My Planting Calendar

What to plant in September in California

In California (CA), September is the heart of the growing season - about 30 weeks after the last frost (February 20) and 11 weeks before the first (December 1). The state averages 284 frost-free days a year (last frost February 20, first frost December 1; USDA zones 5a, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10a, 10b).

29 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, fennel (bulb) - and 7 of those windows close during September.

Dates here come from California frost dates (last frost Feb 20, first frost Dec 1). For one crop in detail, see when to plant broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower in California.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 29Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 0

California covers a very wide range of climates, so dates near you can be two weeks or more either side of these. Enter your ZIP code in the planting calendar for dates tuned to your town.

California: planting activity through the year

70
83
63
9
9
9
3
9
29
20
2
25
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Feb 20 – Dec 1
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 29 have one in September; the busiest month is February (83).

Last chance in September

Rutabaga (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 1) · Broccoli (start transplants for fall, by Sep 8) · Cabbage (start transplants for fall, by Sep 8) · Cauliflower (start transplants for fall, by Sep 8) · Cucumber (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 15) · Fennel (Bulb) (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 15) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 15)

For fall and winter harvests (29)

Sowings counted back from California's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
RutabagaSow for a fall cropAug 15 – Sep 1Last chance - ends Sep 1
BroccoliStart transplants for fallAug 22 – Sep 8Last chance - ends Sep 8
CabbageStart transplants for fallAug 22 – Sep 8Last chance - ends Sep 8
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallAug 22 – Sep 8Last chance - ends Sep 8
CucumberSow for a fall cropAug 29 – Sep 15Last chance - ends Sep 15
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropAug 29 – Sep 15Last chance - ends Sep 15
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropAug 29 – Sep 15Last chance - ends Sep 15
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropSep 5 – Sep 22Sep 5 – Sep 22
CarrotSow for a fall cropSep 5 – Sep 22Sep 5 – Sep 22
KaleSow for a fall cropSep 5 – Sep 22Sep 5 – Sep 22
RadicchioSow for a fall cropSep 5 – Sep 22Sep 5 – Sep 22
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropSep 12 – Sep 29Sep 12 – Sep 29
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropSep 12 – Sep 29Sep 12 – Sep 29
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropSep 12 – Sep 29Sep 12 – Sep 29
ParsleySow for a fall cropSep 12 – Sep 29Sep 12 – Sep 29
PeaSow for a fall cropSep 12 – Sep 29Sep 12 – Sep 29
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropSep 12 – Sep 29Sep 12 – Sep 29
BeetSow for a fall cropSep 19 – Oct 6Opens Sep 19
Cilantro / CorianderSow for a fall cropSep 19 – Oct 6Opens Sep 19
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiSow for a fall cropSep 26 – Oct 13Opens Sep 26
BorageSow for a fall cropSep 26 – Oct 13Opens Sep 26
DillSow for a fall cropSep 26 – Oct 13Opens Sep 26
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)Sow for a fall cropSep 26 – Oct 13Opens Sep 26
Green Onion / ScallionSow for a fall cropSep 26 – Oct 13Opens Sep 26
KohlrabiSow for a fall cropSep 26 – Oct 13Opens Sep 26
LettuceSow for a fall cropSep 26 – Oct 13Opens Sep 26
Mache (Corn Salad)Sow for a fall cropSep 26 – Oct 13Opens Sep 26
MizunaSow for a fall cropSep 26 – Oct 13Opens Sep 26
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Sow for a fall cropSep 26 – Oct 13Opens Sep 26

Keep sowing (succession)

Repeat sowings of crops already in the ground, for a steady harvest instead of a glut.

Planting dates for popular crops in California

Every crop has its own full-year dates for California: indoor start, transplant or direct sowing, and harvest.

When to plant broccoli in California →When to plant cabbage in California →When to plant cauliflower in California →When to plant cucumber in California →When to plant zucchini in California →When to plant bush bean in California →When to plant carrot in California →When to plant kale in California →California frost dates by zone →

Spring bulbs to plant in September in California

Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocus are planted in fall, once the soil has cooled and before it freezes. The exact window depends on the state, so our bulb guide quotes what each extension service says.

Bulb planting guide by state, with depth and spacing →When to plant daffodils →When to plant tulips →

Peak growing season: September garden jobs in California

  1. Water deeply two or three times a week rather than a little every day - about an inch a week, more in heat. See watering a vegetable garden.
  2. 11 weeks until the average first frost (December 1). Fall crops start now: rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower. See the fall and winter garden guide.
  3. Check the undersides of leaves twice a week - catching pests early is most of the battle (pest identification guide).
  4. Harvest often - picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for California

California spans USDA zones 5a, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10a, 10b. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average.

ZoneLast frostFirst frostSeason
Zone 5Apr 30Oct 5160 days
Zone 6Apr 15Oct 15185 days
Zone 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days
Zone 9Feb 20Nov 30280 days
Zone 10Jan 30Dec 15330 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in California in September?

29 crops have a window in September: rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, fennel (bulb), zucchini / summer squash, bush bean, carrot, kale and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

Is it too late to plant garlic in California in September?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In California the next garlic window opens around December 12: plant in fall, after first frost.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in California in September?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In California the next tomato window opens around December 26: start seeds indoors.

When is the first frost in California?

The statewide average first fall frost is around December 1 and the last spring frost around February 20. California covers a wide range of climates, so local dates can differ by two weeks or more - look yours up by ZIP code.

← August in CaliforniaOctober in California →Full-year California planting calendar →California frost dates →

What to plant in September in other states

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaAll states →

Dates are computed from California’s statewide average frost dates (from NOAA/NCEI climate normals) and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side - for dates tuned to your ZIP code, use the planting calendar.