Over the past few weeks, I've been looking at Zone 6 gardening guides, planting calendars, and tips from experienced gardeners who have been growing here for years. Everyone says the same thing, September is a good month to plant cool-season veggies, root crops, herbs that like cooler weather, and flowers that add color now or get ready for spring.
This is also the month when you can plant hardy perennials, bulbs, and fruits that will quietly build roots all winter and reward you next season.
I have broken everything down into five simple categories to make it easy and simple. Each group comes with a simple table showing when to plant, when to transplant, how long till harvest or blooms, and the best varieties for the current environment.
- Leafy Greens & Vegetables
- Fruits and Berries
- Herbs
- Flowers
So, based on the research and information I have gathered, here’s the categorized table of the top plants that grow best when you plant them in September in Zone 6.
Leafy Greens & Vegetables
September is a great time to plant leafy greens and veggies that don't mind a bit of frost. I looked at gardening forums and some Zone 6 gardeners' tips on Reddit. The main tip is to plant early or use young plants (transplants) so they can grow strong before the frost hits.
These crops will give you fresh salads and meals all fall, and some can even make it through winter.
| Plants | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Harvest | Variety Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spinach | Early - Mid September | Direct seed | Mid-September (if starting indoors) | 40-50 days | Bloomsdale Long Standing, Space Hybrid |
| Lettuce | Early - Mid September | Direct seed or transplant | Early to mid-September | 30-60 days | Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Romaine |
| Kale | Early September | Direct seed or transplant | Early September | 50-70 days | Lacinato (Dinosaur), Winterbor, Red Russian |
| Arugula | Early September | Direct seed | Not recommended | 30-40 days | Astro, Rocket |
| Swiss Chard | Early - Mid September | Direct seed | Mid-September | 50-60 days | Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant |
| Mustard Greens | Mid - Late September | Direct seed | Not recommended | 30-50 days | Southern Giant Curled, Florida Broadleaf |
| Radishes | Early September | Direct seed | Not recommended | 20-30 days | Cherry Belle, French Breakfast |
| Carrots | Early September | Direct seed | Not recommended | 50-75 days | Nantes, Danvers Half Long |
| Beets | Early - Mid September | Direct seed | Mid-September | 50-65 days | Detroit Dark Red, Chioggia |
| Turnips | Late September | Direct seed | Not recommended | 40-60 days | Purple Top White Globe, Tokyo Cross |
| Broccoli | Early September | Transplant | Early September | 50-70 days | Waltham 29, Packman |
| Cauliflower | Early September | Transplant | Early September | 50-80 days | Snow Crown, Amazing |
| Cabbage | Early September | Transplant | Early September | 60-90 days | Stonehead, Golden Acre |
| Kohlrabi | Early September | Direct seed or transplant | Early September | 40-60 days | Purple Vienna, Grand Duke |
| Peas | Late September | Direct seed | Not recommended | 50-60 days | Sugar Snap, Oregon Sugar Pod |
| Garlic | Late September | Plant cloves | Not applicable | Next summer | German Extra Hardy, Music (hardneck) |
| Onions | Late September | Plant sets | Not applicable | Next spring/summer | Stuttgarter, Red Wethersfield |
Add some compost to well-drained soil to give your plants a nutrient boost, gardeners on forums say it really helps seeds sprout.
Keep the soil moist, especially for root vegetables, and try to keep the pH around 6.5 for brassicas (you can add lime if the soil is too acidic).
Cover your garlic and onions with mulch to keep them safe during the winter, and use row covers to keep harvesting them through November. Zone 6 gardeners also recommend planting leafy greens every two weeks so you have fresh crops continuously.
Fruits and Berries
September isn’t just for fast-growing crops, it’s also a great time to plant fruits and berries that will grow for years. If you plant them now, they won’t give fruit immediately, but their roots will grow strong before winter. This means healthier plants and earlier harvests next year.
