The arrival of September means we’re already entering the “-ber” months to close out the year. Fall weather is getting closer (though it may not always feel like it), and while others are excited for football season, we’re gearing up for our fall gardens and some of our favorite growing months of the year.
We’ve got a list of cooler-weather plants to plant now for a fall harvest, but know that they may require some babying (mostly providing some shade), depending on our variable Texas weather. We like to push it a bit so we can get a head start on our cool-season plants.
September is also the last month that you can still safely plant quick-growing warm season plants like bush beans.
September is a transition month between seasons, which means each fall is a bit of an experiment. But hey, that’s why we love gardening, right? Every year is a little different.
How can you tell if it’s too late to plant something in September?
Like bush beans, there’s still time to plant some of the warm-seasons crops from August’s planting list. If there’s something you really want to grow, the best way to judge whether or not you still have time is by looking at the seed packet or plant label of the plant you want to grow and checking how many days till harvest.
Next, count how many days we have until the end of November, when we can anticipate our first frost. Are there enough days for the plant to reach maturity between now and a possible freeze?
If yes, then go for it! There’s nothing wrong with pushing the boundaries a little. We might be lucky and not have our first freeze until December, and you’ve won yourself more time to harvest tomatoes, beans, and squash!
Central Texas Monthly Planting Guide
Take all the guesswork out of your seasonal planting.
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WHAT TO GROW IN CENTRAL TEXAS IN SEPTEMBER
Some of these leafy greens, specifically cabbage and lettuce plants, will do better if planted toward the end of the month when we can expect some cooler weather.
Veggies
Artichoke, Asian Greens, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Collards, Garlic, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mustard, Onion, Peas, Radishes, Swiss Chard, & Turnips
Herbs & Flowers
Borage, Calendula, Chamomile, Chives, Cilantro, Dianthus, Dill, Fennel, Marigold, Nasturtium, Parsley, Petunia, Poppies, & Snapdragons
Tips for Gardening in September
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Check your organic fertilizer package directions and keep those plants fed.
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Clean up any dead vegetation to keep pests at bay.
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Add a fresh layer of compost before planting your fall veggies.
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Harvest any and all veggies you can find! Crops are best enjoyed when picked in the early morning, before a plant is stressed from the heat.
Lettuce Grow Something is prepping for fall garden installations, and
September is actually the best month to get a new garden! It is never too late to begin a garden in Central Texas! Click here to grow with us!
Houston is the largest city in Texas, why not give us some advice. In this whole area of Houston where I live almost every house has a food garden. Whereas Austin where I also have a home; I have only seen a few home vegetable gardens which tend to raise tomatoes and a few seasoning plants.
Hi Amanda! I am so happy to hear there are lots of gardeners in Houston. Many of my newer blog posts are to the more general population. For Houston you can follow all of my recommendations but give yourself about 2-4 weeks buffer. So, in the spring, you can generally plant 2-4 weeks before we do for warm season crops like tomatoes. In the fall you have a bit longer warm season and can start cool crops in October. I hope this helps 🙂
I JUST found your website and it’s been the most helpful site BY FAR, providing me with soooo much good info! Ive wanted to create my own garden for years and I’m finally in a place (physically, financially, mentally) where I can do so. I’ve been researching for a few weeks now and I was having to take tidbits of info from each different site to put it all together, but after finding you, it seems to be a pretty amazing “one stop shop” for what I’m looking for. Thank you for dedicating your time and energy to help others! I’m so thankful!
Thank you very much for your sweet comment! It makes my heart happy to hear what we are doing here at Lettuce Grow Something is helping other’s with their garden journey. I wish you the best and let me know if there is any topic you need more help with 🙂