** This article was written by Angela Mason Foster, Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer of Beaufort County **

As summer begins to wind down and September approaches, many gardeners in Eastern North Carolina are asking the same question: Is it too late to plant anything? The answer is a resounding no. While the days are noticeably shorter and the humidity a little more bearable, there’s still plenty of time to grow vegetables—especially cool-season crops that thrive in fall’s gentler weather.

If your summer garden has seen better days, now is the perfect moment to refresh your beds, remove spent plants, and jump into the second growing season. With some smart planning and the right varieties, you can enjoy fresh greens, root vegetables, and herbs all the way into late fall and even early winter.

Still Time for Quick-Maturing Summer Crops

If you act quickly in early September, there’s a small window left for fast-growing warm-season vegetables. These crops won’t survive frost but can yield a final harvest if given a head start now:

• Bush Beans: Many varieties mature in 50–60 days, meaning you may still get a modest harvest before frost. Try ‘Provider’ or ‘Contender’ and keep them watered in the early weeks to prevent blossom drop.
• Summer Squash: If squash vine borers or powdery mildew wiped out your first crop, a second planting of zucchini or yellow squash might still produce. Select compact, quick-maturing varieties like ‘Raven’ or ‘Early Prolific Straightneck’ for the best odds of success.
• Cucumbers: Heat-loving and fast-growing, cucumbers such as ‘Bush Pickle’ or ‘Marketmore 76’ can still produce a solid crop if planted right away. Use a trellis to keep the fruit clean and improve airflow to reduce disease risk.

These crops are racing the clock, so choose varieties with short maturity windows, and don’t skip watering. Even though the days are cooling, the soil can still be hot and dry, which may affect seed germination and early growth.

Fall Stars: Cool-Season Crops to Plant Now

Fall is truly the gardener’s reward in the Southeast—fewer bugs, cooler temperatures, and the chance to grow a wide variety of nutrient-dense crops. Late August through mid-September is ideal for planting:

• Greens Galore: Lettuce, arugula, spinach, mustard, and mesclun mixes can be direct seeded now and harvested continuously throughout the fall. Plant in partial shade or use floating row covers to reduce sun stress and protect from insects.
• Root Crops: Beets, turnips, carrots, and radishes thrive in cooling soil. Carrots are notoriously fussy to germinate in heat, so keep the seedbed evenly moist until seedlings emerge—laying a light board or burlap over the bed can help retain moisture.
• Brassicas: Now’s the time to set out transplants of broccoli, cabbage, collards, and kale. Starting these from seed indoors or in a shaded area in July gives them a jump on fall. If you missed that window, look for healthy transplants at your local garden center.
• Garlic: While it’s not planted until October or early November, now’s a great time to order seed garlic before popular varieties sell out. Softneck varieties generally do well in our climate.

Soil Refresh: Clean Up and Replenish

After a long summer, your garden soil may be depleted. Before planting, take time to clear out tired plants, remove weeds, and amend your soil for fall planting:

• Compost and Organic Matter: Mix in 2–3 inches of compost or well-aged manure to restore fertility. If your spring garden struggled, it may have been due to poor soil structure or low nutrient availability—fall is the time to fix it.
• Soil Testing: Fall is an ideal time to get your soil tested through your local Cooperative Extension office. Knowing your soil’s pH and nutrient levels can guide you in applying lime or fertilizer correctly for both fall and spring crops.
• Mulch: A layer of mulch—pine straw, shredded leaves, or straw—helps retain soil moisture, regulates soil temperature, and suppresses weeds. Don’t mulch too heavily over seeds, but once seedlings are established, a good mulch can improve overall garden health.

Plan for Succession Planting

To make the most of your garden space, consider succession planting—the practice of sowing small batches of a crop every 10 to 14 days instead of planting everything at once. This works especially well for:

• Lettuce and Spinach: These fast growers can be sown in stages so you always have tender, new leaves ready to harvest.
• Radishes: With a maturity window as short as 25 days, radishes are ideal for multiple plantings. Try mixing them with slower-growing crops like carrots—they’ll be harvested and out of the way before the carrots need more space.
• Asian Greens: Bok choy, tatsoi, and mizuna thrive in fall conditions and grow quickly. Plant a little at a time and enjoy harvests well into November with row cover protection.

Succession planting also helps manage your harvest load and can protect against losses from pests or weather changes.

Pest Patrol and Cold Prep

Cool-season doesn’t mean pest-free. Cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles remain active through fall. Check your plants regularly and act quickly if you spot damage. Floating row covers can deter pests while also providing light frost protection.

As October nears, begin monitoring night temperatures. Keep old sheets or frost cloths on hand for unexpected cold snaps. Many fall crops—especially kale, carrots, and collards—actually taste sweeter after a light frost, but younger seedlings may need extra protection.

The Second Season

Gardening in late summer and fall is a gift—cool mornings, fewer mosquitoes, and crisp greens straight from the garden. It’s also an ideal time to reflect, try new crops, and extend the satisfaction of growing your own food just a little longer.

So yes—you can still plant veggies, even in September. Clean out those summer beds, grab some seeds or transplants, and let the garden carry you through the seasons.

Suggested Reading:

• Fall Vegetable Gardening – NC State Extension publication
• The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener by Niki Jabbour
• The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast by Ira Wallace

If you have questions about your home garden or landscape, reach out to Gene Fox, Consumer Horticulture Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Email Gene at gene_fox@ncsu.edu or call (252) 946-0111. Master Gardeners are available on the Greenline Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to assist with your horticultural needs. Don’t forget to check out the Beaufort County Master Gardeners Facebook page for additional resources.