September: What to Plant in Northern California and Central Valley areas

How did we get to September already!?
Here's what is suggested for our areas for planting now... some I didn't believe, but I'm trying a few, we'll see how that goes! Good Luck...

Beans-climbing (also Pole, Runner, Scarlet) Plant in Garden
Harvest from December

Beans-dwarf (also French, Bush)  Plant in garden
Harvest from December

Beetroot (also Beets)  Plant in Garden
Harvest from December

Broccoli Plant in Garden
Harvest from December

Brussels sprouts Plant in Garden
Harvest from January

Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry) Plant in Garden
Harvest from January

Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) Plant in Garden
Harvest from December

Carrot  Plant in Garden
Harvest from January

Cauliflower  Start undercover in seed trays, plant out in 4-6 weeks
Harvest from February

Chinese cabbage (Wong Bok, Wong nga pak) Start undercover in seed trays, plant out in 4-6 weeks
Harvest from December

Collards (also Collard greens, Borekale)  Plant in garden.
Harvest from November.

Endive Plant in garden.
Harvest from December.

Fennel (also Bronze fennel) Plant in Garden.
Harvest from January.

Florence Fennel (also Finocchio) Plant in garden.
Harvest from January.

Kale (also Borecole) Plant in garden.
Harvest from December.

Kohlrabi Plant in garden.
Harvest from December

Leeks  Plant in garden.
Harvest from January.

Lettuce Plant in garden.
Harvest from December.

Mustard greens (also gai choy) Plant in Garden.
Harvest from November.

Onion Plant in garden.
Harvest from April.

Radish Plant in garden.
Harvest from November.

Salsify (also Vegetable oyster) Plant in garden.
Harvest from January.

Shallots (also Eschalots) Plant in garden.
Harvest from January.

Squash (Crookneck,Pattypan,Summer) Plant in garden.
Harvest from December.

Strawberry Plants Plant in garden.
Harvest from January.

Turnip Plant in garden.
Harvest from November.

Whew! Let's get growing!! 

Thanks for the list. I planted broccoli and cauliflower last week by seed. I also planted peas, kale, swiss chard, lettuce, beets, radishes and spinach. My zone has our first frost near the end of November (last year it was early November) so a lot of those will die at that frost (beans etc)

I bought a 10 x 20 greenhouse for this winter. Here's the link:


http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/grow-it-10-x-20-peak-style-greenhouse/

It's going to cover my 5 x 10 raised bed and a 4 x 4 table top. I am planting a new tomato in it along with some that are already growing there. The hope is to be able to harvest from the tomatoes during the winter. I'm going to fill in other growing areas around the exterior on the south side using straw bales as the growing medium.

I may try growing some of these listed items inside the greenhouse but I have to get it up first!
Audrey

audrey.jeanne.roberts wrote:I am planting a new tomato in it along with some that are already growing there.  The hope is to be able to harvest from the tomatoes during the winter.  I'm going to fill in other growing areas around the exterior on the south side using straw bales as the growing medium.

Nice Greenhouse! We have a few "Sweet 100s" in buckets, maybe I can convince Al to move them into the greenhouse in the Apollo Garden. We have no power to the greenhouse which means limited use... no fan during the heat and no heater during the cold times. 

We've never tried growing the peppers this time of year, but we're gonna try it. Just pulled all the seeds we need ... ahhh, getting the growing bug again, the GOOD kind of bug!!

Keep us posted how that works!

We're going to try an experiment with our greenhouse. We're going to buy 4, 33 gallon, black trash cans with lids and fill them with water. We're going to spread them out on the south side in the direct sun which gets quite hot during our winters. We actually have to close our window curtains on that side of the house as it often gets too warm in the house from the sun.

Hubby bought me a weather station a couple years ago that has never gotten up, now I NEED IT, LOl! I will have a sensor in the greenhouse so I can monitor the temps without having to go outside 4 or 5 times an evening.

