Mid-summer planting is essentially succession planting for a fall harvest. Focus on fast-maturing, heat-loving crops for an immediate harvest, or switch to frost-tolerant cool-season varieties that will thrive as temperatures drop in autumn.
Listed below are flower, vegetable and herb varieties that are great to start planting in September based on the Hardiness Zone that you live in.
In gardening, the "70/30 rule" is a flexible guideline used in several different ways depending on your gardening goals. The three most common interpretations involve native plants, garden design, and vegetable growing.
Veggies You Can Plant in Mid-Summer
Crops in the brassica family – cabbage, broccoli, collard greens – and also other greens such as chard, escarole and radicchio can be planted in the next few weeks for a great late fall harvest. July is the time to start these seedlings so they are ready to transplant out in 4-6 weeks.
While October isn't ideal for planting perennials for immediate blooms, you can plant cold-hardy varieties like hellebores and early spring bulbs (tulips, daffodils, crocuses) that will emerge in late winter through early spring. In zones 6-9, you can also plant pansies and violas for winter color in milder areas.
The title "King of Vegetables" is highly contested and varies depending on culinary, cultural, and nutritional perspectives. Several prominent vegetables hold this title in different contexts, with Eggplant (Brinjal) and Potato being the most widely recognized claimants.
October is a great time to plant those fall flowers. There are many varieties that can be planted this fall and start blooming early spring.
Arugula is a fast-growing leafy green that can be ready to harvest in just 20-25 days. It thrives in cooler temperatures and prefers partial shade. Sow the arugula seeds directly in pots or garden beds, and keep the soil evenly moist. Harvest the leaves when they are young and tender for the best flavour.
Plants that thrive in full, hot sun are typically drought-tolerant, heat-loving, and often have succulent leaves or silvery foliage to reflect light. Top choices include Lantana, Salvia, Portulaca (Moss Rose), Sedum, Yucca, and Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), which are durable enough for, or even prefer, 6–8+ hours of direct sun.
Bugs, critters, and shade are all enemies of my garden.
Here are some of the most common landscaping mistakes and how to avoid them, along with how to create a beautiful garden in your own yard.
The "3-hour gardening rule" is a safety guideline advising gardeners to avoid working outdoors between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. during the summer months. This window is when the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest and temperatures peak, posing risks for both you and your plants.
Avoid planting vegetables from the same botanical family together, as they share pests and diseases. To ensure healthy growth, keep specific incompatibilities in mind, such as separating tomatoes and potatoes (both are prone to blight), and avoiding pairs like carrots and dill or beans and onions.
Ornamental grasses are a great way to spruce up your autumn and winter container garden. They provide plenty of texture and movement, plus many of them have gorgeous foliage that can really add some wow factor to your outdoor space. We'd recommend adding Festuca glauca, Carex buchananii, or Panicum virgatum.
The name “century plant” comes from the fact that the slow-growing plant takes years — although not 100 — to flower. The century plant, Agave Americana, is monocarpic, meaning it will bloom once in its lifetime.
Several fast-growing plants can sprout, mature, and be ready to harvest or display in just 30 days. Whether you are looking for edible crops, quick-blooming flowers, or houseplants, these selections will give you a nearly instant reward.
A short-day plant (technically a "long-night" plant) is a type of plant that only blooms or produces flowers when exposed to a specific period of uninterrupted darkness. These plants flower when the day length falls below their critical photoperiod (typically less than 11 to 12 hours), which naturally occurs in the early spring or fall.
Hotter summers, extended droughts, and dry winds are becoming more common, and hydrangeas are paying the price. Gardeners from coast to coast report the same issues: leaves crisping and curling in early summer, stems wilting despite regular watering, and blossoms fading far too quickly.
The classic plant that universally says "I love you" is the Red Rose. However, if you are looking for long-lasting houseplants or specific symbolic meanings in the Victorian language of flowers, there are several wonderful alternatives to express your deepest affections.
To help guide your fall gardening to-do list, here are 10 common perennials you should avoid planting in autumn if you want them to thrive.
What Is the Healthiest Vegetable? Spinach earns its reputation as one of the healthiest vegetables, thanks to its impressive nutrient profile and wide-ranging health benefits. Packed with antioxidants, spinach helps protect the body against chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The potato is widely considered the single food a human can survive on the longest. When consumed with the skin on alongside a little fat or milk, it provides a surprisingly complete balance of complex carbohydrates, protein, and essential Vitamin C, allowing people to survive for long periods.
Depending on context, the title "Queen of Vegetables" can refer to a specific crop, a famous agricultural figure, or a royal companion to the "King of Vegetables" (Potato).