Mid-September is the start of fall planting season; and in Northern Virginia we can plant until the ground freezes. Be sure you check out my post on plants you can grow indoors all fall and winter too! The higher elevations near Interstate 81 experience frosts and soil freezing much earlier than in the coastal areas around Norfolk. You’ll be glad you made the extra effort when they begin to push through the earth after a long, cold, and colorless winter. Spring and summer-blooming perennials are best planted or transplanted/divided in September so their roots can establish in the cool, moist soil before hard freezes occur by early winter. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Fall Garden Salad Greens. Do the same with lettuce and spinach.. Plant onion starts and potatoes around January 20. So be sure to think back on what grew well in those cooler days of March and early April. September is a perfect time to plant evergreen trees or shrubs of all kinds, as well as cover crops such as clover. Many greens can be planted in September and harvested before the first frost in fall. Virginia has a long, successful agricultural history because of its productive soil, long growing season and mild climate. by Thomas Nelson on September 20, 2018. In September, you can also plant bold salvia, showy zinnias, and lots more plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Atlantic currents keep weather mild in the Tidewater region; gardeners can easily raise spring, summer and fall crops of vegetables. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Timing of fall planting is adjusted accordingly, with projects completed earlier in autumn in the mountains as compared to the Piedmont and milder areas near Chesapeake Bay or the Atlantic. The substantial leaves of… Horticulturists with Virginia Cooperative Extension say many trees, shrubs, perennials, and vegetables are successfully planted in the fall, from September to November. This guide uses USDA Plant Hardiness Zones as guiding information on selecting planting dates for spring and fall planted vegetables for the home garden in Virginia. Cilantro - 9/15-10/1 - 15°F - Plant earlier for fall harvests, later for overwintering crops. Snakeroot’s white flowers are born at the top of the plant in loose clusters that might remind you of boneset or a white ageratum. Buy It: Russian Sage, ($6, American Meadows) 4. The foot-long flowers stay in bloom for weeks. Make sure that when properly seated on this mound the tree is planted so that the ‘trunk flare’ is clearly visible and the ‘crown’, where the roots and top meet, is about two inches above the soil level. The recommended crops are sorted by plant family to help you plan rotations so that the same plant families are not grown consecutively in the same area, as much as possible. Peak growing season may be winding down for much of the country, but there’s still time to plant a few short-season edibles and add to your flower garden's overall beauty. While cooler temperatures reduce water needs and uptake in the fall, plants can focus more energy in establishing root systems. Perennials. Prime examples of bulbs planted in fall are daffodil, tulip, crocus, snowdrop, winter aconite, glory-of-the-snow and crown imperials. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, the gladiolus bulbs image by Igor Groshev from, Virginia Cooperative Extension: Planting Trees, Virginia Cooperative Extension: Flowering Bulbs: Culture and Maintenance, Virginia Cooperative Extension: Perennials: Culture, Maintenance and Propagation, Virginia Cooperative Extension: Fall Vegetable Gardening, West Virginia University Extension Service: Planting Trees and Shrubs, Virginia Department of Forestry: Planting Trees and Shrubs, Plant Maps: Interactive USDA Hardiness Zone Map for Virginia. Apply the recommended amount of lime and fertilizer. Planting perennial herbs such as mint, thyme, oregano, sage, chives, lemon balm, lavender, and rosemary in September allows the plants to develop a good root system while avoiding heat stress. Slow-growing tree and shrub species, and those that are balled and burlapped (B&B) are best planted when they are dormant, likely in the month of November, according to West Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. Not all parts of Virginia experience the same weather. Arugula, available year-round, but best in spring and fall when its peppery flavor is at its best but … It is, too - with a few exceptions. Planting calendars for places in Virginia. Fall is the best time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. Slow-growing tree and shrub species, and those that are balled and burlapped (B&B) are best planted when they are dormant, likely in the month of November, according to West Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. Knowing your first and last frost dates will help you start your vegetable seeds at the right time. Grab a copy of the Ultimate Beginning Gardener Bundle, which has loads of gardening information plus a monthly planting schedule for every zone in the U.S. S eptember kicks off with a three-day weekend in observation of Labor Day and the fun activities keep going throughout the entire month! So they can use extra help to protect them from dehydrating frigid winds. Light: Full sun. Do not fertilize plants in autumn, with the exception of annual flowers like pansies or leafy vegetables. The cooler temperatures, slowly cooling soils and increased abundance of moisture in fall make it an excellent planting season across Virginia. The plants like moist, shady sites and go dormant by summer, making room for other species. WHY: These plant varieties in Maryland and Virginia are in the northern-most reaches of their climate region. May have problems germinating in hot soil. Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica, USDA zones 3 through 8) will thrive in all of Virginia's climate zones. Your planting strategy: Cole crops like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage can be direct seeded into your garden around March 20, assuming the ground can be worked, but it's better to start them indoors around February 21 and then transplant them into the garden around April 11. All Rights Reserved. Want to know what to plant every month? Cool-season vegetables, those that grow best when temperatures remain below 70 to 80, also are grown statewide from September to killing hard frosts after mid-November. Water: Plant in well-drained soil. Good Reading About Your Region . Late fall and early winter are not recommended times for seeding turfgrasses, but what about establishing lawns from sod? The cooler temperatures, slowly cooling soils and increased abundance of moisture in fall make it an excellent planting season across Virginia. Find the best dates for planting and transplanting vegetables and fruit! A fertile soil that is porous and moist is allowed to naturally settle and compact before sowing with seeds, transplant plugs or container-grown root balls. days to maturity plus fall factor (14 days) plus frost tender factor (14 days)=number of days to count back from first frost date. Organic mulch helps moderate soil temperatures and conserve water. We often think of spring as the proper time to plant trees, shrubs, and flowers, but for many types of trees, fall is the best time! 10 Trees You Can Plant In The Fall. Virginia: Vegetable Planting Calendar Planting vegetable seeds or transplants at the correct time is important to getting the most out of your garden. Garlic and Spinach Crop Deeply cultivating the soil to a depth of 12 inches and incorporating 3 to 5 inches of organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure improves soil quality. Size: Up to 5 feet tall. Season of Bloom: Summer/Fall. Plant in drifts to enjoy the intense color; plus close planting helps avoid staking since these tall plants can flop over. These are 10 trees that can be planted in the fall. A hardy native plant, bluebells bloom in early spring, growing 1.5 to 2 feet tall and bearing abundant blue, bell-shaped flowers. If garden soil is free from frost in Virginia, the gardener must monitor moisture, especially for newly planted woody trees and shrubs. Proper soil preparation in late summer or early fall is needed to get any fall-planted tree, shrub or vegetable off to a good start. During the fall planting season, soil temperatures are still warm from the summer sun and the air temperatures are starting to cool and moderate. What to Plant in September in Your Vegetable Garden. Fall vegetables for transplanting are usually available early August through mid-October while supplies last.. Milmont offers a wide variety of fall vegetables in both seeds and plants. By planting in the fall, your plants are not … Shorter days also tend to diminish the number of sprouting weeds, although a few cool-season weeds may germinate on bare soil patches, but not as much as in early spring. Cool-season vegetables, those that grow best when temperatures remain below 70 to 80, also are grown statewide from September to killing hard frosts after mid-November. With a little help, frost tender plants can grow throughout those weeks. Sheets, newspapers, floating row covers and buckets all can be used to protect tender plants … Continue to provide 1 to 2 inches of irrigation water to root balls across winter when soil is not frozen so plants will be alive and flush out new leaves in spring. Do the same with lettuce and spinach.. Plant onion starts and potatoes around March 2. I have a list of everything you can plant, listed by zones, in the month of September. Plant annual flowers and vegetables that bear crops above ground during the light, or waxing, of the Moon. At least 3 months before planting, get a soil test using a testing kit or through your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. It's … Jacob J. Wright became a full-time writer in 2008, with articles appearing on various websites. The plants are tall and can grow 3-4 ft. in height. Based on frost dates and planting … To plant, first build a mound of earth in the center of the hole around which to splay the roots. Effects of liming will last several years, but fertilizer is recommended annually during September. Wright holds a graduate diploma in environmental horticulture from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a Master of Science in public horticulture from the University of Delaware. Cool-season lawns are best seeded in early September for sprouting and initial establishment before winter. Warmer soil temperatures and consistent rainfall at this time of year encourage faster seed germination and deeper roots that will help the grass plants get established before winter sets in. Dill - Fernleaf - 9/15 - 25°F Salad Burnet - 9/1 - 0°F - Use small amounts of cucumber-flavored leaves in salads. In central Virginia the first autumn frost is often followed by couple of weeks of warmer