My Planting Calendar

What to plant in September in District of Columbia

In District of Columbia (DC), September sits about 6 weeks before the average first fall frost (October 25). The state averages 198 frost-free days a year (last frost April 10, first frost October 25; USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a).

18 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including bok choy / pak choi, borage, dill, fava bean (broad bean), green onion / scallion, kohlrabi - and 15 of those windows close during September.

Dates here come from District of Columbia frost dates (last frost Apr 10, first frost Oct 25). For one crop in detail, see when to plant lettuce, spinach or arugula in District of Columbia.

Fall garden seasonSow or plant: 18Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 25

District of Columbia: planting activity through the year

8
36
64
84
54
10
18
36
18
1
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 10 – Oct 25
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 18 have one in September; the busiest month is April (84).

Last chance in September

Bok Choy / Pak Choi (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Borage (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Dill (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Fava Bean (Broad Bean) (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Green Onion / Scallion (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Kohlrabi (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Lettuce (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Mache (Corn Salad) (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Mizuna (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Rapini (Broccoli Raab) (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Chervil (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 13) · Mustard Greens (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 13) · Spinach (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 13) · Tatsoi (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 13) · Turnip (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 13)

For fall and winter harvests (18)

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

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
BorageSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
DillSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)Sow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
Green Onion / ScallionSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
KohlrabiSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
LettuceSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
Mache (Corn Salad)Sow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
MizunaSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Sow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
ChervilSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Last chance - ends Sep 13
Mustard GreensSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Last chance - ends Sep 13
SpinachSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Last chance - ends Sep 13
TatsoiSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Last chance - ends Sep 13
TurnipSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Last chance - ends Sep 13
ArugulaSow for a fall cropSep 3 – Sep 20Sep 3 – Sep 20
WatercressSow for a fall cropSep 3 – Sep 20Sep 3 – Sep 20
RadishSow for a fall cropSep 10 – Sep 27Sep 10 – Sep 27

Harvesting in September

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

Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Jul 23 – Sep 21Peanut · Jul 26 – Sep 14Chayote · Aug 22 – Sep 21Zucchini / Summer Squash · Sep 6 – Oct 8Cucumber · Sep 11 – Oct 18Broccoli · Sep 14 – Oct 26Cauliflower · Sep 14 – Oct 31Cabbage · Sep 14 – Nov 10Bush Bean · Sep 18 – Oct 15Kale · Sep 18 – Oct 20Lettuce · Sep 19 – Nov 5Brussels Sprouts · Sep 23 – Nov 9Bok Choy / Pak Choi · Sep 24 – Oct 26Mizuna · Sep 24 – Oct 21Swiss Chard · Sep 25 – Oct 22Napa Cabbage · Sep 25 – Nov 6Mustard Greens · Sep 26 – Oct 28Fennel (Bulb) · Sep 26 – Nov 7Cilantro / Coriander · Sep 27 – Nov 8Carrot · Sep 28 – Nov 4Radicchio · Sep 28 – Nov 24Dill · Sep 29 – Nov 5Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Sep 29 – Nov 5Pea · Sep 30 – Nov 1Collard Greens · Sep 30 – Nov 6

Planting dates for popular crops in District of Columbia

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

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

Spring bulbs to plant in September in District of Columbia

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 District of Columbia

  1. The average first frost is October 25, about 6 weeks away. Pick tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans) before it, or cover them on cold nights.
  2. Still time to sow or plant: bok choy / pak choi, borage, dill, fava bean (broad bean), green onion / scallion, kohlrabi. 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 District of Columbia

District of Columbia spans USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a. 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 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in District of Columbia in September?

18 crops have a window in September: bok choy / pak choi, borage, dill, fava bean (broad bean), green onion / scallion, kohlrabi, lettuce, mache (corn salad), mizuna, rapini (broccoli raab) and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

Is it too late to plant garlic in District of Columbia in September?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In District of Columbia the next garlic window opens around November 5: plant in fall, after first frost.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in District of Columbia in September?

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in District of Columbia have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 13.

When is the first frost in District of Columbia?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 25 and the last spring frost around April 10. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in District of Columbia in September?

From plantings made on time: luffa (loofah gourd), peanut, chayote, zucchini / summer squash, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bush bean, kale.

← August in District of ColumbiaOctober in District of Columbia →Full-year District of Columbia planting calendar →District of Columbia frost dates →

What to plant in September in other states

DelawareMarylandNew JerseyPennsylvaniaVirginiaWest VirginiaAlabamaAlaskaAll states →

Dates are computed from District of Columbia’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.