9 Fast Growing Crops to Direct Seed in September and How to Space the Seeds for Full Size Crops!

Cool crops prefer, generally speaking, 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit/ 10-15.5 degrees Celsius nights. They enjoy cooler days as well. As fall approaches, the cooler nights are a signal the hot summer temperatures are beginning to break. The warms soil of summer is perfect for germination and getting some accelerated growth for the cool weather fall loving crops. You want to start seeing some of the above type night temperatures, a couple of weeks after direct seeding.  

Summer Planted Peas for a Fall Garden

Direct seeding is the cheapest way to grow vegetables and summer into fall is perfect for direct seeding these 9 crops. You may have to test the timing of sowing them in your garden, so take notes and use them for next year as you perfect the timing. If you sow too soon the heat can be an issue. If you so them too late, they may not fully mature before a hard ground freeze. These crops can take frosts, so freezing leaves are okay.  

The goal for my spacing numbers is fully mature crops.  You can always plant crops closer if you are going to be harvesting them at a smaller size. However, I wanted to give the minimum spacing from experience to get full size plants. You can always add more space if you are concerned about distance.

Rows between crops can be 6-12 inches or 15-30 cm. I recommend the higher end if you are just getting started with growing. The spacing numbers between seeds is based on my last 20 years of growing. These crops mature quickly and the days to maturity range starts at germination.

Seed Spacing & Days to Maturity

Peas 2 inches or 5 cm apart - Matures in 60-75 days

Turnips 4 inches or 10 cm apart - Matures in 50-60 days

Mustard Greens 6 inches or 15 cm apart - Matures in 35-45 days

Arugula 4 inches or 10 cm apart - Matures in 25-25 days

Lettuce (Romaine) 6 inches or 15 cm apart - Matures in 45-55 days

Spinach 4 inches or 10 cm apart - Matures in 55-60 days

Radishes 3 inches or 7.5 cm apart - Matures in 25-40 days

Carrots 2 inches or 5 cm apart - Mature sin 60-80 days

Pak Choi 8 inches or 20 cm apart - Matures in 30-40 days

The benefit of growing from summer into fall is faster germination. Radishes will germinate in under 5 days. Arugula can germinate in 3 days. They plant will grow more quickly too and that helps the plants establish before the cool weather and occasional frost set in. 

Damaged Radish Leaves and Future Romaine Transplants

The problem with sowing fall crops now is the insect and pest pressure is really high as the insects have been thriving and multiplying. I highly recommend putting down a snail and slug bait when you sow and about every 2 weeks for a couple of rotations. Snails and slugs can devastate seedling in a day. Any bait that uses iron phosphate or sulfur is effective. Here is a link to My Amazon Shop, if you want to view the baits there. Snail and Slug Baits I recommend. And below is my video, covering these 9 plants, you can find over 1600 gardening videos on my YouTube channel: The Rusted Garden.

"A Garden Want to Grow"

Cheers!

Gary (The Rusted Garden)

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