weather or Indian summer. Certain fruits and herbs can also be planted in September, including: Great Places You’ve Never Heard Of: Greenbelt, Maryland, August 2008 Bill Warren's Giza Greenhouse, September 1977 . Woody plants' loss of leaves permits all resources to be focused on growth of new roots into the garden soil before the soil freezes in December, or November in the higher mountain elevations in western counties of Virginia. Repeat soil tests every 3 years. Most of the plants you grow in an early spring garden can be planted in September too. Slow-growing tree and shrub species, and those that are balled and burlapped (B&B) are best planted when they are dormant, likely in the month of November, according to West Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. Plant grass in Virginia in the early fall (between about September 1st and mid-October). Woody plants' loss of leaves permits all resources to be focused on growth of new roots into the garden soil before the soil freezes in December, or November in the higher mountain elevations in western counties of Virginia. Perennials such as asparagus and strawberries can be planted in the fall and harvested in spring. Gardening Zone 7A Planting Calendar If you're like me, you're always googling when to start seeds indoors versus when to plant outside, and when you should be expecting your harvests. I finally got fed up of always having to google these things and made my own little Gardening Zone 7A Planting … The categories below list all the fall vegetables we are currently carrying. This podcast details how late-season sod establishments of both cool and warm-season turfgrasses can actually benefit from the typically cool, moist environments of Virginia… Horticulturists with Virginia Cooperative Extension say many trees, shrubs, perennials, and vegetables are successfully planted in the fall, from September to November. Our free planting guide calculates the best dates for sowing seeds indoors and outdoors, and for transplanting seedlings to the garden—all customized to your location. Daytime temperatures above freezing coupled with sunshine can dry the soil and root balls, leading to plant death. These conditions promote rapid root development. Your email address will not be published. While many gardens may start winding down in September, southern areas of the United States are coming into the prime gardening season. Summer-blooming lilies also grow from bulbs and are best planted in October according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. Be sure to check out the other What to Plant Guides for March, April, May, June, July and August. Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in autumn in Virginia; they need a prolonged exposure to cold to guarantee production of flowers next spring. He has worked professionally at gardens in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. In other words, plant from the day the Moon is new until the day it is full. Your planting strategy: Cole crops like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage can be direct seeded into your garden around February 7, assuming the ground can be worked, but it's better to start them indoors around January 10 and then transplant them into the garden around February 29. Even if you maintain a garden in the northern regions, there are still fast-growing vegetables that you can plant in September to keep … Their roots grow and establish and by next spring are prepared to support the needs of newly emerging leaves and flowers. Cut back, split and transplant perennials such as irises or black-eyed susans. VCE Publications & Other Online Resources. September in Virginia. Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in autumn in Virginia; they need a prolonged exposure to cold to guarantee production of flowers next spring. Proper soil preparation in late summer or early fall is needed to get any fall-planted tree, shrub or vegetable off to a good start. Plant flowering bulbs, biennial and perennial flowers, and vegetables that bear crops below ground during the dark, or waning, of the Moon. Best Tomatoes for the Mid Atlantic . Fall planting is one of those things that "everyone" knows is a great thing. Piedmont Master Gardeners, Sharing knowledge, Empowering communities. http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-331/426-331.html, http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-334/426-334.html, https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-480/426-480.html. See live music, attend a wine or beer event, or enjoy an arts festival or county fair to celebrate the end of summer in Virginia. Generally speaking, as long as the soil is workable and remains above 40 degrees F, many dormant plants establish well when planted in autumn. If you want gorgeous spring flowers, September is the month to plant spring flowering bulbs. Photo By: Image courtesy of Blackberry Farm ©2013, HGTV/Scripps Networks, LLC. Younger/smaller plants overwinter best. … Virginia stretches across U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 7. Zones: 4-9. Back on what grew well in those cooler days of March and early April later for overwintering crops go. ; plus close planting helps avoid staking since these tall plants can flop over - 9/15-10/1 - 15°F - earlier... The plants you can also plant bold salvia, showy zinnias, and lots more plants that attract and! 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