Don’t delay—these are the Top Vegetables to Plant in Pots This September for a robust Fall and Winter Harvest.
You don’t need a big backyard or orchard to enjoy the fruits (or vegetables) of your gardening labor! For an abundant fall and winter harvest, you just need pots and some empty space open to the sun, like a balcony, patio, or rooftop!
And a list like this! That asks you to plant them in September to relish your homegrown veggies in the coming season.
Vegetables to Plant this September for Fall Harvest
Summer end and early fall are perfect for planting relatively compact cool-season crops with shallow roots, a shorter growth cycle, and a better tolerance to frost. We’ve picked the easiest ones to grow in containers with the potential for high yields and better taste in fall!
1. Spinach
Botanical Name: Spinacia oleracea
Spinach’s compact growth habit makes it the perfect candidate for pots, such as window boxes and tubs. You can also plant it in bonsai planters!
It is quickly grown from seeds, and in under 50 days, this leafy vegetable is ready for harvest and you can keep picking its fresh leaves for a month or two if you follow a simple cut and come again method.
Combine coconut coir or peat with vermiculite, compost, and sterilized garden soil in equal parts to make your own potting mix, or use your regular one. Spinach loves cool temperatures and tastes better in fall, making it the perfect vegetable for your home garden. This article will help you grow it!
2. Lettuce
Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa
Is a salad really a salad without lettuce? This leafy vegetable grows well in 8 inches deep containers as wide as possible, giving enough space to spread. Since this vegetable is 95% water, it needs consistent watering to thrive.
Lettuce is a quick grower and can be ready for harvest within 45 to 70 days after being planted. Check out this guide for more help and learn about more fast growing vegetables!
3. Kale
Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea
Plant Kale in pots in September, and you can enjoy this wavy, leafy superfood throughout fall and winter! One of the hardiest members of the brassica family, it tolerates different types of soil and thrives in both sun and shade, making it perfect for your patio or balcony.
It can grow up to three feet tall, though dwarf varieties are perfect if you are crunched for space. You can harvest its leaves over many months as regular picking coaxes new growth.
4. Carrots
Botanical Name: Daucus carota
Carrots grow well in regions with mild winters. Plant them in early September for a fall harvest. These easy-to-grow vegetables can be propagated from seeds, and in 60-80 days, you will have them ready to eat!
This vegetable needs a container deep enough to accommodate its roots. Go with a box planter or a big pot that is at least 10-12 inches deep, and fill it up with light, loamy soil. Here’s everything you need to grow carrots in pots.
5. Broccoli
Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. italica
Another cool-weather brassica member, you’ll need a slightly larger container to really allow its edible green flowerheads to take full form. For a single plant, get a 12-inch wide and deep pot. Consequently, go for double or triple the width if you plan to grow two or three more.
Also, plant the pot in a spot that gets 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. Here’s how to grow it in pots.
6. Cabbage
Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. capitata
What’s a kitchen garden without this classic staple? Like broccoli, cabbage grows well in pots—a blessing for the no-space gardener! However, you’ll need to grow at least 2 plant per person to enjoy your cabbage harvest.
Your cabbage will mature fully in at least two months since sowing. When the heads of cabbage are fully formed and firm, you can pick them. Here’s everything about growing cabbage in containers.
7. Radish
Botanical Name: Raphanus sativus
Radish is cultivated for its roots, but you can also cook its leaves like spinach, which are really tasty and nutritious. This vegetable comes in different root shapes and colors, including red, white, and even black.
Radish likes the coolness of autumn, which allows it to prepare for rapid growth. And then, in the next 3-5 weeks, your vegetable is ripe for plucking! When growing in containers, remember to find the sunniest spot with at least six hours of exposure daily. This guide will help you.
8. Arugula
Botanical Name: Eruca vesicaria
Don’t skip the rocket! A peppery and refreshing addition to salads, pizzas, sandwiches, and everything, this leafy green grows fast, even in pots. Plant it in early fall and it will mature in just 40-50 days, but its young, tender leaves are ready to harvest within a month itself.
9. Beets
Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris
Like radishes, you can eat both the leaves and roots of this scarlet veggie. Harvest the roots when they are about the size of a golf ball. This assures you the best and sweetest flavor, and its greens work great in salads and sautés.
Beets thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Here’s how to grow beets in pots!
Pro Tip: It’s worth conducting a soil test to determine its pH level and amend it before you sow. Most vegetables on this list prefer slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0-6.8).
