What to plant in September

September is the primary planting window for spring-blooming bulbs (zones 3–6 in late September), garlic (zones 5–8), and the late-season cool-season vegetable garden (spinach, lettuce, beets, turnips in zones 6–9). In zone 9–10, September is the best month to start the entire co

September is one of the most productive planting months of the year for a different reason than spring: what you plant now will feed you in fall and deliver flowers next spring. Garlic goes in. Bulbs go in. The cool-season garden accelerates. Miss this window and you'll be wishing for it in April.

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September planting by category

Spring-flowering bulbs

The window: In zones 3–6, plant spring-flowering bulbs in September–November after soil cools below 50°F but before it freezes solid. Per Penn State Extension, "bulbs planted when soil is still warm (above 60°F) are prone to early growth and winter killing."

In zone 7 (Long Island), I typically start planting tulips and daffodils in late September or early October — when soil temperatures have dropped to the 50–55°F range. Earlier than that, and tulip bulbs rot; later than November, and the ground may be too hard to dig.

Tulips (Tulipa spp.): Plant 6–8 inches deep, 4–6 inches apart. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, "tulips need 12–14 weeks of cold (below 40°F) to bloom." In zone 7+, this cold period occurs naturally. In zones 8–9, pre-chilled tulip bulbs must be used.

Daffodils (Narcissus spp.): Plant 6–8 inches deep, 4–6 inches apart. Daffodils are one of the most deer-resistant spring bulbs — per Rutgers NJAES, daffodils are listed as "rarely damaged" because all parts of the plant contain toxic alkaloids (lycorine). I plant daffodils extensively in my zone 7a beds specifically because deer leave them alone.

Alliums (Allium spp.): Large ornamental alliums (A. giganteum, A. 'Gladiator', A. 'Purple Sensation') are planted 6–8 inches deep in fall for late-spring bloom. Alliums are another deer-resistant choice — the smell deters browsing. I grow several allium varieties throughout my zone 7a beds with zero deer damage.

Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis): 4–6 inches deep. Fragrant spring bloom. Hardy zones 4–8.

Crocus: 3 inches deep. Earliest spring bloom. Hardy zones 3–8. Plant in drifts of 25 or more for visual impact.

Scilla siberian (Scilla siberica): 3–4 inches deep. Brilliant blue small flowers in early spring. Naturalizes readily. Hardy zones 3–7.

Garlic — the most important September planting

Per Penn State Extension, "garlic planted in October in zones 5–7 produces larger bulbs than spring-planted garlic." Most recommendations say October for zones 6–7, but zone 8 gardeners plant as early as September.

Hardneck vs. softneck:

• Hardneck varieties ('Chesnok Red', 'German Red', 'Music'): Best flavor, produce scapes in June. Per Penn State Extension, "hardneck garlic is best for zones 4–7 where cold winters trigger proper bulb development."
• Softneck varieties ('California White', 'Inchelium Red'): Longer shelf life, milder flavor. Better for zones 7–9.

Planting: Break heads into individual cloves. Plant pointed tip up, 2 inches deep, 6 inches apart, in rows 12 inches apart. Per Penn State Extension, "apply 2–3 inches of mulch over planted garlic to protect from freeze-thaw cycles."

In my zone 7a beds, I plant garlic in mid-October after bulb planting is complete. The garlic shoots emerge by late October or November, survive winter under mulch, and are harvested the following July.

Cover crops

September is the prime window for planting fall cover crops in zones 4–7.

Per University of Minnesota Extension, "cover crops planted in September have time to establish before winter and provide significant soil benefits." Options:

• Winter rye (Secale cereale): Fastest to establish, most cold-hardy. Germinates at soil temperatures as low as 34°F. Sow 2 lbs per 1,000 sq ft. Excellent erosion control and organic matter addition.
• Crimson clover: Fixes nitrogen. Survives zone 6+ winters. Sow before September 15 in zone 6 for reliable winter survival.
• Oats: Quick cover; winter-killed in zones 5–6, providing a mat of organic matter without needing to be tilled under.
• Annual ryegrass: Fast establishment, good erosion control. Winter-killed in most zones.

Direct sow outdoors in September

Spinach — the best fall crop

September is prime spinach time in zones 6–8. Per Penn State Extension, "spinach sown in early September in zone 6 produces harvest in October–November and can overwinter under mulch for early spring regrowth."

Spinach varieties with good cold hardiness: 'Tyee', 'Regiment', 'Bloomsdale Long Standing'. Direct sow 1/2 inch deep, 2 inches apart. Thin to 4–6 inches when established.

