What plants can you plant in September?” is the question that arises amongst many gardeners as fall time begins. September signals a welcome to a plethora of beautiful plants that can flourish when planted during this month.

What Plants Can You Plant in September

When high summer temperatures settle and a slight breeze is in the air, you can start getting ready to plant some of the best perennials. Today’s list will provide some of the best-suited plants to grow in September, so scroll down to see more and learn about our choices.

Plants That You Can Start Growing in Your Garden in September

1. Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums Can be consumed as herbal tea

Appearance 
  • Large blooms on the ends of the stems
  • Colors include pink, yellow, red, and orange
Care 
  • They’re sun-loving plants, so they require enough light
  • Water these regularly 
Uses
  • Used for medicinal purposes 
  • Can be consumed as herbal tea
Native to
  • China, North-Eastern Europe 

Chrysanthemums, one of the season’s iconic blooms, are ideally grown in late summer or early fall. Almost any time in September is a fair bet as long as it is at least six weeks before the first frost. These vivid blooms can also survive well in Zone four with a little additional care, but they do best in USDA Hardiness Zones five to nine. That means chrysanthemums are a good answer to the question “What to plant in September in California?”

Chrysanthemums can be cultivated as annuals. Given that they may grow up to three feet tall quickly, they offer gorgeous fall colors and are ideal for filling in bare spaces where summer bloomers have faded. For blooms that last well into the fall season, look for plants with many unopened buds.

You should be warned that chrysanthemums are poisonous to pets. These plants require time to become rooted in the ground before they can be considered hardy. They thrive best when planted in the spring and are left to remain there all season. 

Unfortunately, the chrysanthemums coddled in nurseries and encouraged to set buds for September blooms are the ones sold in fall garden centers. This indicates that they spend much energy blooming rather than setting down roots.

2. Radishes

Radishes Roots are used for medicinal purposes

Appearance 
  • It has edible roots and medium-sized leaves
  • It comes in colors of white, off-white, red, and purple  
Care 
  • Keep soil moist
  • Water regularly 
Uses
  • Roots are used for medicinal purposes 
  • Used to treat fever, cough, and intestinal disorder
Native to
  • China

The ideal time to begin planning for your spring bounty is in September. Radishes grow well in USDA Hardiness Zones three through ten, making them a fantastic crop to sow nationwide during this month. Wondering what to plant in September in Illinois? Go with broccoli, cabbage, swiss chard kale, collards, and, of course, radishes. These are annual plants that belong to the Brassicaceae family. 

For a spring harvest, they are either planted in the spring. If you’re thinking of what vegetables to plant in September in California, you can choose to plant radishes at the beginning of the month for a fall harvest. Additionally, they grow quickly. In as little as 30 days, some of the lesser types reach maturity. You might have to wait up to 60 days for the larger variety.

Select a sunny location with rich, loose, draining soil. Radishes can be planted in the produce garden between plants that take longer to sprout, like carrots, because of how quickly they grow. Before the other plants require the room, the radishes will be harvested. Radishes are also helpful for aerating and cultivating the soil. Make sure that there are no neighboring plants that will shadow your radishes.

Container planting is a viable alternative if you don’t have garden space or the loose soil that radishes require. Common radish roots don’t need a very deep pot because they are shallow. To ensure that it has adequate space to expand, it is preferable to plant a circular variety instead of a lengthy one.

3. Spinach

Spinach Used as a food source

Appearance 
  • Deep green in color
  • Leaves can be flat or puckered
Care 
  • Keep soil moist
  • Water regularly 
Uses
  • Used as a food source 
  • Can help aid weight loss
Native to
  • Southwest Asia 

To enjoy garden-fresh salads and lush grounds in two months, people who live in USDA Hardiness Zones three to nine might think about planting some spinach this month. This means that spinach is a fine answer to the question, “What can I plant in September zone 7?” 

This plant will survive the winter if you live somewhere with moderate winters, but you need to plant it toward the end of September because the average soil temperature starts to drop. Spinach grows best in moderately sunny areas with good soil drainage. Another choice is container growing. 

Container gardening is an excellent technique to keep spinach readily available for picking. Additionally, it may aid in preventing pests from eating your produce. Select a container with a similar width and a depth of at least 10 to 12 inches. Depending on their mature size, a few plants can also be grown in a window box.

Drainage holes must be present in the container. Because it allows excess soil moisture to evaporate through its walls, unglazed clay is ideal. 

