My Planting Calendar

What to plant in September in Louisiana

In Louisiana (LA), September is the heart of the growing season - about 28 weeks after the last frost (March 5) and 9 weeks before the first (November 15). The state averages 255 frost-free days a year (last frost March 5, first frost November 15; USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b).

31 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including bush bean, carrot, kale, radicchio, collard greens, endive & escarole - and 10 of those windows close during September.

Dates here come from Louisiana frost dates (last frost Mar 5, first frost Nov 15). For one crop in detail, see when to plant bush bean, carrot or kale in Louisiana.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 31Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 1

Louisiana: planting activity through the year

56
70
84
40
9
9
11
19
31
8
2
9
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Mar 5 – Nov 15
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 31 have one in September; the busiest month is March (84).

Last chance in September

Bush Bean (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Carrot (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Kale (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Radicchio (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 6) · Collard Greens (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 13) · Endive & Escarole (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 13) · Napa Cabbage (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 13) · Parsley (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 13) · Pea (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 13) · Swiss Chard (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 13)

For fall and winter harvests (29)

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

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
CarrotSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
KaleSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
RadicchioSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Last chance - ends Sep 6
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Last chance - ends Sep 13
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Last chance - ends Sep 13
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Last chance - ends Sep 13
ParsleySow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Last chance - ends Sep 13
PeaSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Last chance - ends Sep 13
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Last chance - ends Sep 13
BeetSow for a fall cropSep 3 – Sep 20Sep 3 – Sep 20
Cilantro / CorianderSow for a fall cropSep 3 – Sep 20Sep 3 – Sep 20
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiSow for a fall cropSep 10 – Sep 27Sep 10 – Sep 27
BorageSow for a fall cropSep 10 – Sep 27Sep 10 – Sep 27
DillSow for a fall cropSep 10 – Sep 27Sep 10 – Sep 27
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)Sow for a fall cropSep 10 – Sep 27Sep 10 – Sep 27
Green Onion / ScallionSow for a fall cropSep 10 – Sep 27Sep 10 – Sep 27
KohlrabiSow for a fall cropSep 10 – Sep 27Sep 10 – Sep 27
LettuceSow for a fall cropSep 10 – Sep 27Sep 10 – Sep 27
Mache (Corn Salad)Sow for a fall cropSep 10 – Sep 27Sep 10 – Sep 27
MizunaSow for a fall cropSep 10 – Sep 27Sep 10 – Sep 27
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Sow for a fall cropSep 10 – Sep 27Sep 10 – Sep 27
ChervilSow for a fall cropSep 17 – Oct 4Opens Sep 17
Mustard GreensSow for a fall cropSep 17 – Oct 4Opens Sep 17
SpinachSow for a fall cropSep 17 – Oct 4Opens Sep 17
TatsoiSow for a fall cropSep 17 – Oct 4Opens Sep 17
TurnipSow for a fall cropSep 17 – Oct 4Opens Sep 17
ArugulaSow for a fall cropSep 24 – Oct 11Opens Sep 24
WatercressSow for a fall cropSep 24 – Oct 11Opens Sep 24

Keep sowing (succession)

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

Harvesting in September

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

Zucchini / Summer Squash · Sep 27 – Oct 29

Planting dates for popular crops in Louisiana

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

When to plant bush bean in Louisiana →When to plant carrot in Louisiana →When to plant kale in Louisiana →When to plant pea in Louisiana →When to plant swiss chard in Louisiana →When to plant beet in Louisiana →When to plant lettuce in Louisiana →When to plant spinach in Louisiana →Louisiana frost dates by zone →

Spring bulbs to plant in September in Louisiana

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 Louisiana

  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. 9 weeks until the average first frost (November 15). Fall crops start now: bush bean, carrot, kale, radicchio. 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: zucchini / summer squash should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for Louisiana

Louisiana spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. 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

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Louisiana in September?

31 crops have a window in September: bush bean, carrot, kale, radicchio, collard greens, endive & escarole, napa cabbage, parsley, pea, swiss chard and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

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

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

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

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Louisiana have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about January 8.

When is the first frost in Louisiana?

The statewide average first fall frost is around November 15 and the last spring frost around March 5. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in Louisiana in September?

From plantings made on time: zucchini / summer squash.

← August in LouisianaOctober in Louisiana →Full-year Louisiana planting calendar →Louisiana frost dates →

What to plant in September in other states

AlabamaArkansasFloridaMississippiAlaskaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoAll states →

Dates are computed from Louisiana’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.