What to Plant in September in Zone 10

New arrivals mirror the spring list in reverse

This is the only month all year for planting snap pea, lima bean, and English shelling pea here, and kale, chard, carrot, beet, and the rest of the cabbage family join them. South Florida nights don't reliably clear 75 until later in September than they do even one zone north, so wait for that shift before direct-sowing greens; sow into air still holding summer warmth and bolting becomes the likely outcome instead of the exception.

Fall potato and the last of the summer squash, cucumber, and bean plantings share this month with the new fall crops, making September the one point in zone 10's calendar where both seasons genuinely overlap rather than one simply replacing the other.

Summer holdouts are on borrowed time

Cucumber, summer squash, and pole bean are finishing their warm season run. Zone 10's frost holds off far longer than it does even one zone north, so a planting here in the back half of the month still has real odds, just don't expect the vigorous growth of a June planting once days keep shortening.

Lima bean and English shelling pea both climb fast enough in zone 10's warmth that a support installed after the fact usually means threading it through vines already waist-high. Set a 4 to 5 foot trellis the same day you plant instead, before there's anything to damage.

Slow starters deserve early attention

Celery, parsnip, and leek take their time here too, commonly 2 to 3 weeks before the first sprout breaks the surface. South Florida's afternoon downpours can waterlog a seedbed fast this time of year, so skip the heavy soak and water these three lightly and often instead; all three would rather sit in evenly moist sand than a puddle.