My Planting Calendar

What to plant in September in Connecticut

In Connecticut (CT), September sits about 4 weeks before the average first fall frost (October 15). The state averages 173 frost-free days a year (last frost April 25, first frost October 15; USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a).

8 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including chervil, mustard greens, spinach, tatsoi, turnip, arugula - and 8 of those windows close during September.

Dates here come from Connecticut frost dates (last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 15). For one crop in detail, see when to plant spinach, arugula or radish in Connecticut.

Fall garden seasonSow or plant: 8Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 39

Connecticut: planting activity through the year

1
24
65
78
66
11
24
34
8
2
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 25 – Oct 15
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 8 have one in September; the busiest month is April (78).

Last chance in September

Chervil (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 3) · Mustard Greens (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 3) · Spinach (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 3) · Tatsoi (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 3) · Turnip (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 3) · Arugula (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 10) · Watercress (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 10) · Radish (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 17)

For fall and winter harvests (8)

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

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
ChervilSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Last chance - ends Sep 3
Mustard GreensSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Last chance - ends Sep 3
SpinachSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Last chance - ends Sep 3
TatsoiSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Last chance - ends Sep 3
TurnipSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Last chance - ends Sep 3
ArugulaSow for a fall cropAug 24 – Sep 10Last chance - ends Sep 10
WatercressSow for a fall cropAug 24 – Sep 10Last chance - ends Sep 10
RadishSow for a fall cropAug 31 – Sep 17Last chance - ends Sep 17

Harvesting in September

First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.

Leek · Jul 20 – Sep 8Salsify · Jul 30 – Sep 8Celery · Aug 3 – Sep 12Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Aug 7 – Oct 6Peanut · Aug 10 – Sep 29Sweet Potato · Aug 14 – Sep 13Zucchini / Summer Squash · Aug 27 – Sep 28Cucumber · Sep 1 – Oct 8Broccoli · Sep 4 – Oct 16Cauliflower · Sep 4 – Oct 21Cabbage · Sep 4 – Oct 31Chayote · Sep 6 – Oct 6Bush Bean · Sep 8 – Oct 5Kale · Sep 8 – Oct 10Lettuce · Sep 9 – Oct 26Brussels Sprouts · Sep 13 – Oct 30Bok Choy / Pak Choi · Sep 14 – Oct 16Mizuna · Sep 14 – Oct 11Swiss Chard · Sep 15 – Oct 12Napa Cabbage · Sep 15 – Oct 27Mustard Greens · Sep 16 – Oct 18Fennel (Bulb) · Sep 16 – Oct 28Cilantro / Coriander · Sep 17 – Oct 29Carrot · Sep 18 – Oct 25Radicchio · Sep 18 – Nov 14Dill · Sep 19 – Oct 26Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Sep 19 – Oct 26Pea · Sep 20 – Oct 22Collard Greens · Sep 20 – Oct 27Tatsoi · Sep 21 – Oct 23Beet · Sep 22 – Oct 29Radish · Sep 22 – Oct 17Spinach · Sep 23 – Oct 18Arugula · Sep 23 – Oct 20Kohlrabi · Sep 24 – Oct 26Mache (Corn Salad) · Sep 24 – Oct 26Turnip · Sep 26 – Nov 2Chervil · Sep 26 – Nov 2Rutabaga · Sep 27 – Oct 24

Planting dates for popular crops in Connecticut

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

When to plant spinach in Connecticut →When to plant arugula in Connecticut →When to plant radish in Connecticut →When to plant tomato in Connecticut →When to plant lettuce in Connecticut →When to plant garlic in Connecticut →When to plant bell pepper in Connecticut →When to plant carrot in Connecticut →Connecticut frost dates by zone →

Spring bulbs to plant in September in Connecticut

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 →

Fall garden season: September garden jobs in Connecticut

  1. The average first frost is October 15, about 4 weeks away. Pick tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans) before it, or cover them on cold nights.
  2. Still time to sow or plant: chervil, mustard greens, spinach, tatsoi, turnip, arugula. Fast greens and radishes are the safest bets this late.
  3. Row cover buys 4-6°F of frost protection and weeks of extra harvest - see season extension.
  4. Pull finished crops and sow a cover crop (cereal rye or crimson clover) into empty beds before the soil gets cold.

USDA zone chart for Connecticut

Connecticut spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a. 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

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Connecticut in September?

8 crops have a window in September: chervil, mustard greens, spinach, tatsoi, turnip, arugula, watercress, radish. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

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

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Connecticut the next garlic window opens around October 26: plant in fall, after first frost.

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

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Connecticut have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 28.

When is the first frost in Connecticut?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 15 and the last spring frost around April 25. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in Connecticut in September?

From plantings made on time: leek, salsify, celery, luffa (loofah gourd), peanut, sweet potato, zucchini / summer squash, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower.

← August in ConnecticutOctober in Connecticut →Full-year Connecticut planting calendar →Connecticut frost dates →

What to plant in September in other states

MaineMassachusettsNew HampshireNew YorkRhode IslandVermontAlabamaAlaskaAll states →

Dates are computed from Connecticut’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.