Lettuce, arugula, and Asian greens

Early September in zone 6–7 is the last direct-sow window for lettuce. Target varieties: 'Black-Seeded Simpson' (fast, 45 days), 'Red Sails' (cold-hardy), 'Winter Density' (excellent cold tolerance).

Arugula sown in September will produce harvest in October and sometimes overwinter to provide early spring greens. Per NC State Extension, "arugula is one of the most cold-tolerant salad greens, surviving temperatures to 22–24°F."

Asian greens (bok choy, tatsoi, mizuna) are fast, cold-tolerant, and perfect for September sowings. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, "tatsoi is one of the most cold-hardy greens, surviving below 20°F under floating row cover."

Overwintering onions (zones 8–10)

Zone 8–10 gardeners sow onion seed directly in the garden in September–October for overwinter growing and spring bulb harvest. Per Clemson HGIC, "in zone 8, fall-planted onions are common" — they grow through mild winters and produce in spring.

Zone-specific September planting

Zones 3–5 (Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern New England)

Primary September activity: plant spring bulbs (daffodils, tulips, alliums) as soon as soil cools. Begin cover crop seeding. Last direct sowings of hardy cool-season crops (radishes, spinach) in early September.

Zones 6–7 (Mid-Atlantic, Northeast)

Full range of September activity: spring bulbs, garlic (late September to October), spinach, lettuce, arugula, beets, turnips, Asian greens, cover crops.

Zones 8–9 (Southeast, Texas)

Per Clemson HGIC, "September is the transition to the fall cool-season garden" in zone 8. Begin transplanting broccoli and cabbage (started in August) outdoors. Direct sow spinach, beets, and greens once afternoon temperatures drop below 90°F consistently.

In zone 9 (Houston, Gulf Coast), September marks the beginning of the prime growing season. Per Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "September through November is the most productive vegetable gardening period in South Texas."

Zones 10–11 (South Florida, Hawaii)

Transplant cool-season vegetables outdoors. Per UF IFAS Extension, "late September through October is the beginning of the cool-season garden" in South Florida.

Ornamental September tasks

Perennial division

September is an excellent time to divide summer-blooming perennials: coneflower, black-eyed Susan, daylily, Shasta daisy. Per Penn State Extension, "dividing in early fall gives plants 4–6 weeks to establish before frost, producing strong plants for the following season."

I divide my coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) and black-eyed Susans in late September in zone 7a. The process is simple: dig the clump, split with a sharp spade or hori-hori knife, replant divisions at the original depth, and water well. Divisions that go in by September 30 establish roots before the ground freezes.

Do not divide in September: Ornamental grasses (divide in spring), hostas (better in spring), peonies (divide in fall — September is fine but wait until foliage dies back), spring bulbs (never divide while actively growing).

Tree and shrub planting

Fall planting of trees and shrubs is highly recommended by most Extension sources. Per Penn State Extension, "fall planting allows roots to establish before summer heat stress the following year." The soil is still warm (promotes root growth) while the air is cool (reduces water demand). Plant by October 15 in zone 6, October 31 in zone 7.

State planting calendars

• New York: /planting/ny/
• Pennsylvania: /planting/pa/
• Texas: /planting/tx/
• Georgia: /planting/ga/
• North Carolina: /planting/nc/

Common mistakes

Frequently asked

When should I plant tulip bulbs?

Per Penn State Extension, "plant tulip bulbs when soil temperatures drop below 55°F." This is September in zones 3–5, October in zones 6–7, and November in zones 8–9. Tulips in zones 9–10 require pre-chilled bulbs (8–10 weeks at 40–45°F in the refrigerator) because natural winter cold is insufficient.

Can I plant perennials in September?

Yes. September is a good time to plant or transplant most perennials in zones 5–7. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, "fall-planted perennials establish well if planted 4–6 weeks before frost." Avoid planting late-blooming perennials (asters, ornamental grasses) that haven't finished flowering yet.

Is it too late to plant grass seed in September?

In zones 5–7, September is actually the ideal time for overseeding cool-season lawns (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass). Per Penn State Extension, "seeding in early September gives grass 6–8 weeks to establish before frost." Later than September 30 in zone 6–7, germination is slow and the grass doesn't establish well before cold sets in.

Sources

1. Penn State Extension — Planting Bulbs and Fall Vegetables
2. Missouri Botanical Garden — Spring-Blooming Bulbs
3. NC State Extension — Fall Greens
4. Clemson HGIC — Fall Vegetables
5. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Fall Garden Guide
6. University of Minnesota Extension — Cover Crops
7. Cornell Cooperative Extension — Fall Planting