Along with the ground itself storing heat from the day, we're hoping that the water will give off enough heat over night to keep us above freezing in there. We do have power available so we'll have a small heater as a backup plan for the coldest nights. Our lowest temps are generally mid-20s off and on for about 6-8 weeks.

Thank you Grandma and AJ,    I look forward to guidance from local, experienced SFG'ers.

I started seeds in trays 8-24 for planting today for:

Brussel sprouts
Onions - Red, Yellow and green
Bok choy
Kale
Collards
Cilantro and Parsley
Celery

Will direct sow today:

Carrots
Sugar peas

Current Knee-high plants:

Corn - Silver Q
Bush bean - Dragon T
Snow peas

Ankle-high:  (didn't know I could try summer squash at this time!!)

Winter Squash

What about planting garlic cloves now? Thank you

AJ, I'm looking forward to your journey with the green house.

Sanderson; It will be a journey, of that I have no doubt and I'll be sure to tell it like it is, the good, the bad and everything in between! I'm sure I'll make lots of mistakes along the way :-)

You have a veritable feast prepared in your seedlings, that's awesome. I'm still deciding. I have to get going pretty soon or my decision will be to wait until spring, LOL!
Audrey

When can I plant potato eyes? Or even slips?

BUMP
Here is the Gardenate.com list of planting for this region.  Topic originally formatted by PNG Grandma:

PNG_Grandma wrote:How did we get to September already!?
Here's what is suggested for our areas for planting now... some I didn't believe, but I'm trying a few, we'll see how that goes! Good Luck...

Beans-climbing (also Pole, Runner, Scarlet) Plant in Garden
Harvest from December

Beans-dwarf (also French, Bush)  Plant in garden
Harvest from December

Beetroot (also Beets)  Plant in Garden
Harvest from December

Broccoli Plant in Garden
Harvest from December

Brussels sprouts Plant in Garden
Harvest from January

Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry) Plant in Garden
Harvest from January

Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) Plant in Garden
Harvest from December

Carrot  Plant in Garden
Harvest from January

Cauliflower  Start undercover in seed trays, plant out in 4-6 weeks
Harvest from February

Chinese cabbage (Wong Bok, Wong nga pak) Start undercover in seed trays, plant out in 4-6 weeks
Harvest from December

Collards (also Collard greens, Borekale)  Plant in garden.
Harvest from November.

Endive Plant in garden.
Harvest from December.

Fennel (also Bronze fennel) Plant in Garden.
Harvest from January.

Florence Fennel (also Finocchio) Plant in garden.
Harvest from January.

Kale (also Borecole) Plant in garden.
Harvest from December.

Kohlrabi Plant in garden.
Harvest from December

Leeks  Plant in garden.
Harvest from January.

Lettuce Plant in garden.
Harvest from December.

Mustard greens (also gai choy) Plant in Garden.
Harvest from November.

Onion Plant in garden.
Harvest from April.

Radish Plant in garden.
Harvest from November.

Salsify (also Vegetable oyster) Plant in garden.
Harvest from January.

Shallots (also Eschalots) Plant in garden.
Harvest from January.

Squash (Crookneck,Pattypan,Summer) Plant in garden.
Harvest from December.

Strawberry Plants Plant in garden.
Harvest from January.

Turnip Plant in garden.
Harvest from November.

Whew! Let's get growing!! 

Here is the Gardenate.com list of planting for Zone 9A, followed by Zone 9B.  I've come to the conclusion that I'm in 9A for summer and 9B for winter.

