Now
31°C · Clear
Today
31° / 21°
Soil 6 cm
26°C
First frost
~66 days (Nov 13)
Gardening in Atlanta
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyAtlanta Gardening: Early Fall Planting & Transition Week
Zone 8b, 66 days until first frost (Nov 13). Soil at 26°C (79°F) is still warm enough for cool-season seeds to germinate reliably. You're past the worst heat; this week's dry spell followed by rain mid-week creates ideal conditions for fall crops. Frost-free until mid-November gives you a solid window for leafy greens, brassicas, and root crops.
Sow outdoors now
Lettuce & salad mixes
Sow 'Buttercrunch', 'Jericho', or 'Oakleaf' directly now; they'll mature in 45–60 days before frost. Succession-sow every 2 weeks through October for continuous harvest.
Spinach
Direct-sow 'Space' or 'Bloomsdale' now; germinates well at 26°C and prefers cooling trends ahead. Ready in 40–50 days.
Kale
Direct-sow 'Lacinato', 'Winterbor', or 'Dinosaur' now for October–November harvest. Cold actually improves flavor; frost-hardy to -12°C (10°F).
Radish
Sow 'Cherry Belle' or 'French Breakfast' for quick 25–30 day turnaround; excellent filler crop between slower brassicas.
Turnip & rutabaga
Sow 'Purple Top' turnips or 'Laurentian' rutabaga now; both mature in 60–75 days and store well into winter.
Start indoors now
Broccoli & cabbage transplants
Start 'Arcadia' broccoli or 'Gonzales' mini-cabbage indoors now; transplant out in 4–5 weeks (early October) for November harvest.
Cauliflower
Sow 'Snowball' or 'Cheddar' indoors; needs 6–8 weeks to transplant size, giving you a late-October planting window.
Onion sets & bunching onion seed
Start 'Evergreen Hardy' bunching onions indoors now, or direct-sow sets outdoors for winter harvest; both tolerate Atlanta's mild winters.
Harvest now
Summer squash & zucchini
Pick daily to keep plants producing; heat stress is easing, so yields should improve through September.
Okra
Still productive in early September; harvest pods at 7–10 cm (3–4 in) for tenderness. Frost will kill plants by November.
Tomatoes & peppers
Harvest ripe fruit; plants will slow as nights cool but remain productive until first frost. Pinch off new flower clusters after mid-September so energy goes to ripening existing fruit.
Basil & tender herbs
Cut heavily before frost arrives (likely late October–early November); freeze or dry for winter use.
Tasks this week
- Prepare beds for fall crops: amend with 5 cm (2 in) compost, work in a balanced fertilizer (10–10–10), and rake smooth.
- Water newly sown seeds daily until germination; soil at 26°C dries fast despite lower air temps.
- Deadhead spent summer flowers and remove diseased foliage to reduce pest carryover into fall.
- Scout for late-season spider mites and whiteflies on tomatoes, peppers, and squash; spray with neem oil if needed.
- Mulch fall plantings lightly (2–3 cm / 1 in) to keep soil cool and retain moisture through dry spells.
Watch out for
- Dry spell this week (no rain until Sept 12): hand-water fall seedlings and transplants daily to prevent stress and bolting.
- Powdery mildew on squash and cucumbers thrives in warm, humid mornings; improve air flow and water at soil level only.
- Grasshoppers and crickets peak in early fall; handpick from young brassicas or use row covers for 2–3 weeks after transplanting.
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