Gardening in September is Weird. Here's 8 Crops You Should Plant This Month

September is a really interesting time of year. It can be one of the hottest times of the entire year, but fall is just around the corner. So how do you prepare for the cool season growing? I'm going to share what I'm planting this month so you can follow along.
Cool Season Seed Collection: sandiegoseedcompany.com/produ...
0:54 Intro & The Fall Effect
It's still hot, but we have to look down the road. This is because temperature plays a role, but the hours of sunlight are decreasing and at a premium. With days getting shorter for the next few months, that's a huge part of gardening right now. That means you can't wait until the weather is cool; you need to start now so your plants can grow, and they'll be maturing in the cool season.
2:11 The Big Three
Keep in mind how long it takes for your plant to mature. Larger veggies like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower take a long time, so you want to start them sooner rather than later. That gives the plants time to grow while there is still a lot of sunlight instead of just being stagnant during the height of winter.
These crops are also often easiest to start in trays rather than direct sowing. That means you can start them in a shaded area or even indoors and transplant them as they're ready. When they're ready four weeks from now, it's going to be October.
3:55 More Crops To Plant
But what else are we starting? Greens - kale, collards, arugula, and lettuce varieties - are perfect to kick off with succession planting. Root crops - like radish, beets, turnips, and carrots - can go in as well as many herbs, peas, and onions. All of these prefer cooler weather and shorter days.
Pay attention to what you want to eat and how those varieties do with heat because you may want to start some now and then change later.
Some crops - like peas - will need you to baby them quite a bit. The heat will stress them out and invite pests to take over. I'm going to wait a week or two, and then I will cover them with shade cloth.
10:18 Recap
I'm starting my big three in trays right away. I'll also start off with heat-tolerant leafy greens before introducing some of the other varieties. Consistent watering and heavy mulching mean the soil temps are lower than the ambient air temperature, so I can get root crops going. Herbs are slow to grow, so I want to get those started as well. Peas will need some hand-holding, and onions are also slow to grow which means I want to get those going.
All of this takes into account succession planting. You don't want to plant all of your plants for the year out at the same time. You might want to wait a week or two between batches which means you'll be able to enjoy fresh produce all season long. Stay tuned for another video about this!
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#Gardening

[@Ash-xx5zd]

Camera guy needs to get closer to the seed packets and hold it for a good couple seconds for a solide screengrab. Even when he was highlighting the potential pet carnage, he was too shakey. Loved the video and you explained the temperature specificities so viewers can personalize the information in their region. Thank you for the valued information for a time that is often a lull.

[@michelledelkel]

They have their cool season collection in their description if you're looking for those

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Yup! Here you go, Ash >> sandiegoseedcompany.com/product-category/vegetables/?fwp_so_cal_season=cool-season-crops

[@michelledelkel]

The heat is very deceptive here in So Cal for newer gardeners. My partner who has gotten into gardening the past couple years had the same thought about starting more tomatoes but I explained to him the importance of daylight hours and I'm happy to see you also mentioned this.

[@saminairfan45]

Can’t imagine sowing anything with this 115 temperature in northern CA

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Indoors if you can, or I'm really hoping these temps drop next week

[@eileenwineinger3173]

I did in Fresno ,CA. I started green beans and bok Choi in my green stalks. But I had to water then 3x a day! This cooler weather is so nice for gardening.

[@JameyReads]

Roger 😂 That was awesome

[@tk421dr]

im in escondido, and started some lettuce seeds about 2 weeks ago. san diego seed co "marvel of four seasons" lettuce is kicking ass and taking names, no joke im very impressed. not only growing quick, but pests are not chewing it up, doesnt like full sun right now, but under 30% shade cloth they are thriving. started a few other lettuce and they are struggling, butternut crunch is growing great but the bugs love it so its looking swiss cheese like. brasicas are taking off amazing as well, true leaves starting to show now so ill feed soon. im using 50 cell trays with coco coir and up planting to red solo cups (im on a budget. i also started some white alpine strawberry seeds, i want to use this heat to help germinate the seeds, and to my surprise they are growing fast too, i just hope they mature well enough to over winter. great video, love ur seeds, ty for paying the cat tax.

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Love to hear that you're doing well with those! Sounds like you have a great setup

[@PixiePrincessBrat]

Thanks for the name of the lettuce, I'll have to check it out because we are still insane hot up here in the IE and a nice salad would be amazing right now lol I'm also using the heat to help germination and have started the types that were recommended in video

[@KT-ml1sy]

​@PixiePrincessBrat I second "Marvel of the Four Seasons". It's AMAZING. I'm in San Diego and actually grew it all summer with a goid shade cloth. As a cut and come again, I planted once and had an endless supply of delicious tasting tender lettuce leaves for months and months!

[@TastyTidbitswithToya]

Perfect timing! I’m so glad I follow you. I live in between zones 10a and 10b 😭😣🤦🏾‍♀️ I bought seeds from BC and paid extra special attention to the temps on the packets and figured I would plant all the seeds with high temps needed for germination. They all popped up almost overnight it seems. I planted nearly everything on your list with the exception of the cauliflower and broccoli. So glad I found your channel last month.

[@maryram3412]

Hi, would you mind telling me what you used a soil for planting your seeds?

[@alexandermonzon8165]

Noice

[@nancymcmillan3890]

Great info. Loved the video. Thanks from S. GA

[@camiscottage]

YESSSS! I needed this ❤ zone 10 is so weird

[@Atimatimukti]

Nice vídeo, thank you

[@Cherry62605]

thank you for all your helpful tips

[@irasemacalvillo6851]

Great video, just what I was looking for. Thank you!!! I'm done with the squirrels eating mostly all my tomatoes 😊

[@shescraftea9107]

Thanks for the reminder on succession planting, I sort of knew about that. Makes good sense. I was going to ask about the difference between peas and beans. I've never planted peas. I'm going to miss my pole beans over the winter.