Beans-climbing /Pole, Runner, Scarlet      Plant in Garden  Harvest from December
Beans-dwarf /French / Bush)  Plant in garden     Harvest from December
Beets     Plant in Garden     Harvest from December
Broccoli     Plant in Garden      Harvest from December
Brussels sprouts      Plant in Garden      Harvest from January
Cape Gooseberry     Plant in Garden     Harvest from January
Capsicum / peppers      Plant in Garden     Harvest from December
Carrot         Plant in Garden     Harvest from January
Cauliflower    Start undercover in seed trays, plant out in 4-6 weeks  Harvest from February
Chinese cabbage      Start undercover in seed trays, plant out in 4-6 weeks   Harvest from December
Collards /  Borekale)  Plant in garden     Harvest from November.
Endive      Plant in garden      Harvest from December.
Fennel      Plant in Garden.     Harvest from January.
Florence Fennel / Finocchio     Plant in garden.     Harvest from January.
Kale / Borecole     Plant in garden.     Harvest from December.
Kohlrabi     plant in garden.     Harvest from December
Leeks    Plant in garden.    Harvest from January.
Lettuce     Plant in garden.     Harvest from December.
Mustard greens     Plant in Garden.      Harvest from November.
Onion      Plant in garden.      Harvest from April.
Radish      Plant in garden.      Harvest from November.
Salsify      Plant in garden.     Harvest from January.
Shallots       Plant in garden.       Harvest from January.
Squash, Summer       Plant in garden.        Harvest from December.
Strawberry Plants       Plant in garden.      Harvest from January.
Turnip     Plant in garden.       Harvest from November.



Planting in USA - Zone 8B regions

Beans / broad beans / fava beans     Plant in garden.
Beets          Plant in garden.
Cabbage         Plant in garden.
Carrot           Plant in garden.
Chicory / Belgian endive          Plant in garden.
Chives         Plant in garden.
Collards /  Borekale        Plant in garden.
Daikon radish       Plant in garden.
Horseradish          Plant in garden.
Kohlrabi         Plant in garden.
Leeks        Plant in garden.
Lettuce           Plant in garden.
Mustard greens       Plant in garden.
Onion       Plant in garden.
Radish       Plant in garden.
Rocket / Arugula / Rucola      Plant in garden.
Silverbeet / Swiss Chard       Plant in garden.
Snow Peas / Sugar Peas       Plant in garden.
Spinach / English spinach       Plant in garden.
Strawberry Plants       Plant in garden.
Turnip       Plant in garden.

Taking a clue from Marie's post, here's what the Old Farmer's Almanac discusses for the South West.  It's not quite Fall here in CA but we are having some nice weather in the low 90s (in Fresno).

Gardening Tips for the Southwest Region for September
Location:
ZIP/Postal Code or City,State
Month:
Gardening Tips Regions

Fertilize your lawn. Lawns fertilized in the fall are better equipped to survive the winter. Reseed in bare patches.

Begin cutting back on watering of the garden and lawn (except newly seeded areas) so that plants can prepare for dormancy (not growth).

Save the seeds from your self-pollinating flowers, such as marigolds, cosmos, or coneflowers, to plant next spring by drying them and storing them in closed containers.

Plant spring wildflowers now.

If you purchased spring-blooming bulbs, plant them as soon as you get them.

In some areas, you can plant cool-season vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli, carrots, garlic, Swiss chard, lettuce, beets, kale, parsnips, radishes, peas, spinach, turnips, and celery. See our seed-starting chart on Almanac.com/Gardening.

Plant cool-season annuals, such as pansies and snapdragons, when the temperature begins to decrease.

Plant any perennials. Divide and replant overcrowded perennial beds. Remember to apply a layer of organic matter to the new bed.

Use only phosphate fertilizers on perennials and bulbs (no nitrogen).

Do not fertilize annuals.

Cut back annuals when they finish flowering.

Plan to seed cool-season lawns, such as bluegrass or ryegrass, towards the end of the month; fall is the best time to establish such lawns.

Place tropical houseplants under shade trees to prepare them for winter indoors.

Bump.

