Zone 5 Gardening: What to Plant in September
With the arrival of September, it’s time to start planning for fall gardening in zone 5. Find out which vegetables and herbs to plant this month for a beautiful and productive autumn garden.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always found it a little challenging in finding information on what to grow for each season while living in zone 5.
We live in the upper central portion of Nebraska and gardening for us has been a lot of personal trial and error throughout years.
In this post, I’m sharing some ideas to get your fall garden started.
What to Plant in September in Growing Zone 5
In growing zone 5, September marks the start of cooler weather, making it an ideal time to plant certain vegetables that can tolerate frost or mature quickly before the first hard freeze.
Fall gardening might just be my favorite. I love gardening in the cooler temperatures after the hustle and bustle of the summer gardens in the hot temperatures.
Let’s maximize your fall harvest by planting cold-hardy crops in September in Zone 5. In this guide, learn all about the top vegetables and herbs to plant for a bountiful fall garden.
Usually for our fall garden, I typically replicate what I planted in early spring and add row covers when the weather dips below freezing.
Best Leafy Greens to Plant in September
Greens are some of the best plants to grow in the fall. They are quick to grow from seed and love the cooler temperatures.
- Spinach – Spinach thrives in cooler weather and can be harvested well into the fall.
- Lettuce – Plant varieties like romaine, leaf, or butterhead lettuce (my personal favorite!) that mature quickly.
- Kale – This hardy green actually improves in flavor with cooler temperatures and light frosts. Our family especially loves to grow Tuscan kale. The children and I love to make kale chips all season long!
- Arugula – A fast-growing green that adds a peppery flavor to salads and dishes.
- Swiss Chard – Can be harvested throughout fall, and young leaves are especially tender. This is our favorite variety of Swiss chard.
Related: How to Grow Lettuce
Garden Peas – Perfect Fall Crop
Fresh garden peas are some of my favorite fall crops. We always a variety of sweet peas in our fall and spring gardens.
Our favorite pea varieties:
Related: How to Grow Peas
Root Vegetables Perfect for September Planting
Root vegetables could just be a quintessential fall crop and they are perfect for eating seasonally.
- Radishes – Quick to mature, radishes can be harvested within 3-4 weeks. Radishes are such a great vegetable to plant because of their quick growing ability, making them an excellent choice for succession planting. Our favorite radish varieties: pink beauty, French breakfast, and this Valentine’s Day blend.
- Turnips – Both the roots and greens are edible and can handle light frosts.
- Beets – Beets can be planted for a fall harvest; they may need protection from heavy frost. We especially love to grow the golden beet varieties. They make an excellent addition to homemade veggie burgers!
- Carrots – Choose short-season varieties to ensure they mature before the ground freezes. However, some varieties are great options for overwintering, such as the Napoli F1 Carrot.
Hardy Brassicas for Fall Harvest
Brassicas are top choices in the fall garden as they love cooler temperatures. Generally, you will want to start seeds in the late summer. And often times you can find starts available at your local plant nursery. If you’ve missed your window for planting this fall, save this post as a guide for growing next year!
- Broccoli – Plant early-maturing varieties that will produce before a hard freeze.
- Cauliflower – Also prefers cooler weather; protect if temperatures drop significantly.
- Cabbage – Early or quick-heading varieties are best for fall planting.
Brassicas can tolerate a light frost, however I like to grow ours under row covers if the temperatures dip below freezing.
Herbs to Plant for a Fall Flavor Boost
Some herbs thrive during the cooler weather and even tolerate a light frost. And for zone 5 gardens, some are even perennials.
The best herbs to add to the fall garden are:
- Cilantro – Grows best in cooler weather and can be harvested into the fall. Start 6-8 weeks before first frost.
- Parsley – Another cool-season herb that will keep producing until the first hard frost. Start 4-6 weeks before first frost date.
- Chives – These herbs do well with cooler temperatures but need to be started 6-8 weeks before first frost date.
Related: How to Grow Herbs: An Herb Gardening Guide for Beginners and you may also like this post on creating an herb raised bed garden.
Tips for September Planting in Zone 5
- Frost Protection: Be prepared with row covers or cold frames to extend the growing season. I like to plant our cool season crops in our Vegega raised beds with built in cover system. Some options to consider are row covers, cold frames, or cloches. Growing inside of a greenhouse is also a great option if you have the space.
- Soil Preparation: Add compost or aged manure to enrich the soil and help retain moisture. Soil health is key to a good and successful garden. If you’re unsure, you could always do a soil test with a simple kit.
- Watering: Water consistently, especially during dry spells, to ensure healthy growth. Always check the soil to ensure how much water it needs. Simply check the top couple inches of soil to check for dryness.
Planting these cool-season vegetables can help extend your gardening season and provide a fresh harvest well into the fall! And it’s super rewarding! There’s nothing like gardening and the feeling of harvesting in the crisp autumn air.
→ Share your best fall gardening tips and experiences in the comments section below.
