What to plant in September in the South

Worked out for 46 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.

What to sow and plant in September in the South, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (Atlanta, Nashville and 27 more): zucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy and borage; frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Washington, D.C., Louisville and 15 more): broad bean, peas, onion, lettuce, cabbage and 12 more.

In the South, September is fall.

Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, Oklahoma City and 25 more

In September, on average, these cities have highs of 82 to 89 °F and lows of 64 to 74 °F, 2.4 to 8.9 in of rain on 6 to 15 days; the day lasts 12 h 22 min to 12 h 27 min (on the 15th).

No frost in September in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.

How	What	Where
sow direct	Zucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy, borage	all
start indoors, plant out in October	Cucumber	New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mobile and 1 more
sow direct	Watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean	New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston and 6 more

Compared with August: no longer sown — melon and achocha.

Not starting in September: tomato (December, started indoors), bell pepper (December, started indoors), lettuce (October, started indoors), peas (October, sown direct) and spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for New Orleans.

Ready to harvest in September in New Orleans, if sown in the right month: zucchini (July), green beans (July), watermelon (June), pumpkin (May), sweet corn (June), basil (July), bok choy (July) and borage (July).

Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Washington, D.C., Louisville, Baltimore, Raleigh and 13 more

In September, on average, these cities have highs of 77 to 82 °F and lows of 58 to 69 °F, 3.2 to 6.1 in of rain on 7 to 12 days; the day lasts 12 h 26 min to 12 h 30 min (on the 15th).

No frost in September in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.

How	What	Where
sow direct	Broad bean, peas, cabbage, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, chickpea, dill, mustard greens	Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Lexington and 7 more
plant sets	Onion, shallot	Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Lexington and 7 more
start indoors, plant out in October	Spinach	Baltimore, Asheville and Morgantown
start indoors, plant out in October	Lettuce, Swiss chard, kohlrabi	Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Lexington and 7 more
start indoors, plant out in November	Broccoli	Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Lexington and 6 more
start indoors, plant out in October	Cauliflower, kale	Virginia Beach
start indoors, plant out in November	Leek, Brussels sprouts	Virginia Beach
sow direct	Zucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy, borage	Louisville, Raleigh, Richmond and 4 more
sow direct	Watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, moringa, Napa cabbage, peanut, soybean	Virginia Beach

Compared with August: new — broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and 14 more; no longer sown — cucumber, melon, luffa, okra and achocha.

Not starting in September: tomato (February, started indoors) and bell pepper (February, started indoors) — dates for Virginia Beach.

Ready to harvest in September in Virginia Beach, if sown in the right month: zucchini (July), green beans (July), watermelon (June), pumpkin (May), sweet corn (June), basil (July), bok choy (July) and borage (July).

How we work it out

For each city we use its average weather in September and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in September if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.

Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).

This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.

What to plant in September in the South

Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, Oklahoma City and 25 more

Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Washington, D.C., Louisville, Baltimore, Raleigh and 13 more

How we work it out

Other months in the South