Zone 3 - What to Plant in September

Zone 3 - What to Plant in September

Zone 3 growers typically don't have too many options to plant in September. With your first frost right around the corner theres not much hardy enough to withstand the cold weather thats coming. That being said, September is the perfect time to plant garlic and cover crops in your garden. Planting garlic in September will give it an early start come spring. Cover crops are good for naturally adding back nutrients to your garden. Below is a list of items that can be planted in zone 3 in September.

Leningrad garlic, also known as Russian Red garlic or Allium sativum 'Leningrad,' is a distinctive garlic variety renowned for its robust flavor and impressive adaptability. This heirloom garlic hails from the city of Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in Russia. It is characterized by its large, purple-striped bulbs and rich, complex flavor profile. Leningrad garlic is classified as a hardneck garlic, meaning it produces a woody central stalk called a scape, which can be harvested and used in culinary applications as well. One of the standout features of Leningrad garlic is its ability to thrive in colder climates. It is well-suited for regions with harsh winters, making it a favorite among northern gardeners. The cloves are typically planted in the fall and harvested in mid-summer the following year. Leningrad garlic is appreciated for its strong, spicy flavor with a hint of sweetness, which intensifies when roasted. Its cloves are easy to peel, making it a convenient choice for home cooks and chefs alike.

The Mild French garlic is a bold flavored garlic that is quick growing. This garlic variety was first bred by Porter & Sons seedhouse. The Mild French can be grown throughout the United States, even taking the stiff heat of far Southern areas. Its plants grow taller and mature more quickly than most other members of the Silverskin family. Mild French's bulbs will yield an average of 12-14 cloves. The flavor of the Mild French varies a bit based on the climate. This garlic offers a bold flavor that has greater heat the further north it’s grown! Mild French is a very long storing silverskin garlic up to a year. Approximately 12-15 garlic bulbs per pound. Approximately 12-14 cloves per bulb.

The German Extra Hardy garlic is a prolific producer of long rooted garlic that can store in the ground throughout winter. This variety has pale white skin with dark red cloves. The German Extra Hardy has a strong raw flavor and high sugar content, making it one of the very best for roasting. Hardneck, 4-7 cloves per bulb.

The Purple Glazer is an excellent purple striped garlic. This amazing variety hails from the Republic of Georgia. Purple Glazer produces fat white cloves with deep purple streaks. The Purple Glazer has a strong flavor with no heat and a very minimal aftertaste.

The Montana Giant garlic has a full and robust taste that sets it apart from other garlics. It can pack a punch of high heat that quickly melts away. Montana Giant is a hardneck Rocambole that produces large cloves that are easy to peel and great to cook with. Averages 5-7 cloves per bulb.

The Elite cowpea is a bush type cream southern pea that produces heavy yields of 7" pods with cowpeas that are delicious and easy to shell. This cowpea is one of the most productive of all the cream peas. If you are using for Nitrogen fixation we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant. Try with cowpea inoculant for maximum Nitrogen fixation.

The Susan Delafield is a dazzling hardneck Porcelain variety that produces delicious and attractive purplish-pink cloves. This garlic has a delicious spicy flavor and will store well for up to 8-9 months. This variety is perfect for northern climates and is acclimated to moist conditions. The Susan Delafield averages 4-6 cloves per bulb.

Chamisal Wild is a hot and spicy garlic with cloves that are deep red! This variety can reach up to 3" in diameter, loves cold winters and matures late in the season. The Chamisal Wild was first discovered on the creek banks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico.

The Amish Rocambole garlic is certified with a very strong and hot flavor! Amish Rocambole (aka Amish White or Amish) has a pungently hot and lingering flavor. A lively growing cultivar, the Amish Rocambole grows better in areas that have cold winters. Approximately 10 garlic bulbs per pound. Approximately 8-10 cloves per bulb.

California Late is the most commonly used garlic in the United States. This variety produces large bulbs with 12-16 good size cloves. California Late is more on the hot side with a classic garlic flavor. California Late is later maturing than California Early, as it ripens in July. It stores for about 8-12 months. California Late is a really great all around use garlic that is also excellent for baking.

Red Toch is a certified, beautiful garlic with stripes of red and pink! The Red Toch is also know as “Tochliavri” in the small Republic of Georgia village from which it hails. This garlic variety is another vigorous member of the Artichoke family and produces 12 to 18 cloves in a typical bulb. The widely celebrated flavor of the Red Toch has been described by famed garlic symposium organizer Darrell Merrell as “not too mild, not too hot”, and having “a mellow spicy tang with a fragrant aroma.”

The Purple Italian Garlic is a classic hardneck variety that is a favorite among chefs, as its large cloves are easy to peel! This variety is perfect for planting in northern climates for a delicious summer harvest. This garlic has a sweet and delicate mild flavor that tastes great in salsas and Mediterranean dishes. The Purple Italian is a deep purple-skinned variety that produces 8-12 cloves per bulb.

Mattchi is considered by garlic experts to be an improved version of the California Early garlic. This popular soft-neck garlic is a gourmet garlic that is an all purpose garlic. Mattchi garlic's bulbs and cloves are a uniform cream white with the occasional pink hint. This garlic is a great variety for roasting and spreading onto your favorite meals. Mattchi is very easy to grow and cloves are easy to peel.

The Rosewood Garlic is an outstanding, vigorous hardneck Porcelain variety with a pungent flavor that packs a lot of heat! This spicy variety is more tolerant to the wet spring soil and is resistant to common allium diseases, like rust. The Rosewood has a mid to late harvest and produces 4-6 cloves per bulb.

The Sadandy cowpea is a heavy yielding Southern pea great for fresh shelling. The Sadandy variety is very similarly to 'Texas Cream' but the peas are slightly smaller. These bush-type plants are prolific and thrive in hotter, Southern weather. The Sadandy is a "cream pea" type variety, they are generally used at the fresh shelling stage. If you are using for Nitrogen fixation we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant.

Lady is the smallest and most tender Southern cowpea on the market. This cowpea variety is a popular and hard to find southern cowpea. Lady is excellent freshly cooked and very tender. The short plants are great for small gardens, and yields are high. If you are using for Nitrogen fixation we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant. Try with cowpea inoculant for maximum Nitrogen fixation.

The Black Crowder cowpea is a high yielding variety of long pods. The cowpeas themselves have a deep purple color when first shelled which then turn black when dried. The Black Crowder's green pods are easy to shell. Try with cowpea inoculant for maximum Nitrogen fixation.