Zone 6 - What to Plant in September

Zone 6 - What to Plant in September

Zone 6 growers still typically have another couple months of growing season until the first frost hits. Zone 6 first frost usually occurs in late October. September is the perfect time to plant garlic, greens, kale, lettuce, peas, radish, spinach and more. 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 6 in September.

The Champion Radish is slow to become pithy. This radish is an excellent cooler weather variety, especially for short season climates. This bright red, crisp, round radish has large tops and is a good choice for early or late plantings. This highly recommended radish is great for eating fresh, in salads or for garnishes.

Crimson radish is a vibrant and flavorful variety of radish that stands out for its striking color and crisp texture. Originating from traditional radish cultivars, Crimson radish has been cultivated for its eye-catching appearance and peppery taste. This variety is known for its round, smooth roots, which boast a deep red to crimson skin and a white, crunchy interior. The flavor is typically sharp and tangy, with a satisfying bite that enhances salads, sandwiches, and garnishes. Crimson radishes generally mature in about 25 to 30 days, making them a quick and rewarding crop for gardeners. The plants exhibit a compact, upright growth habit, growing to a height of about 6 to 12 inches with a spread of 6 to 8 inches. They thrive in cool weather and well-drained soil, preferring full sun to partial shade. Their rapid growth and ease of cultivation make them ideal for successive plantings, providing a steady supply of fresh radishes throughout the growing season. With their vibrant color, crisp texture, and zesty flavor, Crimson radishes are a popular choice for adding both visual appeal and flavor to the garden and kitchen.

The Sparkler Radish is a bright scarlet colored radish with a sweet, juicy flesh and snappy flavor. This variety's scarlet skin fades to white on lower 1/3 of its round, to round oval bulb. This radish's medium tops are perfect for both home and market gardens. Sparkler can grow up to 1.5" diameter.

Grand Rapid TBR lettuce is a versatile variety derived from the classic Grand Rapid lettuce, known for its resistance to diseases like downy mildew. Originating in the early 20th century, this loose-leaf type features frilled, light green leaves that form a rosette, offering both beauty and texture. The flavor is crisp and mild, making it a delightful addition to salads and sandwiches. Harvesting can begin around 45 days after planting, with the option to pick individual leaves for a continuous supply or to cut the entire head when fully mature. Grand Rapid TBR lettuce thrives in cooler climates and prefers well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for both spring and fall gardens, particularly for home gardeners seeking a reliable and flavorful crop.

True Watercress is a delicious highly nutritious aquatic herb. This watercress has a wonderful fresh peppery-tasting flavor. Being semiaquatic, this cress is a creeping perennial whose leaves are popular in salads, sandwiches and as a garnish. True Watercress grow rapidly in in damp soil and can be grown in pots of soil placed in a tub of water if water is changed weekly.

The Knight Pea is the highest yielding, early maturing pea that we have! This pea variety's vines are short and therefore require no staking. Its huge pods can grow to be 4 inches with up to 10 peas in each pod! Knight is a favorite for its tender and sweet flavor, making it the perfect side dish.

The Early Frosty Pea is an old heirloom that, just like its name suggests, thrives in the colder climates. This variety does great in early spring or short season plantings. The vines are cold hardy and can grow to 30." This pea plant yields 3 1/2” pods filled with 6-7 delicious medium sized peas that are excellent for fresh eating or freezing for later use.

The Confetti Mix is a fast maturing, colorful bled of the classic red, white, and bi colored radishes, all with a remarkable flavor! This fun mix is a beautiful addition to any assortment. These classic bright colors are perfect for any market grower or home gardener.

The Cimarron is a very beautifully colored romaine lettuce! This tasty lettuce has bright green-red leaves that fade to deep red tips. This romaine type lettuce has good disease and bolt resistance. Cimarron is a favorite among gardeners for its beautiful hue and crispy texture in salad mixes!

Roxanne is a hybrid radish with uniform bright red color and a beautiful creamy white interior. Roxanne is a great tasting radish with no pithiness or bleeding even at a larger size. This radish stays firm and solid even when oversized, and holds well in the garden.

Lakeside smooth leaf spinach with dark green leaves. It has a round to oval leaf shape with an upright plant habit that makes it easy to harvest. It is a very versatile variety it can be used for baby leaf, bunch or clip.

The spicy flavor, attractive purple stems, and green leaves of the Hong Vit Radish makes it the perfect addition to any salad! This radish is a longtime favorite that is now available in organic form. A very fast growing microgreen! Grows straight and attractive purple stems that are hairless. Micro radish leaves add spicy flavor, visual appeal, and bulk to mixes.

Garland Serrate Leaf Greens is a delicious Japanese green that is an edible chrysanthemum. This popular Japanese green has serrated, dark green aromatic leaves that have an excellent flavor that becomes stronger with age. Garland Serrate is easy to grow and produces high yields with side shoots.

The Pink Beauty Radish is named after its beautiful, uniformed light pink exterior that is crisp and jam packed full of flavor. This round beauty has a bright white flesh that is crunchy and with the perfect radish taste. This quick-growing variety is a great addition to any garden! The Pink Beauty will add a nice pop of color to any garden or dish.

The Brilliant Rainbow Quinoa blends beautifully into meals or salads. Just like its name, this quinoa contains a spectrum of many different colored heads - red, orange, gold, white, and green. The Brilliant Rainbow Quinoa's leaves have a salty spinach-like flavor. Harvest for greens when 6-8" tall or let grow for beautiful tall blooms that can be harvested for grain. This Quinoa's grain has a nutty flavor that goes well with any dish!

The Bronze Mignonette has been a popular heirloom lettuce for over 100 years! This variety is a heat tolerant lettuce that is slow bolting. Bronze Mignette gets its name for having a bronze tint. The lettuce heads reach 8" across with crumply, crisp leaves. This variety looks and tastes in salads and on sandwiches.

Imperial Star is an Asian type spinach that is early maturing. This is a smooth-type spinach with medium sized green leaves. Grows upright on sturdy stalks. Perfect for cooler climates but also low bolt tolerance. Also has a high tolerance for downy mildew.

The Marvel of Four Seasons is a French butterhead lettuce with bibb-type rosette leaves. This butterhead, also known as Merveille des Quatre Saisons, is tasty and beautiful. The Marvel of Four Seasons has a robust shape with leaves ranging in bronze, gold, red and green.