I direct sowed some carrot seeds a few days ago and they are up! The red broccoli seeds (from CN) in the 8-pack cells also sprouted. And just when I'm ready to rip out the winter squash, 3 female long-neck Butternuts decided to make an appearance. Only thing I could do was grab a paint brush and a couple of males. Recent first frosts have been in December so maybe they will be a viable harvest.

sanderson wrote:Bump.

I direct sowed some carrot seeds a few days ago and they are up!  The red broccoli seeds (from CN) in the 8-pack cells also sprouted.  And just when I'm ready to rip out the winter squash, 3 female long-neck Butternuts decided to make an appearance.  Only thing I could do was grab a paint brush and a couple of males.  Recent first frosts have been in December so maybe they will be a viable harvest.

Really? My broccoli isn't up yet. I thought I planted mine before you did, but maybe not.  My radishes are up already. I just planted them day-before-yesterday. It's amazing how fast seeds sprout when the soil is warm. I will definitely use the warmer pad this winter.

I planted the broccoli about 3 days ago when I did the radishes.  The trays are outdoors so they are warm.  Are yours indoors?

PS I planted the seeds Aug 28th

sanderson wrote:I planted the broccoli about 3 days ago when I did the radishes.  The trays are outdoors so they are warm.  Are yours indoors?

PS  I planted the seeds Aug 28th

One poked its little head up this morning. I started the tray inside, since our night temps are down into the low 60s now, but I moved it out when the beans started to sprout. I meant to bring it back in at night, but forgot last night.  Celeriac is up this am, too. That should be interesting. I didn't know it was a root crop. I hope it transplants okay.

I started my celeriac indoors in Jiffy pots, and moved it up a pot size to regular plastic pots (removing the outer covering on the Jiffy pods) and transplanted outside before the roots filled the pots. Didn't seem to have any issues with transplanting. They are still out there, growing. Since you sound unfamiliar with them, yes - root vegetable, with a rather ugly, sometimes slimy, very bumpy/crevice-filled outer skin that's tedious to peel/cut off. I'd vote this the vegetable I'm most likely to cut myself while preparing...or maybe they tie for that position with parsnips...

Pennsylvania's growing season is different but I started mine the third week of February, moved them up a pot size mid-April, hardened them off, and transplanted them out May 24th. I guess I could probably harvest one at this point. but I like them big.

I've seriously babied these 9 celeriacs (I planted 3 per square, on purpose, because that's what my similarly sized rutabegas seem to self-thin their 4-squares to.) They've gotten water nearly everyday and they got a special snack of bone meal (for calcium) and wood-ash (because hadn't purchased borax yet.)

I *think* this was the article I found to be the most helpful:
http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/5582/how-to-grow-celeriac

Thanks, Beetles. After reading the first half of that article, and now hearing about how difficult they are to prepare, I think I'll quit before it goes any further. I have enough challenges in my life without adding celeriac to the list. I'll keep watering the pellets until I need them for something else. If celeriac wants to play in my garden it's more than welcome. If not, something else will take its place. 

countrynaturals wrote:Thanks, Beetles. After reading the first half of that article, and now hearing about how difficult they are to prepare, I think I'll quit before it goes any further. I have enough challenges in my life without adding celeriac to the list. I'll keep watering the pellets until I need them for something else. If celeriac wants to play in my garden it's more than welcome. If not, something else will take its place. 

Celeriac is a moisture-loving, long-time-to-mature, hard-to-prepare vegetable... but I will say that besides frequent watering because it's been an abnormally dry summer for my part of Pennsylvania, this thing has been trouble-free since transplanting it: I've had no problems with pests, no diseases, no problems with not heading/bulbing/setting-fruit, and no premature bolting (though I did follow that 45*F mark in the article carefully.) That contrasts with... basically the rest of my garden - everything else has at least one of those problems. Give it a chance -- see if you can get it to germinate -- but don't drive yourself crazy with it.

Thanks, Beetles, but I think I was already crazy even before planting celeriac.

