What to Plant in September

Portland, OR · Zone 8b

Last frost: Mar 15 Frost-free days: 245

The fall growing season is in full swing. Transplant brassicas and direct sow greens, root vegetables, and herbs that thrive in cooler temperatures.

September at a Glance

Indoor Transplant Direct Sow
1 5 10 15 20 25
Cilantro
Parsley
Beet
Kale
Lettuce
Peas
Radish
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnip

Start Indoors 1

Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.

Spinach
Spinach
Aug 9 – Sep 23
9 per sq ft 35–50 days

Transplant 5

Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.

Parsley
Parsley
Feb 15 – Sep 8
4 per sq ft 70–90 days
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard
Feb 15 – Sep 15
4 per sq ft 50–60 days
Kale
Kale
Feb 22 – Sep 8
1 per sq ft 50–65 days
Lettuce
Lettuce
Aug 17 – Sep 23
4 per sq ft 45–60 days
Spinach
Spinach
Sep 9 – Oct 23
9 per sq ft 35–50 days

Direct Sow 5

Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.

Beet
Beet
Feb 15 – Sep 15
9 per sq ft 50–70 days
Turnip
Turnip
Feb 15 – Oct 8
9 per sq ft 30–60 days
Cilantro
Cilantro
Aug 17 – Sep 30
9 per sq ft 30–45 days
Peas
Peas
Aug 17 – Sep 8
8 per sq ft 55–70 days
Radish
Radish
Aug 17 – Oct 8
16 per sq ft 22–30 days

September Gardening Tips

  • Start Spinach indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
  • Lettuce, Kale, Spinach can be transplanted outside this month. Harden off seedlings over 5–7 days before planting out.
  • Direct sow Peas, Beet, Radish straight into the garden — no transplanting needed.
  • Protect tender crops from early frost with row cover — this can extend your season by several weeks.

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