Become an expert of cool season gardening with this zone 9 fall planting guide. Take your garden to the next level!
The middle of September is one of the best times of year, in my opinion. Half-way through September, our Fall Garden is planted all except for the onions and garlic. After a busy spring and summer on our homestead, it is finally time to get the Fall veggies in, and enter the “slow down season.” Fall and Winter gardens are my favorite because they tend to be less maintenance, at least here in zone 9.
Gardening throughout the summer with our triple digit heat, can be intense at times to say the least! In fact towards the end of summer, I hardly feel like gardening at all.
During the cold season, I love the earthy relaxed feeling of slipping on a pair of rubber boots in the middle of cooking dinner to cut some fresh greens or a head of broccoli from our Winter Garden. It asks much less of us and provides so many wonderful nutrients for our family.
If you have not gardened throughout the winter months, give it a try! I think you will fall in love with the process! If you are unsure of which hardiness zone you are in find out here.
Why you will love a Fall/Winter garden
Like I said before, I prefer a winter garden over a summer garden. Don’t get me wrong, a summer garden does have it’s appeal. Just think of the rich abundance of flowers, and fruit hanging from the vines that a summer has to offer! Still the humble winter garden is my favorite. Here’s why I love it and you might too:
- Less evaporation which means less watering
- Weeds are much slower to grow
- Cruciferous vegetable plants are beautiful
- Greens like chard and kale keep on giving
- Most of the season is spent enjoying the garden versus working in it
- There is more time to preserve the harvest through the slower Winter months
- Overall less maintenance here in zone 9
Read this Zone 9 Fall Planting Guide to get a start on your Fall and Winter Garden!
Quick Reference Zone 9 Fall Planting Guide
| Vegetable | Planting method | Days to Harvest | When to plant in Garden |
| Beets | Direct Seed Outdoors | 60-65 | Aug-Sept |
| Broccoli | Direct Seed Outdoors Seed Indoors or Starts | 45-75 | Aug-Sept |
| Brussels sprouts | Direct Seed Outdoors Seed Indoors or Starts | 85-110 | Aug-Sept |
| Cabbage | Direct Seed Outdoors Seed Indoors or Starts | 65-115 | Aug-Sept |
| Carrots | Direct Seed Outdoors | 55-75 | Aug-Sept |
| Cauliflower | Direct Seed Outdoors Seed Indoors or Starts | 75-120 | Aug-Sept |
| Collards | Direct Seed Outdoors Seed Indoors or Starts | 50-80 | Aug-Sept |
| Chives | Seed, Indoors, or Outdoors | year round | Aug-Sept |
| Celery | Best by starts | 100-120 | Aug-Sept |
| Garlic | Direct seed (cloves) outdoors | 250-270 | Oct-Nov |
| Kale | Direct Seed Outdoors Seed Indoors or Starts | 45-60 | Aug-Sept |
| Lettuce | Direct Seed Outdoors Seed Indoors or Starts | 40-60 | Aug-Sept |
| Mustard Greens | Direct Seed Outdoors Seed Indoors or Starts | 35-50 | Aug-Sept |
| Onions | Direct Seed Outdoors Seed Indoors or Starts | 100-120 | Dec-Feb |
| Peas | Direct Seed Outdoors | 60-70 | Aug-Nov |
| Potatoes | Direct Seed (potato) Outdoors | 90-110 | Sept |
| Parsnip | Direct Seed Outdoors | 95-105 | Aug-Sep |
| Radishes | Direct Seed Outdoors | 28-60 | Sept-Oct |
| Spinach | Direct Seed Outdoors Seed Indoors or Starts | 28-45 | Sept-Oct |
| Swiss Chard | Direct Seed Outdoors Seed Indoors or Starts | 52-65 | Sept-Oct |
| Turnips | Direct Seed Outdoors | 50-60 | Aug-Oct |
What vegetables grow well during the cool season?
Beets
These tasty deep red root vegetables are easy to grow. They are great for small scale gardeners because they do not require much space. Growing beets is done for both the root and the young greens. They are delicious roasted for salads, made into pickled beets, or even eaten raw with hummus.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a nutrient powerhouse and can be used in a variety of ways. It can be eaten fresh, lightly sautéed or used in stir fry, soup and pasta or rice-based entrees. Growing broccoli is simple as long as you follow a few simple broccoli growing tips.
Brussels sprouts
These miniature cabbage-looking vegetables are extremely tasty if eaten freshly picked. The best way to get them freshest is by growing Brussels sprouts in your garden. The plant is large and beautiful and the Brussels sprouts grow on a large stalk that is quite impressive. They are delicious when roasted, like in this warm chopped salad with walnuts and raisins. Try these miniature cabbage like vegetables!
Cabbage
Cabbage is easy to grow and hardy, making it a favorite of gardeners of a variety of climates. Homegrown cabbage is a nutritious and rewarding vegetable to grow since it has so many uses. Knowing when to plant cabbage and the conditions it likes best will reward you with an amazing vegetable that is great in salads, stir-fry, sauerkraut and countless other recipes.
Carrots
Carrots grow best in cool temperatures. Which is why they are grown early spring and late fall. The night temperature should be dropping to about 55 degrees F. and the daytime temperatures should be averaging 75 degrees F for optimum growth. Carrots can be fussy to grow if they don’t have the perfect conditions but they are worth getting it right. They are perfect for the small home garden because they require little space and are the included in many recipes especially soups and stews like this rustic venison stew.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower has the reputation of being somewhat hard to grow, and with good reason. Growing cauliflower successfully means knowing when is the best time to plant and when to harvest cauliflower. If it is not harvested at the right time it can become “ricey” and no longer appealing.
