Zone 4 - What to Plant in September

Zone 4 - What to Plant in September

Zone 4 growers typically don't have too many options to plant in September. Zone 4 first frost usually occurs in late September to early October. That being said, there's still some items you can still plant. It's the perfect time to plant garlic so you get a fast start next spring. Also there are several cover crops that can be planted now to help bring nutrients back to the garden this fall and early spring. Below is a list of items that can be planted in zone 4 in September.

White Stem Pak Choi, also known as Bok Choy or Pak Choi, is a versatile and popular Asian cabbage variety with origins in China. This leafy green vegetable has been cultivated for centuries, appreciated for its tender leaves and crisp, white stems. Characterized by its vibrant green, broad leaves and smooth, white stalks, White Stem Pak Choi is both visually appealing and nutritious. The flavor is mild and slightly sweet, making it a popular choice in stir-fries, soups, and salads. Harvesting typically occurs 45-60 days after planting, when the plants reach a height of about 12-18 inches, and can be done by cutting the entire plant or picking individual leaves. White Stem Pak Choi thrives in cooler weather, preferring well-drained soil and full sun, making it suitable for spring and fall planting. Its rapid growth and ability to produce multiple harvests, combined with its rich content of vitamins A, C, and K, make it a favorite among gardeners and cooks alike. Overall, White Stem Pak Choi is valued for its crisp texture, mild flavor, and adaptability in a variety of dishes.

The Red Russian Kale is a very tender, colorful specialty kale for salad mix and bunching. This variety is a special, refined strain. Its stems are purple and leaves are deep gray-green with purple veins. This flat, noncurled, and tooth-edged kale has a wonderful taste. Red Russian matures medium-tall and leaves are tender compared to other kales.

Red Choi is a beautiful Pak Choi cabbage that has an excellent flavor cooked into meals! This variety is green with maroon veins that changes into a deep red color. The Red Choi has a compact growing habit.

The Garden Mesclun Blend is a mixture of light green to emerald, and bronze to deep red lettuces as well as endive and radicchio for a crunchy, zesty flavor that is a perfect addition to any salad!

The Red Veined Sorrel is a delicate green with an excellent flavor! This Red Veined Sorrel is a fast growing green that adds a delicious flavor and texture to salads. This green's leaves are best young with a sharp tart flavor that is unique to this plant. The central vein is a dark maroon that webs out throughout the leaf. This variety has very showy leaves that is great for salads, soups, stews and more.

Roquette Arugula seeds produce a fast-growing, cool-season leafy green prized for its peppery, nutty flavor and tender, deeply lobed leaves. Also known as salad rocket, this Mediterranean native has been cultivated since ancient Roman times for both its culinary and medicinal qualities. Roquette arugula thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained, fertile soil, reaching harvest size in as little as 30–40 days. Ideal for salads, sandwiches, or as a garnish, its bold flavor intensifies as the plant matures. Regular harvesting encourages new growth, making it a favorite for continuous garden production throughout spring and fall.

The Blue Curled Scotch Kale can be used as a garnish and or in hearty winter dishes. This kale variety is a compact plant with very tender, blue-green, crinkled leaves that are quite delicious, very cold hardy, and rich in vitamin A.

Chesnok Red garlic is one of the best baking garlic's available! This variety is a fantastic garlic that holds its shape and flavor well when cooked. Its stores well. Chesnok Red is regarded by some as the best all around garlic variety as it has a very beautiful red color.

Italian Red is a certified, great tasting and excellent storing garlic! Italian Red Porcelain is the garlic variety that is widely grown throughout the United States originating in California. Early Italian Red hardneck garlic is a very heat-tolerant porcelain-type garlic that can be planted in spring in northern gardens for a fall harvest! This garlic variety produces 6-10 large cloves per bulb that are fairly mild with a little garlic spiced flavor which intensifies during storage.

The Mizuna Purple Mustard produces bright purple tinged and sharply serrated green leaves. This is a tasty variety that is fast maturing and slow bolting.

