Top 5 crops to plant in September in zones 5 and 6

With the smell of pumpkin spice in the air, you might be wondering if it is still possible to plant some crops in your garden before fall sets in. Did you know that September is actually a great month to plant cool weather crops? If you missed the window on getting a vegetable garden planted this summer, there is still time. Pull up a chair gardening friends and join us as we explore the top 5 crops to start in September in zones 5 and 6!

Kale

Sometimes kale can be an acquired taste, but did you know that planting kale during the cooler fall months can actually improve the flavour? That’s right. Cooler temperatures actually help to sweeten the flavour of kale. Kale is also quite frost tolerant. This makes it ideal for the fall garden. Since the fall gardening season is a little shorter, kale can be eaten as tender baby greens. Or, if you have the supplies available, you can cover your crop and keep it going well into the fall and winter. Use it in one of your favourite fall smoothie recipes or enjoy it as a side dish. No matter how you use it, try planting some kale in your fall garden this season. You will thank yourself later with all the vitamins and nutrients you can add to your diet.

Lettuce

Did your lettuce go to seed too quickly this summer? That’s because lettuce thrives in cooler weather. Planting lettuce in September is an excellent way to prevent bolting. The lettuce will develop while temperatures are beginning to transition from summer to fall. Stagger your plantings and you can enjoy lettuce well into the fall and winter months. Want to have fresh salad greens when temperatures begin to plunge? Cover your lettuce crops with row covers, cold frames, or grow it in a greenhouse. This way you can continue the harvest well into the fall or winter. When selecting varieties to plant, anything in the romaine family is very cold hardy and can handle a light frost. There are also some fun hybrid varieties designed for northern growing zones. Two of our favourites are Winter Density and Parris Island Cos.

Spinach

Nothing will give you more vitamins and nutrients than good old fashioned spinach. Spinach planted in the fall garden tends to produce a sweeter flavour. It also makes the perfect companion to cold frame gardening. Nothing is better than having a fresh layer of snow on the ground and being able to harvest fresh and tender greens from your cold frame. Start planting your spinach this month and you can keep on harvesting all fall long. Stagger your plantings for a continuous harvest. Eat as tender baby greens or harvest later. No matter how you use it, you can’t go wrong with planting spinach in your fall vegetable garden this year!

Radishes

If you want a quick crop that is fun to grow with kids, why not try planting some radishes? Ready to harvest in roughly 25-30 days, radishes are the perfect fall crop. They are easy to grow and so much fun to see pop out of the ground when many plants have gone into hibernation. They also make a great addition to fall salads. With the cooler fall weather, radishes are less prone to bolting, making them the ideal crop for growing in your fall garden. If you’ve never grown radishes before, give them a try this year!  One of your favourites to plant is the French Breakfast radish. It has a unique shape and brings a lot of life to a salad.

Leafy Greens

Some other fall favourites to plant in the September garden are leafy greens. Leafy greens thrive when temperatures begin to cool as we transition towards the fall. Two popular varieties are Swiss chard and Asian greens. Swiss chard comes in a variety of different colours to give your garden much needed interest over the fall. Asian greens, on the other hand, have a quick growing season. This makes them perfect for northern growers. Like many of the other crops featured in today’s blog, you can also use row covers, cold frames, or a greenhouse to keep your leafy greens growing strong into the fall and winter. When it’s harder to get vegetables during the colder months, having access to your own crops will really come in handy!

Final thoughts on vegetables to plant in September

If you’re just getting into growing your own food, September is a great month to be joining us here at Bluenose Blooms! There are so many wonderful cold weather crops that you can start this month. Just because the cooler weather temperatures are starting to creep in, doesn’t mean that you have to give up on your dreams of growing your own food. Why not give some of the crops in today’s blog a try. Who knows, you might just enjoy becoming a fall gardener! Have a favourite crop that you are planning on planting this month? Drop a comment below. We always love to hear what you are up to in the garden.

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