What We’re Planting in September

If you have been following our home garden journey, you know that we got a late start to our summer crops. Well, some of those June and July crops are just starting to really take off. In my area, summer rains should be May through July and taper off through August, that way by September and October it has mostly dried out except for a random tropical storm. However, this year, the rains came late and we struggled with getting enough water just as our seeds were planted and starting to grow. Then came the deluge. The 1.5 to 4 inches of rain a day really inhibited a lot of growth. We found ourselves using more organic amendments than usual, as the rain was just washing away all the nutrients in the soil.

But we made it! It was a battle between the rain and the mealybugs, but we finally have productive crops. Even though they are over a month late, we’re happy they’re finally giving us something. Interestingly, we found out that mealybugs like long beans more than winged beans. So we ripped out the long beans and added even more winged beans. Our Poona Kheera and Armenian cucumbers are fruiting abundantly and we will be starting some Suyo cucumbers at the end of September so that they can start replacing the others when those slow down. We will be leaving in the Clemson Spineless and Jing Orange okra which are still producing. The Seminole Pumpkin is finally putting on fruit.

So what will be actually planting for fall? We got some tomato seedlings in the ground already and are starting more by seed. Same with sweet peppers. I’ll be collecting seed from our Genovese basil and replanting as soon as it stops raining, and we’ll be planting Tower Basil which just might be our favorite ever. It produces loads of sweet basil leaves and puts out new growth quickly. We just planted onions, kale, nasturtium, and broccolini. And, I just added some compost in the mini-food forest to try a tropical pumpkin that is new to me. If you would like to see the varieties we are growing, and others we are selling as seedlings, check out our Pre-Order Store.

I recently started compiling all the information I have been gathering over the years into a neat and easy to read chart. I have found that other lists are good in general, but there’s usually something off whether it’s the variety or the timing. Some charts even seem out of date because the weather has been changing so quickly. For example, just a few years ago, in my area, you could grow radishes into May. Now, you are lucky if you can get them into March. People have started asking me what is best to grow when. So, this is what I have found grows best in my area (Zones 10-11) according to my experience.

Make sure to sign up for our newsletter to get these charts sent to your email every month. That way, you can grow with more success. Growing the right variety in the right season is the key to successful gardening in Zones 10 and 11.