September Planting

September planting time is here and along with it is cooler weather. I know. The first few weeks will be miserably hot but fall begins soon, in less than three weeks. There are so many lovely cooler weather vegetables to plant right now with a many varieties of each so you should find a lot of seeds to plant in your garden!

Right now, David's Garden Seeds® is having an awesome fall planting sale. Here are some of my favorite seeds to start in the ground in the fall.

September Planting - 9/1-9/7/2025

September planting will yield good results in the garden.

September Planting: Your Guide to Growing 15 Amazing Cool-Weather Vegetables

You're about to discover something that will change your gardening game forever. September planting for a fall garden opens up a world of possibilities that many warm-climate gardeners never explore. Let's talk about growing the following vegetables to grow from seed in your fall garden:

Carrots
Onions
Beets
Radishes
Turnips
Leeks
Shallots
Spinach
Lettuce
Cabbage
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Kale
Peas
Brussels sprouts

I remember the first time someone told me that fall was actually the best time to garden in warm climates like Texas. I laughed and pointed to my wilting summer vegetables, thinking they were crazy. But after my first successful fall garden, I became a complete convert. The vegetables you grow in the fall will be sweeter and crisper than summer vegetables, and you'll wonder why you ever struggled through those scorching summer months.

The secret lies in understanding that cool weather planting gives your vegetables perfect growing conditions. While your neighbors are mourning their dying summer gardens, you'll be harvesting the most delicious vegetables you've ever tasted. Fall gardening in warm climates is like having a gardening superpower that most people don't know exists.

September is your golden ticket to gardening success because it marks the transition from brutal summer heat to the gentle, nurturing temperatures that vegetables actually prefer. You'll find that your plants grow more vigorously, taste better, and require less water than their summer counterparts. Plus, you'll have fewer pest problems and diseases to deal with.

Before we dive into each specific vegetable, let's talk about why your fall garden will outperform your summer efforts. The cooler temperatures reduce plant stress, allowing them to focus energy on developing flavor and texture instead of just surviving. Your soil retains moisture better, and the lower angle of the sun provides perfect growing light without the harsh intensity of summer.

Getting Your Fall Garden Ready

Timing is everything when it comes to cool weather planting. In warm climates, you want to start your September planting during the first two weeks of the month. This gives your vegetables enough time to establish before the cooler weather arrives, but not so much time that they'll struggle in any lingering heat.

Your soil preparation for a fall garden is slightly different from spring prep. Since you're likely planting where summer vegetables just finished, you'll want to remove all old plant material and add fresh compost. The soil is usually compacted from summer watering, so take time to loosen it up with a garden fork.

Water management becomes crucial during the transition period. Your newly planted seeds and seedlings will need consistent moisture, but you don't want to overwater as temperatures begin to drop. I've found that morning watering works best, giving plants time to dry before cooler evening temperatures arrive.

Carrots: The Sweet Stars of Fall

This is my favorite carrot, the Black Nebula. It is sweet and great for healthy snacking.

Carrots are absolute superstars in the fall garden, and once you taste a carrot that's been kissed by cool weather, you'll never want to grow them in summer again. The cooler temperatures trigger carrots to convert starches into sugars, creating that incredibly sweet flavor that makes store-bought carrots taste like cardboard in comparison.

For September planting, choose varieties that mature in 60-75 days, such as 'Tendersweet' or 'Black Nebula' types. These shorter varieties work perfectly for fall harvest and won't get caught by unexpected early cold snaps. Plant your carrot seeds directly in the garden about half an inch deep and keep the soil consistently moist until germination.

The key to successful carrot growing lies in your soil preparation. Carrots need loose, well-draining soil that's free of rocks and clumps. I always work compost into the top 8 inches of soil and make sure there are no obstacles that could cause forked or stunted roots. Your patience during soil prep will pay off with beautiful, straight carrots.

Thin your carrot seedlings when they're about 2 inches tall, leaving about an inch between plants. This might seem wasteful, but crowded carrots never develop properly. The thinned baby carrots make excellent additions to salads, so nothing goes to waste.

Onions: Building Flavor Through Fall

This is a freshly picked Texas 1015Y onion, a favorite for September planting.