Collards
Collard greens have a tendency to bolt easily in warm weather. Growing collards in a winter garden ensures that you are successful. They are a great source of vitamins C and Beta Carotene, as well as fiber. This dark-green, leafy vegetable is used in a variety of dishes especially southern food.
Chives
Chives are a delicious and ornamental addition to an herb garden or even used as a border in a flower bed because both the mild onion-tasting “leaves” and the flowers are edible. The flower is a beautiful purplish pink poof that adds some whimsy to a gardening space. Grow these perennial herbs to add flavor and color to your meals.
Celery
Celery tends to be one of the more difficult vegetables to grow and it has a very long growing season but a very low tolerance for both heat and cold. It requires the soil to stay at a consistent moisture level. If you are up for a challenge, add celery to your garden.
Garlic
Garlic is used for it’s culinary and medicinal properties and is a great addition to any home garden. It is fairly easy to grow and stays in the ground for 9 months out of the year. Garlic is a favorite because of it’s many uses and easy storing. If you are interested to learn how to grow garlic read this guide for garlic growing success.
Kale
If you have a vegetable garden, consider planting kale. Kale is very rich in iron and other nutrients, like Vitamins A and C. Kale plants are extremely hardy and easy to grow. Growing kale ensures you will have continual nutrient dense greens to put into smoothies, dinners, and salads. Our favorite is a kale, cranberry, pecan, and feta salad. If you are interested in growing this nutrient powerhouse in your garden check out our full guide for how to grow kale successfully.
Lettuce
Growing lettuce is an inexpensive way to put fresh salad greens on the table all season. Lettuce bolts extremely easily in warm weather. so it does best in the cool months of fall and winter. Many survivalist and homesteaders like to grow lettuce because it is one of the most expensive products per pound in the grocery store. Growing your own helps keep produce costs down.
Mustard Greens
This spicy green is quick and easy to grow. Mustards should be harvested when the leaves are still tender and young. As the leaves get larger they toughen making them bitter and unappealing. The strong flavor of mustard greens is good for adding depth in a variety of meals.
Potatoes
Potatoes can be grown in the Spring and the Fall in zone 9. These root vegetables are available in many varieties. They are a calorie dense addition to the home garden and are the base of many Western meals. Potatoes are fun to harvest and easy to store. Season after season the potatoes can be saved as the next seasons seed.
Onions
Growing onions is one of the most satisfying gardening project. Onions do like to stay relatively weed free, so regular maintenance is required. If you have relatively well draining rich soil you should be able to grow large onions. Like garlic, onions are easy to harvest and store.
Peas
Peas, like other beans, are best sown directly into the soil. They are nitrogen fixing and actually improve the quality of soil. They are an excellent addition to the garden in the cool months and early spring. The do best when they can climb up a trellis and are easy to harvest. The curly tendrils and silvery green leaves make peas an attractive plant to add to your edible landscape.
Parsnip
Parsnips are nutritious root vegetables with a delicious, slightly nutty flavor that becomes even sweeter in cool weather. They are in the garden for a long time. Growing parsnips isn’t difficult as long as you provide the proper growing conditions.
Radishes
Known for the quick growing season, radishes are often used as an extra crop that can be planted and harvested all while a secondary crop is grown in the same bed. Peppery, spicy, flavor is great in salads, tacos, and made into radish pickles.
Spinach
This leafy green has been known for years for it’s health benefits…remember pop-eye? Spinach is a wonderful source of Vitamin A and one of the nutrient rich plants common among home gardens. In fact, growing spinach is a great way to get plenty of iron, calcium and vitamins A, B, C and K.
Swiss chard
Chard is crunchier than spinach, but more tender than kale with an earthy flavor. Swiss chard comes in a wide variety of colors. Technically speaking, chard is a beet, but without the large root.
Turnips
Like any root vegetable, turnips do well along with carrots and radishes. They are easy to care for and can be planted in Spring or Fall. Turnips have a strong flavor but it sweetens when roasted.
Zone 9 Fall Planting Guide Tips
- Pay attention to timing-While it is still technically Summer it is easy to forget planting a Winter garden until it is too late. Getting a Fall Garden in is all about hitting that sweet spot between when it is too hot and too cold so aim for getting your fall vegetable garden in between the last two weeks in August and the first two weeks in September. By late September you may not have the heat to grow the cruciferous vegetables to a large size.
- Prep your beds in advance-The best practice is to start pulling out summer crops that are no longer performing to make room for you winter garden. It is best pull any weeds, amend your beds, and cover with a thick layer of mulch until it is time for winter planting.
- Keep your new plants watered-Even though there is generally less watering involved in a Fall/Winter garden, you should still pay attention to moisture levels, especially in the beginning.
If you still have some questions check out the zone 9 fall planting guide FAQs below:
Zone 9 Fall Planting Guide FAQ
Can you grow plants all year in zone 9?
Yes! Generally zones 9-11 have a mild enough temperature that will allow gardeners to grow plants all year long. A bit of frost protection is needed for some plants. Just continually check the weather to make sure it won’t get too cold during the Winter months.
When should I plant seeds for Fall in zone 9?
Though it varies between plants, you should plant seeds for Fall in August. If you are planting by nursery bought starts, you can wait until September, to plant.
What is the difference between zone 9 and 9b?
Each zone has two subsets. The zone 9 subsets are: Zone 9a and Zone 9b. Each is separated by 5°F. Here is the temperature differences that determine whether you are in a zone 9 subset:
- Zone 9: The minimum average temperature range is 20°F to 30°F.
- Zone 9a: The minimum average temperature range is 20°F to 25° F.
- Zone 9b: The minimum average temperature range is 25°F to 30°F.
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