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Zone 5A — September

What to Plant in September in Zone 5A

September in Zone 5A: 0 crops to start indoors, 2 to plant or direct sow outside, and 125 entering harvest window. Last frost averages May 7. Reference city: Des Moines, IA.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
0 Start Indoors
2 Plant Outside
125 Harvest
Frost risk: Cleared

Frost season has cleared in Zone 5A. The last spring frost typically passed by May 7, and the very latest 10% chance closed by May 21. Tender crops are safe to plant out.

See full Zone 5A frost outlook →

Start Indoors in September

Nothing to start seeds indoors in September for Zone 5A.
Next window: November — 1 variety, including Garlic.

Plant Outside in September

Plant Type Action Target Date Harvest Window
Elephant Garlic root vegetable Plant Out Sep 6 Mar 5, 2027 – May 4, 2027
Softneck Garlic root vegetable Plant Out Sep 6 May 4, 2027 – Jun 3, 2027

Harvest in September

Plant Type Planted / Sown Harvest Window
Atlantic Giant Pumpkin squash May 14 Sep 11
Big Max Pumpkin squash May 14 Sep 6 – Sep 11
Chayote squash vegetable May 21 Sep 18 – Sep 27 (before frost)
Cinderella Pumpkin squash May 14 Sep 1
Evergreen Bunching Onions root vegetable May 7 Sep 4
Grano Red Onions root vegetable May 7 Sep 4
Grano White Onions root vegetable May 7 Sep 4
Green Hubbard Winter Squash squash May 14 Sep 1
Indian Spring Mix Hollyhock Flowers flower May 7 Sep 4 – Sep 27 (before frost)
Pacific Giant Pumpkin squash May 14 Sep 6 – Sep 16
Southport Red Globe Onions root vegetable May 7 Sep 4
Southport White Globe Onions root vegetable May 7 Sep 4
Summer Carnival Mix Hollyhock Flowers flower May 7 Sep 4 – Sep 27 (before frost)
Tepin Hot Peppers pepper May 21 Sep 18 – Sep 27 (before frost)
Alaska Early Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Sep 23
All Year Round Cauliflower (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 28
America (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 18
Astro Arugula (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 3
Black Seeded Simpson (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 9
Blonde de Paris (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 15
Blue Curled Scotch (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Bok Choy (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Boltardy Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 23
Bouquet Dill (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Sep 28
Broadleaf Classic (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Bull's Blood Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 18
Burgundy Boston (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 18
Buttercrunch (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 18
Butterhead Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 28
Calabrese Broccoli (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 28
Calendula (fall planting) flower Jul 25 Sep 23
California Bluebell (fall planting) flower Jul 25 Sep 28
Calypso Cilantro (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Sep 18
Canary Yellow (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Cascadia Sugar Snap Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Sep 30
Chervil (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Sep 8
Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 13
Chioggia Beet (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 28
Copenhagen Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 28
Crimson Forest Bunching Onions (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 23
Crosby's Egyptian Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 23
Curly Kale (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 28
Cylindra Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 23
Daikon Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 18
Delicatesse Blue Kohlrabi (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 23
Delicatesse White Kohlrabi (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 23
Detroit Dark Red Beet (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 23
Di Cicco Broccoli (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 28
Dill (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Sep 18
Dukat Dill (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Sep 13
Dutch Lamb's Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13
Early Purple Broccoli (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 28
Early Wonder Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 13
Endive / Escarole (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 28
Fairy Dwarf Mix Candytuft Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 25 Sep 23
Fenugreek (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Sep 13
Florida Broadleaf (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13
Fordhook Giant (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 18
French Lamb's Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13
German Chamomile (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Sep 28
Giant Red (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 8
Golden Acre Cabbage (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 28
Golden Beet (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 28
Golden Detroit Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 23
Golden Globe Turnips (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 13
Green Ice (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 8
Green Wave (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 8
Hot Pink (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Kagraner Sommer (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 21
Lacinato Kale (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 28
Leaf Lettuce Mix (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 18
Little Fingers Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 18
Little Gem (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 19
Little Marvel Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Sep 26
Lollo Bionda (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Lollo Rossa (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 19
Magenta Sunset (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Mammoth Dill (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Sep 28
Marvel of Four Seasons (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Matador Viking (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 11
Mizuna (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13
Monstrueux de Viroflay (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13
Mustard Greens (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13
Nantes Carrot (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 12 Sep 25
New Zealand Spinach (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Noble Giant (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13
Old Fashion (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13
Orange (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 18
Paris Market Carrots (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 18
Phacelia cover crop and bee forage (fall planting) cover crop Jul 25 Sep 23
Premier (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Progress No. 9 Shelling Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Sep 25
Rainbow Mix (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Rapini Broccoli Raab (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 28
Red Leaf Lettuce (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 18
Red Russian Kale (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Royal Carpet Alyssum Flowers (fall planting) flower Jul 25 Sep 23
Ruby Red (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Salad Bowl Green (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13
Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum) (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 18
Siberian Dwarf (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 18
Slow-Bolt (Slo-Bolt) Cilantro/Coriander (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Sep 3
Snow Crown Cauliflower (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 23
Snowball Self-Blanche Cauliflower (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 28
Sugar Ann Snap Pea (fall planting) legume Jul 25 Sep 19
Summer Bibb (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Swiss Chard (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Tango (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 3
Tatsoi (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 8
Tendergreen (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13
Turnip (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 23
Vates Kale (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 18
Vienna Purple Kohlrabi (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 28
Vienna White Kohlrabi (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 28
Vietnamese Coriander (fall planting) herb Jul 25 Sep 23
Violetta Purple Cauliflower (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 28
Watermelon Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 28
White Boston (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13
White Detroit Beets (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 23
White Icicle Radishes (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 3
White Lisbon Bunching Onions (fall planting) root vegetable Jul 25 Sep 28
Winner Kohlrabi (fall planting) brassica Jul 25 Sep 13
Winter Density (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 23
Winter Giant (fall planting) lettuce Jul 25 Sep 13

Key Tasks for September in Zone 5A

  1. 1 Check soil moisture before watering — stick a finger 2 inches into the soil. Water only when the soil is dry at that depth. Consistent moisture is more important than frequency.
Back to full Zone 5A planting calendar
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