Onions planted in September will give you green onions throughout fall and winter, with full bulbs ready for harvest in late spring. This extended growing season allows onions to develop complex flavors that quick-growing summer onions simply can't match. Here in Texas, our favorite onion to grow in the fall is the Texas 1015Y, a large yellow onion that is amazing.

Plant onion seeds about 2 inches apart and about 1/4 of an inch deep. If you plant them too deep, you'll get lots of green growth but small bulbs. Too shallow, and they'll pop out of the ground as they grow. Getting this depth just right is one of those gardening skills that comes with practice.

Onions are heavy feeders, so work plenty of compost into your planting area before setting them out. They also need consistent moisture but can't tolerate waterlogged soil. In fall gardens, this balance is easier to maintain because you're not fighting intense evaporation from summer heat.

Beets: Dual-Purpose Deliciousness

This is the Detroit Dark Red Beet, a favorite among our many customers.

Beets give you two vegetables in one plant – tender greens for salads and sweet, earthy roots for roasting or pickling. Fall-grown beets develop better color and sweeter flavor than summer beets, which often become woody and bitter in hot weather. The cool temperatures keep the leaves tender and the roots developing steadily.

Plant beet seeds directly in the garden, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Each beet "seed" is actually a cluster of seeds, so you'll need to thin the seedlings when they're about 3 inches tall. Don't throw away those thinnings – they make excellent microgreens for salads and sandwiches.

Beets prefer slightly alkaline soil, so if your soil tends to be acidic, add a bit of lime when preparing your planting bed. They're relatively low-maintenance once established, but consistent watering helps prevent the roots from becoming tough or developing white rings.

Radishes: Quick Satisfaction

This is a French Breakfast radish that I just picked.

If you want almost instant gratification from your fall garden, radishes are your answer. Most varieties are ready to harvest in just 25-30 days, making them perfect for filling gaps between slower-growing vegetables or for gardeners who want quick results to build confidence.

Fall radishes have a completely different character than spring radishes. The cool weather keeps them crisp and reduces the sharp bite that can make summer radishes almost inedible. You can succession plant radishes every two weeks through October for a continuous harvest.

Plant radish seeds about half an inch deep and thin to about an inch apart once they germinate. Radishes don't transplant well, so direct seeding is your only option. The key to perfect radishes is consistent moisture – any stress from drought will make them pithy and overly spicy.

Turnips: The Underappreciated Root

This Purple Top White Globe turnip is ready to pick.

Turnips are one of those vegetables that many gardeners overlook, but fall-grown turnips will change your mind about this humble root vegetable. Cool weather transforms turnips from the harsh, bitter vegetables you might remember into sweet, mild roots with tender, flavorful greens.

Plant turnip seeds directly in the garden about half an inch deep, spacing them 2-3 inches apart. Like beets, you get two vegetables from one plant – harvest the greens when they're young and tender, and the roots when they're about 2-3 inches in diameter. Larger turnips can become woody and strong-flavored.

Turnips are incredibly cold-hardy and can withstand light frosts, making them perfect for extending your harvest well into winter. In fact, a light frost actually improves their flavor by converting starches to sugars, just like carrots.

Leeks: The Gentle Giant Onion

This is the Carentan leek, another favorite for September planting.

Leeks are like the sophisticated cousin of onions, with a mild, sweet flavor that becomes even more refined in cool weather. September is the perfect time to plant leek seedlings for harvest in late winter and early spring. While they take longer to mature than other alliums, the wait is absolutely worth it.

As your leeks grow, gradually fill in the trench around them. This process, called blanching, keeps the lower portion of the leek white and tender. The white portion is the most prized part of the leek, so this extra effort really pays off in the kitchen.

Shallots: Gourmet Flavor Made Easy

The Conservor Shallot is a wonderful addition to your September planting.

Shallots are the gourmet cook's secret weapon, offering a more complex, nuanced flavor than regular onions. Fall planting allows shallots to develop their full flavor potential over the long, cool growing season. Plant shallot bulbs just like onion sets, but expect each bulb to multiply into several new bulbs by harvest time.

Plant individual shallot seeds about 4 inches apart, just barely covered with soil. Shallots prefer well-drained soil and don't need as much water as onions, making them perfect for gardeners who tend to overwater their plants.

The beauty of shallots is that you can harvest green shoots throughout the fall and winter for cooking, while still allowing the bulbs to develop underground. This gives you fresh flavoring all season long, with a bonus harvest of mature bulbs in late spring.

