GROWING TIPS
What Should I Plant This Month?
Katie Rosa | September 17, 2026
Why your location matters more than you think.
Even newbie gardeners know that the answer of “What should I plant this month?” is not simple. Certain plants grow best in specific seasons, regions, temperatures, lighting, soil conditions, and more.
Trying to use a national planting guide written in general terms for the entire United States is almost as silly as dressing for autumn in New York when you live in Southern Florida.
Planting using a generic national calendar is not going to work for your specific area of the country. Even certain states have vastly different growing conditions depending on where you live.
At Leaf’d Box, we work hard to take the guesswork out of planting so that your plants will thrive every time in every season. We answer the question of what you should plant this month by sending you the right plants at the right time for your region. Having garden plants delivered straight to your door can simplify your gardening journey and lead to a successful harvest.
Read on to learn why your location is more important than the month on your calendar.
LOCATION COMES BEFORE THE CALENDAR: HERE'S WHY
Gardening calendars can be useful, but only if they take into consideration the climate, temperature, soil conditions, and daylight hours in your region. For example, even the University of Arizona agrees that any type of vegetables or fruit can be grown successfully if you choose the right variety of plants that are planted at the right time.
WHAT FACTORS PLAY INTO YOUR LOCATION AND IMPACT SUCCESS?
Several factors that need to be taken into consideration when planting in a specific month are:
Climate
Climate is more than just “hot” and “cold”. Climate includes patterns of heat, rainfall, humidity, wind, pests, and seasonal changes. Planting tomatoes in a region where summers are moderate will look different than planting in a region where summers face intense heat waves.
That doesn’t mean you can’t plant in a hot climate. It just means you need to choose the right plants for that climate and season and care for them differently than someone who lives in a cooler climate.
Temperature
A date on a calendar is far less important than what’s going on outside and underground. The temperature of your soil can impact seed germination and root development and influence growth. Just like Goldilocks likes her porridge just right, your plants feel the same about extreme cold and extreme heat.
Temperature also impacts moisture in the soil and will play a vital role in watering schedules.
If you’re new to gardening, you may think a warm spell indicates it’s time for planting, but an unseasonally warm week doesn’t necessarily mean that winter has packed it in.
A few things to consider related to temperature:
• Is the soil warm enough?
• Is a cold spell expected soon?
• What are the overnight temperatures like?
• What temperatures are too hot for this plant?
Soil Conditions
Just because the air has warmed recently doesn’t mean it’s been warm enough to heat up the soil.
• Cold nights can shock new plants, even if the days seem warm enough for them to thrive. Cold soil also slows down plant metabolism, halts microbial life, and limits root development.
• Warm soil encourages faster seed germination, proper nutrient cycling, and optimal root growth.
• Hot soil evaporates moisture, damages root systems, and disrupts plant hormones.
Daylight
Regardless of temperature, some plants need a certain amount of daylight hours to thrive. For example, radishes and peas need about three to five hours of direct sunlight to develop successfully in the fall. Additionally, some plants prefer direct sunlight while others prefer partial sunlight or shade.
These are all factors that should be considered in conjunction with a planting calendar.
FROST DATES: IGNORE THEM AT YOUR PLANTS’ PERIL
Generic national planting calendars often don’t take into consideration the frost dates in your region.
Even if a calendar has an estimated frost date, it’s important for you to do your research because these dates are estimates and are not set in stone.
The first frost date is the beginning of the autumn frost. The last frost date is when the final spring frost occurs. A sudden drop in temperature can do serious damage to plants that were previously thriving. Pay attention to frost dates in your region, as it can be devastating to lose plants you worked so hard to care for.
Weather can vary significantly from one year to the next, so gardeners should use historical data, current forecast information, and recommendations for protecting plants during a frost.
WHY GENERIC NATIONAL PLANTING CALENDARS CAN LEAD BEGINNERS ASTRAY
At first, a national planting calendar seems convenient:
• Plant carrots in March.
• Plant tomatoes in May.
• Plant lettuce in September.
• Plant pumpkins in October.
• And so on.
Unfortunately for gardeners, there’s no generic March, May, September, or October across the entire country.
Planting carrots in Southern California in March might be a great idea but planting them in Northern Ohio (when the ground is still frozen) may not be the right move.
Even within one state, planting windows vary dramatically due to elevation, rainfall levels, local weather, and types of soil.
That’s why it’s important to utilize sources that truly help your garden grow successfully, no matter the month, season, or climate in your region.
SO WHAT SHOULD YOU PLANT THIS MONTH?
September is a great time to start planting in most regions, so we’ve put together a list of plants based on location that you can start with. Just remember to check your local forecast to ensure your plants will thrive this fall.
Region 1:
Central/Southern Florida
Planting Window: August 31-December 14
Fifteen plants you can plant this month if you live in region 1:
• Acorn Squash
• Baby Broccoli
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Bunching Onion
• Bush Delicata Squash
• Butter Lettuce
• Cauliflower
• Dwarf Jalapeno
• Freckle Lettuce
• Green Bell Pepper
• Marigold
• Purple Sprouting Broccoli
• Sage
• Thyme
Region 2:
Central/Southern Arizona, California
Planting Window: August 17-September 26
Fifteen plants you can plant this month if you live in region 2:
• Anaheim Peppers
• Cucamelon
• Round Zucchini
• Armenian Cucumber
• Large Red Cherry Tomato
• Thai Basil
• Bell Pepper
• Jack B Little Mini Pumpkin
• Butternut Squash
• Tomatillo
• Spaghetti Squash
• Okra
• Black-Eyed Pea
• Pattypan Squash
• Red Deer Tongue Lettuce
Region 3:
Northern Florida, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana
Planting Window: August 3 – November 2
Fifteen plants you can plant this month if you live in region 3:
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Charleston Wakefield Cabbage
• Butter Lettuce
• Marigold
• Bunching Onion
• Red Express Cabbage
• Purple Sprouting Broccoli
• White Sprouting Cauliflower
• Spinach
• Collard Greens
• Red Russian Kale
• Tuscan Kale
• Golden Swiss Chard
• Sage
Region 5:
Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina
Planting Window: August 17 – October 19
Fifteen plants you can plant this month if you live in region 5:
• Arugula
• Bright Lights Swiss Chard
• Brussels Sprouts
• Red Mustard
• Cauliflower
• Cheddar Cauliflower
• Chrysanthemum
• Collard Greens
• Dill
• Red Russian Kale
• Tuscan Kale
• Egyptian Spinach
• Frisée Endive
• Red Express Cabbage
• White Sprouting Cauliflower
For additional plants that can be planted this month, reach out to Leaf’d Box for guidance. You can also visit our shipping schedule for more details.
A BETTER WAY TO DECIDE WHAT TO PLANT THIS MONTH
At Leaf’d Box, we understand how challenging it can be to know what to grow—and when to grow it. But gardening doesn’t have to be a solitary endeavor!
You have a community at Leaf’d Box that wants to help you:
1. Identify What’s in Season – We curate vegetables, herbs, and flowers that are suited to the current growing season.
2. We Account for Location – We tailor your garden plant delivery to your local climate, soil conditions, and weather patterns.
3. We Provide Guidance – Leaf’d Box sends easy-to-follow instructions with your plantlings, plus you can reach out to us for assistance at any time!
Now you can have garden plants delivered right to your door at the exact time you need them, whether in September in Arizona or March in Indiana. We have already done the research of what to plant, when to plant it, and the conditions in which it will thrive. We provide your plants as well as care tips, so you can have a successful harvest every time.