Daikon radishes are just starting to poke through. I'm really excited to try these. 

Snow peas are up this morning.

We are taking an almost 2 week long trip and I'm frantically getting things into the easiest to maintain status before we leave.  My neighbor's son house sits for us while we're gone and he does really well, but he's not a gardener so I have to make it super simple.  YIKES!!!!  Now is when I want to be able to wiggle my nose like "Bewitched" and stop everything to catch up before leaving, lol!!! 

I have to pull things out in order to plant my fall and winter veggies, but before I do that I have to remember what the sun patterns are with my hillside.  It's on the south and high enough that only part of the hill is plantable during the winter or it doesn't get sun.  I may have to take down one of my most fruitful butternut squash plants or it will block the best growing area (NOTE TO SELF:  Write this stuff down your brain does not recall it in April!!!!)

Today we're going to get the hillside watering system installed YAY!!!  (I hope, fingers crossed)

I understand the flurry of getting everything set up for being gone. Yes, keeping a journal is really helpful. The first year I wrote down every seed that sprouted and every worm I encountered. Now, only the compost journeys.

Two of my boxes, one of which I grew snow peas in the winter are now shaded. Darn the south neighbor's trees. They will probably shade part of the solar panels this winter.

Enjoy the trip!

PS I want to sow the snow peas today. Okay to do that?

Absolutely!  My snow peas are coming up already.  I planted them a couple of weeks ago. 

I planted my broccoli raab and cauliflower seedlings this week.  I also am trying another type of Kale, Italian Nero variety.  They got planted today.  I want everything to be as established as possible before I leave.

Good. I will sow the peas tomorrow. Plus, amend the okra boxes and spread out the walking onions in their place. And plant 6 winter coles in the 2' x 3' box fitted with tulle. And finish removing the tomatoes from the 2 x 7' and maybe get it amended. It really hurt to chop up the Sun Gold, the only variety that survived the disease and had flushes of little tomatoes. There are still 2 others in the BTE row that I can snack on. I'm just starting the junk compost pile for the flower beds. I saw a recipe for pickled okra so I may grow them one more year. If husband gets a hankering, he can nibble on a pickled one. My photos are not coming through from my iPhone. I pruned the NZ spinach so I could amend it's bed. A huge bowl of washed fresh leaves to blanch tomorrow.

For anyone experiencing extreme summer heat, here is a chuckle for you.  As first frost can come as early as November, take this guide with a grain of salt.

Here in the Central Valley, I will be starting winter seedlings Sept 10-15 (after mini-vacation) and set them out in Oct.  Don't forget the bridal tulle when you plant!  I waited 1 day and had a few green caterpillars last fall.

Planting now in September for the USA - Zone 9a zone

Beans - Sow seed Harvest from December
Beetroot/Beets Sow seed Harvest from December
Broccoli Sow seed Harvest from December
Brussels sprouts Sow seed Harvest from January
Cape Gooseberry Sow seed Harvest from January
Capsicum/peppers Sow seed Harvest from December  
Cauliflower Sow seed Harvest from January
Chinese cabbage      Start in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks Harvest from December
Collards/Borekale) Sow seed Harvest from December
Cucumber Sow seed Harvest from December    
Endive Sow seed Harvest from December
Fennel     Sow seed Harvest from January
Florence Fennel/Finocchio Sow seed Harvest from January
Kohlrabi Sow seed Harvest from December
Leeks Sow seed Harvest from January
Lettuce Sow seed Harvest from December
Mustard greens/gai choy   Sow seed Harvest from November
Onion Sow seed Harvest from April
Radish Sow seed Harvest from November
Salsify/Vegetable oyster Sow seed Harvest from January
Shallots/Eschalots Sow seed Harvest from January
Squash-Summer   Sow seed Harvest from December  
Strawberry Plants Plant out (transplant) seedlings Harvest from January
Turnip Sow seed Harvest from November