My Planting Calendar

What to plant in September in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts (MA), September sits about 4 weeks before the average first fall frost (October 14). The state averages 173 frost-free days a year (last frost April 24, first frost October 14; USDA zones 5a, 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 Massachusetts frost dates (last frost Apr 24, first frost Oct 14). For one crop in detail, see when to plant spinach, arugula or radish in Massachusetts.

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

Massachusetts: planting activity through the year

1
24
65
78
66
11
24
32
8
2
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 24 – Oct 14
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 2) · Mustard Greens (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 2) · Spinach (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 2) · Tatsoi (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 2) · Turnip (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 2) · Arugula (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 9) · Watercress (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 9) · Radish (sow for a fall crop, by Sep 16)

For fall and winter harvests (8)

Sowings counted back from Massachusetts'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 16 – Sep 2Last chance - ends Sep 2
Mustard GreensSow for a fall cropAug 16 – Sep 2Last chance - ends Sep 2
SpinachSow for a fall cropAug 16 – Sep 2Last chance - ends Sep 2
TatsoiSow for a fall cropAug 16 – Sep 2Last chance - ends Sep 2
TurnipSow for a fall cropAug 16 – Sep 2Last chance - ends Sep 2
ArugulaSow for a fall cropAug 23 – Sep 9Last chance - ends Sep 9
WatercressSow for a fall cropAug 23 – Sep 9Last chance - ends Sep 9
RadishSow for a fall cropAug 30 – Sep 16Last chance - ends Sep 16

Harvesting in September

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

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

Planting dates for popular crops in Massachusetts

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

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

Spring bulbs to plant in September in Massachusetts

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 Massachusetts

  1. The average first frost is October 14, 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 Massachusetts

Massachusetts spans USDA zones 5a, 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts in September?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Massachusetts the next garlic window opens around October 25: plant in fall, after first frost.

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

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Massachusetts have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 27.

When is the first frost in Massachusetts?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 14 and the last spring frost around April 24. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in Massachusetts in September?

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

← August in MassachusettsOctober in Massachusetts →Full-year Massachusetts planting calendar →Massachusetts frost dates →

What to plant in September in other states

ConnecticutMaineNew HampshireNew YorkRhode IslandVermontAlabamaAlaskaAll states →

Dates are computed from Massachusetts’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.