it into a green powder to add to smoothies or even brownies 😉
- Brussel Sprouts – delicious roasted with some maple syrup and chopped walnuts or pecans. Make sure to grow these in the shade of other crops or somewhere it will only get morning light. It can be much more finnicky about temperature fluctuations.
- Cabbage – So easy to grow and so tasty. A cabbage grown in fertile soil with some necessary shade from hot temperatures is so sweet.
- Broccoli – now, I haven’t had success with heading broccoli. However, there are other varieties of broccoli that produce delicious shoots you can use in place of traditional broccoli. My favorite varieties are Yod Fah broccoli and Rabe broccoli.
- Collards – Stock up on all of these leafy greens while the weather allows. 🙂
Cucurbits
This class of veggies is full of great options to grow year round. Plus, with the buggies already snacking away at the plants you’ve already got growing, chances are your baby seedlings will be left alone.
- Kent pumpkin – this is one I’ve heard great things about for year round growing in the subtropics. This one is definitely on my wish list of plants to grow.
- Cucumbers – short season varieties will do well for you up in north Florida while longer season crops, such as English cucumbers, will do great in Central and South Florida. Just keep tabs on the forecast and protect your plants from any frosts that may come.
- Melons – Why enjoy watermelons only in the spring? Why not enjoy them as a fall crop, too. Another melon we’ve had good success with this year is the Sweet Richness 132 Melon from Baker’s Creek.
- Summer squash – if you’re willing to give these guys another go, now is a good time to do it. By the time these plants mature, the bugs that eat their tasty fruits will be more or less dormant.
Legumes
- Kentucky Blue Beans – If you love classic green beans, rejoice, because now is the time to get these babies in the ground.
- Chinese noodles/yard long beans – Yup, these guys will grow straight through our summer and most of our winter. These guys are a great hardy green bean that just keeps on giving.
- Peas – sugar snap, snow peas, sweet peas, whatever your heart desires. If you are down south, wait until the end of the month before popping these babies into the ground.
Apiaceae
This group of crops has a lot of my personal favorite seeds to sow in September. They are so beautiful in the garden and require no babying during cold winter days. The common denominator with these plants are the small seeds that do not germinate well if left to dry out. Keep these seeds moist, not soggy, until germination.
- Celery
- Parsley
- Carrots
- Parsnips
Solanaceae
Tis the perfect time for potatoes and tomatoes! Up north, you’ll definitely want to consider how you will protect your plants from frosts. A DIY poly tunnel may work for you or if you only have a few tomato plants, some sheets or frost protection blankets might be all you need.
Determinate potatoes (like yukon golds or red potatoes) seem to do a lot better here than indeterminate (i.e. russet).
Strawberries!!
It is officially the start of strawberry season! For your larger strawberries buy bare root strawberry plants from your local nursery. If you’d also like to experiment with heirloom, from seed strawberries, these alpine strawberries, and this one, from Baker’s Creek are divine. Keep in mind that heirloom strawberries are tiny, about the size of a raspberry.
Amaranth
This plant is beautiful and can be grown for it’s abundant grain and also for use as a natural dye. It’s super hardy in cold and hot weather, however, the buggies love it so much I’ve dedicated it to my fall/winter garden.
Corn
You can get another round of corn in if you get started now! Choose a short season variety if you are up north. You south Floridians should be fine growing a longer season corn crop.
Herbs
- oregano
- chives
- marjoram
- thyme
- rosemary
- mint
- sage
- lavender
Flowers
- echinacea
- black eyed susans
- blue mist flowers
- cosmos
- zinnias
- marigolds
- calendula
- chamomile
- coreopsis
For more on native flowers visit https://www.flawildflowers.org/.
If you found this list of seeds to sow in September useful, and would love more Florida specific gardening advice, check out this free Florida Gardening Guide!
Happy sowing! 😊
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