My Planting Calendar

What to plant in September in Florida

In Florida (FL), September is the heart of the growing season - about 31 weeks after the last frost (February 12) and 12 weeks before the first (December 10). The state averages 301 frost-free days a year (last frost February 12, first frost December 10; USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a).

19 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, fennel (bulb) - and 4 of those windows close during September.

Dates here come from Florida frost dates (last frost Feb 12, first frost Dec 10). For one crop in detail, see when to plant broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower in Florida.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 19Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 0

Florida 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.

Florida: planting activity through the year

70
89
58
9
9
9
3
8
19
31
8
30
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Feb 12 – Dec 10
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 19 have one in September; the busiest month is February (89).

Last chance in September

Rutabaga (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 10) · Broccoli (start transplants for fall, by Sep 17) · Cabbage (start transplants for fall, by Sep 17) · Cauliflower (start transplants for fall, by Sep 17)

For fall and winter harvests (19)

Sowings counted back from Florida'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 24 – Sep 10Last chance - ends Sep 10
BroccoliStart transplants for fallAug 31 – Sep 17Last chance - ends Sep 17
CabbageStart transplants for fallAug 31 – Sep 17Last chance - ends Sep 17
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallAug 31 – Sep 17Last chance - ends Sep 17
CucumberSow for a fall cropSep 7 – Sep 24Sep 7 – Sep 24
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropSep 7 – Sep 24Sep 7 – Sep 24
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropSep 7 – Sep 24Sep 7 – Sep 24
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropSep 14 – Oct 1Opens Sep 14
CarrotSow for a fall cropSep 14 – Oct 1Opens Sep 14
KaleSow for a fall cropSep 14 – Oct 1Opens Sep 14
RadicchioSow for a fall cropSep 14 – Oct 1Opens Sep 14
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropSep 21 – Oct 8Opens Sep 21
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropSep 21 – Oct 8Opens Sep 21
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropSep 21 – Oct 8Opens Sep 21
ParsleySow for a fall cropSep 21 – Oct 8Opens Sep 21
PeaSow for a fall cropSep 21 – Oct 8Opens Sep 21
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropSep 21 – Oct 8Opens Sep 21
BeetSow for a fall cropSep 28 – Oct 15Opens Sep 28
Cilantro / CorianderSow for a fall cropSep 28 – Oct 15Opens Sep 28

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 Florida

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

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

Spring bulbs to plant in September in Florida

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 Florida

  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. 12 weeks until the average first frost (December 10). 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 Florida

Florida spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a. 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 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days
Zone 9Feb 20Nov 30280 days
Zone 10Jan 30Dec 15330 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Florida in September?

19 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 Florida in September?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Florida the next garlic window opens around December 21: plant in fall, after first frost.

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

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Florida the next tomato window opens around December 18: start seeds indoors.

When is the first frost in Florida?

The statewide average first fall frost is around December 10 and the last spring frost around February 12. Florida covers a wide range of climates, so local dates can differ by two weeks or more - look yours up by ZIP code.

← August in FloridaOctober in Florida →Full-year Florida planting calendar →Florida frost dates →

What to plant in September in other states

AlabamaArkansasLouisianaMississippiAlaskaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoAll states →

Dates are computed from Florida’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.