Spinach: Cool Weather Champion

Spinach leaves do so well in fall gardens. Make it a part of your September planting.

Spinach absolutely thrives in cool weather and struggles in heat, making fall the perfect time to grow this nutritious green. Fall-planted spinach develops thick, tender leaves with a sweet, mild flavor that's nothing like the bitter, bolt-prone spinach of summer gardens.

Plant spinach seeds about a quarter of an inch deep and 2 inches apart. You can succession plant every two weeks through October for continuous harvests. Choose slow-bolt varieties for fall planting, as these are bred to handle temperature fluctuations better than standard varieties.

Spinach is surprisingly cold-hardy and can survive light frosts with minimal protection. In fact, frost actually improves the flavor by concentrating sugars in the leaves. A simple row cover or cold frame can extend your spinach harvest well into winter.

Lettuce: Crisp Perfection

Romaine lettuce is perfect for the fall garden. This is Winter Density Romaine lettuce.

Fall lettuce is a revelation for gardeners who've struggled with bitter, bolting summer lettuce. Cool weather keeps lettuce leaves crisp and sweet, allowing you to grow varieties that would be impossible in summer heat. You can grow everything from delicate butterhead varieties to crisp romaine in your fall garden.

Start lettuce from seeds, spacing them according to variety – leaf lettuce can be planted closer together than head lettuce. For continuous harvests, succession plant every two weeks and mix different varieties with varying maturity dates.

The key to perfect fall lettuce is consistent moisture and protection from the afternoon sun if you still have warm days. As temperatures drop, lettuce becomes more tolerant of full sun and actually benefits from the extra light for photosynthesis.

Cabbage: The Storage Superstar

Cabbage is great for September planting.

Cabbage is one of the most rewarding vegetables to grow in fall because cool weather produces tight, flavorful heads that can store for months. Fall cabbage also has fewer pest problems than spring cabbage, as many of the insects that plague this crop family are less active in cooler weather.

Plant seeds 1/4 of an inch deep. Space about 18 inches apart to allow for full head development. Crowded cabbage plants produce small, loose heads that don't store well.

Cabbage needs consistent moisture and rich soil to develop properly. Work plenty of compost into the planting area and consider adding a balanced fertilizer at planting time. The long growing season allows cabbage to develop the dense, sweet heads that make homegrown cabbage so superior to store-bought versions.

Broccoli: Cool Season Excellence

Broccoli is David's favorite so it is always included in our September planting.

Broccoli is another cool-season superstar that produces much better in fall than in the heat of summer. Fall-grown broccoli develops tight, flavorful heads without the bitter taste that heat can cause. The extended cool season also allows side shoots to develop after the main head is harvested, giving you multiple harvests from each plant.

Plant broccoli seeds in September, spacing them about 18 inches apart. Like cabbage, broccoli needs rich soil and consistent moisture to develop properly.

The timing of broccoli harvest is crucial – cut the main head while the flower buds are still tight and dark green. Once the buds start to open and show yellow, the broccoli becomes bitter and tough. After cutting the main head, keep the plant watered and fertilized to encourage side shoot development. This means that smaller heads will form. You can pick and enjoy them as well but the plant will only make one large head.

Cauliflower: The Finicky Beauty

We always grow cauliflower in the fall.

Cauliflower has a reputation for being difficult to grow, but fall conditions actually make it much easier to succeed with this finicky vegetable. Cool, stable temperatures help cauliflower develop the tight, white heads that make it so prized in the kitchen.

Start with seeds and space them about 18 inches apart in rich, well-amended soil. Cauliflower is even more demanding than broccoli when it comes to consistent growing conditions – any stress from drought, heat, or poor nutrition can cause the plants to form small, loose heads or no heads at all.

Many cauliflower varieties need blanching to develop pure white heads. When the head is about 3 inches across, tie the outer leaves over it to block sunlight. This process takes about a week and results in the pristine white heads that are the hallmark of perfectly grown cauliflower.

Of course, we have yellow and purple varieties that you can plant as well.

Kale: The Hardy Survivor

Toscano kale growing in the sand out here on the farm.

Kale is incredibly hardy and actually improves in flavor after exposure to cool weather and light frosts. Fall-planted kale will provide fresh greens throughout winter in most warm climates, making it one of the most valuable additions to your cool weather planting plan.

