What to Plant in September in Zone 8: Kale, Broccoli, and Greens

In USDA zone 8, September is the main fall sowing month for kale, broccoli, collards, and lettuce as heat breaks. Garlic waits until November.

Published 2026-08-28 · Reviewed 2026-08-31 by ThriveThyme

September Zone 8 September zone 8 fall planting

What to Plant in September in Zone 8

USDA zone 8 treats September as the heart of the fall garden. Heat still slows lettuce germination early in the month, then nights cool. Sow or transplant kale, collards, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and beets. Lettuce and spinach do better from mid September on, or from indoor starts.

First frost is often late November in many zone 8 gardens, but check My Garden frost settings or your zone 8 fall calendar rather than assuming a statewide date. See the zone 8 vegetable planting guide and what to plant in August in zone 8. Colder yards: September zone 5, zone 4, zone 3.

Sow or Transplant Now

• Kale, collards, mustard, turnip greens: September. Fall kale, fall collards, fall turnips.
• Broccoli and cabbage transplants. Fall broccoli, fall cabbage.
• Carrots and beets: late September into October as soil cools. Fall carrots.
• Lettuce and arugula: mid September to early October. Fall lettuce, fall arugula.
• Spinach: late September to October. Fall spinach.

Skip new watermelon and cantaloupe. The August window for short-season melons has passed.

Cover Crops

Crimson clover and hairy vetch fit September through October on beds you will not plant to greens or garlic. Winter rye waits until October into November. When to sow cover crops by zone.

Garlic and Onions

Garlic in zone 8 waits until November. Short-day onions are a late-fall crop too. Use garlic by zone.

Next Steps

Water new seed until it stands. Mulch once seedlings are up. Keep picking peppers and tomatoes until the first cool snap. When to harvest peppers.