Focus on bare-root or container-grown perennials so the roots can grow before the first frost for the best success.
| Fruit / Berry | Best Planting Time in September | Planting Method | First Harvest | Variety Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberries | Mid–Late September | Transplants | Next summer | Ozark Beauty, Seascape |
| Raspberries | Early–Mid September | Bare root or container | Next summer | Heritage, Fall Gold |
| Blackberries | Early–Mid September | Bare root or container | 2–3 years | Chester, Triple Crown |
| Currants | Early September | Bare root or container | 2–3 years | Red Lake, White Imperial |
| Gooseberries | Early September | Bare root or container | 2–3 years | Hinnomaki Red, Captivator |
| Grapes | Early–Mid September | Bare root or container | 2–3 years | Concord, Himrod |
| Apples | Early September | Bare root | 2–4 years | Honeycrisp, Gala |
| Pears | Early September | Bare root | 3–5 years | Bartlett, Bosc |
| Blueberries | Early–Mid September | Bare root or container | 2–3 years | Bluecrop, Patriot |
| Figs | Mid–Late September | Container or bare root | 2–3 years | Brown Turkey, Celeste |
Choose a sunny spot with acidic soil (for blueberries, the pH should be 4.5–5.5, so test it first). Add a thick layer of mulch to protect the roots from freezing in winter.
These plants do well in September's warm days and cool nights, and give you a better chance of a tasty harvest.
Herbs
Not all herbs do well in September, but some cold-tolerant ones grow really well in Zone 6 during fall. They give you fresh flavor for autumn cooking and can often survive the winter if you take a little care.
| Herb | Best Planting Time in September | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Harvest | Variety Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thyme | Early–Mid September | Transplants | 1 week after planting | Next year | English Thyme, Lemon Thyme |
| Sage | Early September | Transplants | 1 week after planting | Next year | Common Sage, Berggarten |
| Oregano | Early September | Transplants or divisions | 1–2 weeks after planting | Next year | Greek Oregano, Italian Oregano |
| Chives | Early–Mid September | Transplants or divisions | When seedlings reach 3–4 inches | Next spring | Common Chives, Garlic Chives |
| Parsley | Early September | Sow seeds or transplants | 2–3 weeks after sowing | 70–90 days | Italian Flat Leaf, Curled Moss |
| Cilantro (Coriander) | Early–Mid September | Sow seeds directly | Not needed | 30–40 days | Santo, Calypso |
| Dill | Early September | Sow seeds directly | Not needed | 40–50 days | Bouquet, Dukat |
If it’s still warm in your area, plant them where they get some shade. Pinch the tops to make the plants bushier, herb gardeners use this trick.
Parsley and cilantro taste better in cool weather. In hot summer, they grow too fast and bolt, which affects their flavor.
Mulch chives and parsley to protect them over winter, and you’ll have fresh herbs ready to snip by early spring.
Flowers
In September, you can plant fall-blooming flowers like pansies, mums, and violas. They will start flowering soon, usually within a few weeks. These flowers enjoy the cooler weather of fall and often last until the first frost.
September is also ideal for planting spring bulbs like daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths that sleep through winter and bloom next spring.
If you plant spring bulbs in the fall, they will get the cold they need to bloom beautifully in the spring.
| Flower Name | Best Planting Time (Zone 6) | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Bloom | Perennial or Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pansies | Early–Mid September | Transplants | 1–2 weeks after planting | Fall & next spring | Annual (cold hardy) |
| Violas | Early–Mid September | Direct sow or transplant | 1–2 weeks after planting | Fall & spring | Annual (cold hardy) |
| Snapdragons | Early–Mid September | Transplants | 2 weeks after planting | Fall & spring | Annual (cold hardy) |
| Mums (Chrysanthemums) | Early–Mid September | Transplants | 2–3 weeks after planting | Fall | Perennial (zone-hardy) |
| Asters | Early–Mid September | Transplants | 2 weeks after planting | Fall | Perennial |
| Tulips | Mid–Late September | Bulbs | Plant directly | Spring | Perennial |
| Daffodils | Mid–Late September | Bulbs | Plant directly | Spring | Perennial |
| Hyacinths | Mid–Late September | Bulbs | Plant directly | Spring | Perennial |
| Crocuses | Mid–Late September | Bulbs | Plant directly | Spring | Perennial |
| Daylilies | Early September | Transplants | 2–3 weeks after planting | Next year | Perennial |
Plant bulbs like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses 2–3 times deeper than their height, and add a light layer of mulch to protect them during winter.
For perennials like mums, asters, and daylilies, water the roots well after planting so they grow strong and can survive the cold season.
