Your Fall Garden Guide, What's In Season & What You Can Still Plant Now: In The Garden with Francesca Nardelli
September almost felt like the end of gardening season, but I've learned that for many vegetables, it is actually the beginning of one of the best growing periods of the year. I'm so excited! Especially after living in LA for the last 4 years, I'm so ready to fully embrace fall, cooler weather, spiced flavors, pumpkin everything, halloween(!), and libra season... things that I didn't celebrate at all in the past few years...
As temperatures cool, many plants that struggle in summer heat start growing more efficiently. Cool-season vegetables can tolerate lower temperatures, and some actually become sweeter after exposure to cold weather.
If you're a beginner like me, September is a great time to start because many fall crops are relatively easy to grow, grow quickly, and don't require a huge garden.
Here's an in the garden guide for what you can plant now, how long it takes to harvest, and which crops are easiest to start with.
Crops such as spinach, kale, lettuce and radishes prefer cooler conditions. When temperatures drop, they can continue growing while many summer crops slow down or stop producing.
Cooler temperatures can also improve the flavor of some vegetables.
For example, cold temperatures can cause certain plants to accumulate more sugars and other compounds that help protect their cells from freezing. This is one reason kale, carrots and some other cold-tolerant crops can taste sweeter later in the season.
The key in September is choosing crops that have enough time to mature before your first hard frost.
What to Plant in September : In The Garden Guide
🥬 Arugula
Days to harvest: approximately 20–40 days
Arugula is one of the easiest fall crops for beginners.
It grows quickly and prefers cool temperatures. You can harvest baby leaves rather than waiting for the entire plant to mature.
Planting tip: Sow seeds directly into the soil and keep the surface consistently moist while they germinate.
Use it for: salads, sandwiches, pesto, grain bowls and wraps.
🥬 Spinach
Days to harvest: approximately 30–50 days
Spinach is a classic cool-season crop.
It prefers cooler temperatures and can tolerate light frost. Planting it in September can give you baby leaves during the fall, and established plants can potentially survive winter with protection depending on your location and variety.
Beginner tip: Spinach seeds can be slow to germinate in warm soil. Keeping the soil consistently moist is important.
Use it for: salads, smoothies, soups, stir-fries and pasta.
🥬 Lettuce
Days to harvest: approximately 30–60 days
Lettuce is another excellent beginner crop.
Unlike summer, when high temperatures can cause lettuce to bolt and become bitter, cooler fall temperatures create better growing conditions.
You don't have to wait for a full head.
Harvesting individual outer leaves allows the plant to continue producing.
Beginner tip: Plant a small amount every 1–2 weeks instead of planting everything at once. This is called succession planting and helps spread out your harvest.
🥬 Kale
Days to harvest: approximately 50–70 days, depending on variety
Kale is one of the most cold-tolerant vegetables you can grow.
It can continue growing through chilly weather, and some varieties can survive temperatures well below freezing when established.
For September planting, look for smaller or faster-growing varieties if you want a fall harvest.
Beginner tip: Harvest the lower leaves first and allow the center of the plant to continue producing new growth.
🌱 Radishes
Days to harvest: approximately 20–30 days
If you're nervous about gardening, start with radishes.
They are fast, require relatively little space and can give you a harvest within a few weeks.
Radishes are especially useful for beginners because you can see progress quickly.
Beginner tip: Don't bury the seeds too deeply. Follow the depth listed on the seed packet and keep the soil evenly moist during germination.
Use them for: salads, tacos, sandwiches, pickling and roasting.
🥦 What About Broccoli, Cabbage and Cauliflower?
These are all cool-season crops, but there's an important difference when planting them in September.
If you want a fall harvest, transplants are generally a better choice than starting from seed this late in the season.
Look for healthy young plants at a local garden center or nursery.
Good choices include:
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Kohlrabi
Brussels sprouts
These plants need time to establish before temperatures become very cold, so planting earlier in September is better than waiting until the end of the month.
🌿 Herbs You Can Grow in Fall
Several herbs also prefer cooler conditions.
Cilantro
Cool temperatures are much more favorable for cilantro than summer heat, which can cause it to bolt quickly.
Parsley
Parsley is relatively cold tolerant and can continue producing late into the season.
Chives
Chives are perennial in many climates and can continue producing until temperatures become very cold.
Dill
Dill grows quickly and can be planted for a fall harvest, although it is less cold tolerant than some of the herbs above.
What Should a Beginner Plant First?
You don't need to plant everything on this list.
If you're starting your first fall garden, I'd choose 5 crops:
1. Radishes
Fastest payoff.
2. Arugula
Very easy and quick-growing.
3. Lettuce
Great for containers and small spaces.
4. Kale
Cold tolerant and productive.
5. Spinach
Excellent cool-season crop.
These five give you a combination of fast-growing crops and vegetables that can tolerate increasingly cold weather.
Don't Forget the Soil
When replacing a summer crop with a fall crop, take a few minutes to prepare the soil.
Remove dead plant material and weeds, loosen the top layer of soil and add compost if your soil needs organic matter.
Healthy soil provides plants with physical support, water and nutrients while also supporting the microorganisms that contribute to soil health.
You don't need a complicated setup.
For a beginner garden, good sunlight, healthy soil, consistent watering and choosing the right crops for the season will take you surprisingly far.
Happy Growing & Happy September!
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