4. Brassica oleracea Var. Gemmifera

Brassica oleracea Var. Gemmifera

Appearance 
  • Similar to cabbage 
  • Comes in small leafy buds
  • Green and white in color 
Care 
  • Needs sunlight
  • Needs regular waterings 
Uses
  • Is a rich food source 
  • Super healthy for weight loss
Native to
  • Belgium 

Although Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) have been consumed for ages in Brussels, Belgium, it’s believed that they were first cultivated in the Roman era. Brussels sprouts resemble tiny cabbage heads. Broad leaves and sturdy stalks are what they grow on. These leaves can be prepared similarly to other hardy greens and are edible as well.

Although they are sometimes cultivated as annual plants, these are slow-growing biennials that need a long growing season. They are normally planted in the summer for a harvest in the fall or winter. If you live in one of the southern states, you can plant it at the beginning of September, the latest, to enjoy a late harvest up until winter.

Brussels’s flavor, which requires a growing season of at least 80 days, is enhanced by a light frost. Plant seeds, on average, four months before the first fall frost date anticipated in your area.

5. Sage

Sage native to Mediterranean area

Appearance 
  • Green in color
  • Has oval, long leaves 
Care 
  • Easy to grow
  • Water until established 
Uses
  • Used for herbal teas
  • Helps relieve heartburn 
Native to
  • Mediterranean area

Although sage is frequently planted in the spring, it can also be done in the fall. When thinking about what to plant in September in Virginia, be aware that there are at least two weeks left before the season’s first frost, so time planting your sage properly. 

For people who live in USDA Hardiness Zones five to eight, this plant functions as a perennial, but people who live in Zone nine or warmer must treat sage as an annual because it doesn’t enjoy hot, humid summers. 

The perennial herb sage (Salvia officinalis) is one of the simplest to grow. This semi-shrubby plant, sometimes known as culinary sage, has wooly, gray-green, fragrant, ovate leaves that can grow up to four inches long. The leaves lend an earthy and mildly peppery flavor to food and are frequently used fresh or dried. In the summer, spikes of blue-purple blooms develop. 

Your planting location needs soil that drains well and plenty of sunlight. If you don’t have a good garden site, you can choose to grow plants in containers. Sage shouldn’t be planted near cucumbers since its perfume can change their taste.

6. Asters

Asters Bright purple colored petals

Appearance 
  • Bright purple colored petals 
  • Yellow centers 
Care 
  • They require cool, moist soil 
  • Full to partial sun is recommended
Uses
  • Can be consumed 
  • Traditionally used for dry skin, fever, and cough 
Native to
  • Northwest Africa
  • Canada
  • Northwest United States 

September is a great month to plant asters since they can become well-established before winter frosts. These lovely blooms make for an especially unique addition to the garden. USDA Hardiness Zones three to eight are optimum for them to flourish. What to plant in September in NY? Asters can be some of the best perennials to plant in September in this state, but in others, as well. 

Asters are long-lived perennials that can be a permanent fixture in your landscape, even though home and garden centers sometimes promote them as a seasonal buy among pumpkins and hay bale displays.

Once established, these quick-growing perennials will be able to compete for many years after their initial good fall show.

While aster blooms can be grown from seeds sown in the spring, they may take a few years to develop into large plants. Asters are typically transplanted from nursery specimens in pots. They thrive in loamy, well-draining soil and need enough room around the plants to spread their roots.

7. Chamomile

Chamomile daisy-like flowers

Appearance 
  • White blooms with bright yellow centers 
  • Some petals bend downward 
Care 
  • Plant eight inches apart from each other
  • Need full sun
Uses
  • Help reduce anxiety 
  • Used to make herbal teas
  • Can help promote sleep
Native to
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • Asia 

Despite being a herb, chamomile has small, daisy-like flowers and it adds a pleasant, calming aspect to any garden. Plant these in September so that they have time to germinate during winter. You’ll be able to get a beautiful spring treat that way. USDA Hardiness Zones two through nine are ideal for chamomile growth.

The unusual European herb chamomile produces a lovely blossom and has medicinal properties. Herbal treatments, beverages, and skin care products all contain chamomile. Common chamomile comes in two varieties: German and Roman. Both varieties have daisy-like, fragrant blooms with white petals encircling a yellow center.

Conclusion

These perennial plants are some of the best varieties to grow in early fall.

Before going ahead with any of the above, keep in mind the following:

  • Newly planted asters will enjoy a good, moist environment, so keep watering them regularly.
  • Sage loves well-draining, rich soil and will probably not thrive without it. Make sure to provide this for optimal growth.
  • To become a pro at vegetable gardening, start by planting your spinach leaves as soon as September hits!

So, which of these plants will you be growing this September?

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