September Planting Strategies
Ready to optimize your September garden in San Diego's unpredictable climate? At City Farmers, we know August's heat often lingers, making all of September a waiting game for planting.
But don't worry, we've got a strategy! Focus on planning. We encourage folks to direct their early fall energy to planning well.
If you're interested in organizing your seed collection, we will direct you to focus on seeds labeled "all season," "early harvest," or "long harvest." Those will be the first that can go in the ground when the warmer temperatures give way.
Think all-season broccoli, early cabbage, and fall rapini broccoli. These resilient varieties can withstand unexpected heat spells while getting a head start on your fall garden.
Download our monthly planting guide here!
Our September Game Plan
September is always a unique month for us here in San Diego. The warm weather tends to linger, so we and many of our customers find that it’s best to hold off on planting most cool-season veggies. Here at the nursery, we focus our attention on prepping the soil and setting up the garden for a successful fall.
We wait to plant crops like broccoli and lettuces until we see those first cool nights. In our experience and from what we see in customers’ gardens, September heat can be tough on tender seedlings.
This is the time when we refresh beds with mulch and compost, making sure the soil is ready for the fall planting rush.
If the weather cools off late in the month, we recommend sowing quick crops like radishes, arugula, or sturdy lettuces—just a small test patch to start.
Tips from Our Team (and Our Community)
After fifty years of growing plants and helping Southern California gardeners, our advice remains: don’t rush September. We check irrigation, tidy up beds, and encourage customers to use this month for thoughtful planning. The most successful gardens we see from our customers are the ones where prep work takes priority as summer winds down.
Download Our Planting Guide
Looking for even more tips, tailored for Southern California and tested over decades? Download our Monthly Planting Guide, our collection of over five decades of wisdom on what, when, and how to plant in our climate. It’s the summary of community knowledge and gardening trial and triumph.