[@Agitatoe]

I hear Batman loves cool crops because of all the prep time needed 🤣😂

[@davidnorris8852]

Like #800 !!!!! Thank you for the information ☺️

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

🎉

[@orajohnson2612]

Thank you we live in south Alabama it is hard to find someone that grows in our area.

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Glad to have you here!

[@kathsflowerpatch5220]

Even is 110, I got my brassicas growing in part shade and shade cloth hopping to put them in the garden in the last week of September when temperatures 🌡️ are going to be in the high 80s low 90s Thanks for the info

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

That's great! You're going to be enjoying those harvests in no time.

[@emilygeez]

I planted some pole beans early august! Hope they do okay…

[@DaBooster]

Great video, waiting until the summer has passed in zone nine has always been my mistake. This year I’ll get it right

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Avoiding the fall effect will help a lot! It sounds crazy to start anything in the middle of this heat, but this month is a huge turning point

[@sunsets619]

Where did you get your hat? 👩🏼‍🌾

[@alexandermonzon8165]

That's crazy how now I'm paying attention to the weather due to my zone planting times in S.D. I guess I might give Brocoli or Cauliflower à try I gotta Master lettuce first seems I can never grow it no matter how many seeds I Sow might keep trying arugula definitely...

[@eileenwineinger3173]

Have you tried using arugula in pesto and sauteed? My arugula went crazy all summer. I'm in Fresno in zone 9b. I'm gonna try to figure out lettuce this fall too.

[@alexandermonzon8165]

@@eileenwineinger3173 nice we basically almost have the same planting zone since we in Cali. I got grub issues nothing is surviving but I'm gonna Sow arugula today since you mention it gotta keep growing right just planted like Six Sugar Daddy Snap Peas hope they grow will look into some pesto recipes...

[@maryram3412]

Hi! Great video for me, I’m a newbie at fall gardening. What do you use to plant your seeds in? Also I’m 10a in SD. Thanks!

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Any quality seed starting mix will be good

[@Kat-mf7mt]

Can't do any gardening with this heatwave. I gave up so I'm probably going to wait until October to start again.

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Definitely try some later this month when it's passed

[@jerrylane372]

In southern cal if you are starting your bulb onions in the house...when do you plant them out? Novembr

[@natashawilliams2575]

Great info. Any updates on preorder garlic shipping out? Tried your online message portal, but haven’t heard anything back.

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

We'll be restocking at the end of this month, so we'll email everyone with updates

[@enigmaticreverieproduction5169]

I need to go to Walter Anderson and get some cabbage seeds. I hope I can be successful this year with not pests. Should I use a ground cover to control aphids? Or will they come anyways?

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Wait to transplant until your cabbages are mature enough to handle some pest damage potentially. If you aren't going to spray anything, some damage is probably going to happen, but it won't kill the plant. You can also shoot them off with water every day or two

[@2023praise]

So what month do you start your starts? Sept and then set out in garden in Oct? Do you cover them at that point? I live zone 9b and temps drop in Oct is our first frost

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

I've started the first seeds over the past week or so. I'll leave them inside or under a tree until they germinate. Then I'll move them into the sun so the seedlings don't get leggy but will definitely use shade cloth too

[@kristagalassi30]

Went to SD last week and made a point to hit a local nursery so I could buy your seeds! Super excited to try them out, planted black magic kale and a few broccoli varieties yesterday. Also brought some home for my master gardener neighbor to try 😊 Just wish your website would save what’s in my cart so I could order direct online 🫤

[@lilycardoso4679]

How are you planting your bulb onions? Directly sown or in trays?

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

You can do either, but I like to transplant out

[@lilycardoso4679]

@@SanDiegoSeedCompany Thank you!

[@ladygaeta]

Where and what conditions do you store the seed tray before planting?

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Just in the greenhouse. We give them a good rinse, and we'll do a deep clean if there are any signs of disease

[@MextizaCalifa]

Im in rainy section of the world .T.T netherlands

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Send us some rain!

[@MextizaCalifa]

@@SanDiegoSeedCompany Ok.. let me start fanning the clouds ur way.. should be there in a week or so.. 😆

[@giniambrosino5167]

I’m assuming you plant the root crops directly in the ground but what about peas? If directly in the ground when do you start them?

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Yes, you can direct sow them especially if you have irrigation to keep the soil moist. I'm starting them this month and succession planting

[@maryelizabethcalais9180]

Is your calendar available or did I miss that info?

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Not yet, but it will be soon!

[@deannastevens1217]

You get to water deeply??

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Yes, at least 10 minutes if not 20 or 30.

[@deannastevens1217]

@@SanDiegoSeedCompany Sorry... We've been under water restrictions for sooo long. They just changed it from 50% of our 2016 water usage to 75% of 2016 water usage. It's amazing just that little difference.

[@PixiePrincessBrat]

LOL can be? More like has been for the last 25 years...

[@PixiePrincessBrat]

Oh wait, or is that just in the IE?

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

@@PixiePrincessBrat September usually has a hot week or two down here but can sometimes be more reasonable than this year is so far, but August is sometimes hotter overall. I keep an eye on the weather up there, and it's usually a bit hotter.

[@stephaniehanuman-dale6279]

Do you plant garlic the same time as onions? Great video! I won’t miss my brassica window this year🥦🥕🥬

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Yes, I've just starting planting some garlic, but one of my favorite times to plant it is on Halloween