Vit Mâche, also known as corn salad, lamb’s lettuce, or mâche, is a cool-season leafy green with a long history in Europe, where it was foraged in fields and vineyards before becoming a cultivated crop in the 17th century. This compact plant forms small rosettes of tender, spoon-shaped leaves that are deep green and naturally high in vitamins A and C. Its flavor is mild, slightly nutty, and gently sweet, making it a favorite for winter and early-spring salads. Mâche thrives in cool weather, germinating best in fall or early spring, and prefers rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture. It’s cold-tolerant enough to survive light frosts, allowing gardeners to harvest the delicate rosettes over a long season with minimal care.

Romanian Red garlic produces 4 to 5 large cloves per bulb. This variety's bulbs are a beautiful cream white with shades of purple skins. Once harvested, these whole bulbs will store for months. Romanian Red produces a delicious flavor that is pungent and long-lasting.

California Early is an excellent planting garlic variety that produces bulbs great for culinary use and is an early season garlic harvest! This variety is likely the most commonly grown variety in the U.S., and for good reason. It is a medium, easy to grow softneck, with a nice mild flavor and excellent storage ability. Cal-Early is one of our "work-horse" varieties we depend on, year after year, for fresh market and garlic braiding. The skins are a nice off-white with a purple blush and it produces 10-16 cloves per head.

Scarlet kale seeds are a vibrant and intriguing choice for any garden enthusiast looking to add a splash of color and a touch of nutrition to their harvest. These seeds produce kale with striking red and purple leaves that not only brighten up your garden but also provide a visually stunning addition to your plate. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, scarlet kale is as beneficial as it is beautiful. Its bold flavor, with a slightly peppery bite, can elevate a variety of dishes from salads to soups. Easy to grow, these seeds thrive in cooler weather and are resilient to frost, making them a versatile option for extending the growing season. With scarlet kale, you're not just cultivating a nutritious vegetable; you're enhancing your garden's aesthetic appeal with a vibrant, healthful crop.

Tendergreen Spinach (Komatsuna) mustard is a prized leafy green known for its mild flavor and tender texture, making it a favorite in both culinary and gardening circles. This variety of mustard greens has its roots in traditional Southern U.S. agriculture, where it has been cultivated for its versatility and ease of growth. Characterized by its large, bright green leaves with a smooth, slightly wrinkled texture, Tendergreen mustard is valued for its mild, peppery flavor that becomes more pronounced when cooked. The plants grow rapidly, reaching maturity in about 40 to 50 days, and are known for their robust, upright growth habit, typically standing 12 to 18 inches tall. They produce small, yellow flowers in early spring if allowed to bolt, though they are primarily grown for their leaves. Tendergreen mustard thrives in cool weather and can be grown in a variety of soil types as long as they are well-drained. The plant’s resilience and quick harvest make it ideal for successive plantings, providing a continuous supply of fresh greens. With its rich flavor, adaptable growing conditions, and rapid growth, Tendergreen mustard is a valuable addition to any vegetable garden.

A slow growing arugula with great tasting peppery leaves! This variety produces 4" deeply cut leaves that have a slightly sharp pepper flavor. The Sylvetta is compact, heat and cold tolerant. If you are looking to spice up your salads and meals, then this is for you!

Russian Red garlic has big bulbs that have a slightly purple skin that wraps the bulbs and cloves. This variety is a great garlic to grow for soil conditions that are slightly damp. Russian Red is one of the most flavorful heirloom garlics we offer. Approximately 6-9 cloves/ bulb. Approximately 45-60 garlic cloves/ pound.

Florida Broadleaf mustard is a classic Southern heirloom variety long valued for its fast growth, large yields, and reliable performance in warm climates. Originating in the southeastern United States, it produces broad, bright green, smooth-edged leaves that can grow 10–12 inches long, forming an upright, leafy plant about 18–24 inches tall. The leaves are tender yet substantial, with a bold, peppery flavor that mellows pleasantly when cooked. This mustard variety thrives in full sun and prefers rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture. It grows best in cool to mild temperatures, typically between 50–75°F, making it ideal for spring and fall gardens, though it can tolerate light frosts and brief periods of heat.