You can start kale from seeds, spacing plants about 12 inches apart. Kale grows relatively quickly and you can begin harvesting outer leaves when plants are about 8 inches tall. The center of the plant will continue producing new leaves as long as you don't damage the growing point.

Different kale varieties offer different textures and flavors, from the curly, robust 'Blue Curled Scotch' to the tender, flat-leafed 'Premier' or 'Toscano' dinosaur kale. Try several varieties to discover your preferences and extend your harvest season.

Peas: Sweet Fall Treats

Snow peas grow well in the fall.

Fall peas are a special treat that many warm-climate gardeners miss out on because they assume peas are only a spring crop. September-planted peas will produce sweet, tender pods throughout fall and into winter, often producing better than spring peas because they don't face the stress of rapidly warming weather.

Choose varieties appropriate for your intended use – snow peas for stir-fries, snap peas for fresh eating, or shelling peas for traditional preparations. Plant seeds about 2 inches deep and provide support structures at planting time, as peas begin climbing immediately after germination.

Peas fix nitrogen in the soil through their root nodules, actually improving your garden soil while they grow. After harvest, cut the plants at soil level and leave the roots to decompose, adding valuable nitrogen for next season's crops.

Brussels Sprouts: The Long-Season Reward

Red Bull Brussels Sprouts should be a part of your September planting.

Brussels sprouts are the marathon runners of the fall garden, requiring a long, cool growing season to develop properly. September planting gives them the extended time they need to form tight, flavorful sprouts along their tall stalks. The wait is worth it – homegrown Brussels sprouts bear no resemblance to the bitter, overcooked versions that give this vegetable a bad reputation.

Start with seeds and space them about 24 inches apart, as Brussels sprouts grow into large plants that need room to develop. They require rich soil and consistent moisture throughout their long growing season. Consider staking tall varieties to prevent them from toppling in winter winds.

Brussels sprouts actually improve in flavor after light frosts, so don't be in a hurry to harvest them. The sprouts develop from the bottom of the plant upward, so you can harvest the bottom sprouts first.

Monday, September 1, 2025

Left to right, George, Ethel, Lucy, & Alice.

Happy Labor Day! Happy 16th anniversary to David's Garden Seeds®! We are closed today but we have our sale going on right now with our online store open 24/7.

It was supposed to rain this morning according to last night's forecast but there is nothing. We got a brief less than 30 minute sprinkle time last night but that was it. The rain gauge did not even register.

I have to go out and feed everyone because Matt has the day off.

I got everyone taken care of. The air was a bit cooler than yesterday and it was not as humid. I came in and made sourdough French toast for breakfast.

$These 4 empty wooden raised beds were hauled off today for a fraction of the cost from 5 years ago.$ These 6 empty wooden raised beds were hauled off today for a fraction of the cost from 5 years ago.

David spent the day working in the Farm Store. While he was out there, someone came to buy six of our wooden raised beds that David had for sale. They got a huge bargain and hauled all four away.

These were the beds that were directly in front of Production and the two storage sheds that have all been sold but not yet moved.

I worked at home doing cleaning and laundry until my shoulder and back couldn't take it anymore. At least I cleaned the den. I dusted in there and I dusted my kitchen furniture which the maid never dusted. I was hoping to dust in the living room as well but I just couldn't. It was overcast all day long but we never got one drop of rain.

I made turkey, gravy, green beans, and scalloped potatoes for dinner. It's been a long day and I believe tomorrow will be longer...

Our sign looks nice against the clouds. We did not get one drop of rain.

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Here is what it looked like at sunrise in our backyard this morning. Note the fake rain clouds forming in the eastern sky.

Good morning. My arm ached all of last night. I guess I did too much yesterday. I did it all for nothing, too, because the dogs killed more toys in the night in the living room and in the den.

I have a ton of orders to fill by taking off Sunday and Monday plus I won't be working for most of today. The high will be 103° with no rain.

David made a very hot omelet for breakfast. I choked it down with lots of coffee. I have to go get ready for the day.

The raised beds are gone. I never even heard them being loaded yesterday and did not know they were gone until David mentioned it last night.

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Friday, September 5, 2025

Saturday, September 6, 2025

Sunday, September 7, 2025

Return from September Planting to Year Seven On The Farm

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