Now
27°C · Partly cloudy
Today
28° / 13°
Soil 6 cm
21°C
First frost
~61 days (Nov 8)
Gardening in Buffalo
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyBuffalo Gardening: Early September — Harvest, Plant Fall Crops, Prepare for Frost
Zone 7a, with first frost arriving around November 8 (61 days away). Soil at 21°C (70°F) is still warm enough for direct seeding cool-season crops; nighttime lows dropping into the low teens this week signal the shift. You have roughly 60 frost-free days left—enough for quick-maturing fall varieties but not for long-season crops. Spring frost (April 29) was 132 days ago, so summer crops are fully mature.
Sow outdoors now
Spinach (Bloomsdale, Space or Tyee)
Direct seed now; germinates in cool soil and matures in 40–50 days before hard frost. Sow ¼ inch deep, 10 cm (4 in) apart.
Arugula (Roquette)
Fast-growing (30–40 days); thrives in cool fall weather. Sow every 2 weeks through mid-September for continuous harvest.
Radish (Cherry Belle, Icicle)
Matures in 25–30 days; plant now for October harvest. Sow ½ inch deep, 5 cm (2 in) apart.
Kale (Winterbor, Lacinato)
Extremely cold-hardy; flavor improves after light frost. Direct seed or transplant now; will produce through November and into winter.
Mâche (Corn Salad)
Cold-tolerant salad green, 40–50 days to maturity. Sow now for late-fall and early-winter harvests; survives light snow.
Start indoors now
Brassica seedlings (Broccoli, Cabbage)
Start transplants indoors now for planting out in 3–4 weeks; they'll mature in October before hard frost. Use varieties like 'Packman' broccoli or 'Stonehead' cabbage.
Leeks (Titan, King Richard)
Sow indoors; transplant out in 4–5 weeks. Leeks tolerate frost and can be harvested through winter in Buffalo.
Lettuce (Winter Density, Buttercrunch)
Start indoors now for transplanting in 2–3 weeks; extends harvest into November. Cold-hardy varieties perform best.
Harvest now
Tomatoes (all types)
Pick fully colored fruit before frost (Nov 8); green tomatoes ripen indoors at room temperature in 2–3 weeks.
Peppers (sweet and hot)
Harvest mature peppers now; plants will stop producing as nights cool. Leave immature fruit to ripen indoors if desired.
Summer squash and zucchini
Pick regularly to encourage final flushes. Plants decline rapidly as soil cools; expect production to stop by late September.
Beans (snap and pole)
Harvest tender pods before frost; older pods become tough. Plants will frost-kill by mid-October.
Tasks this week
- Deadhead spent flowers on ornamentals to extend bloom and prevent self-seeding of unwanted plants.
- Water fall crops deeply if no rain; soil at 21°C dries quickly. Mulch newly seeded beds to retain moisture and moderate temperature swings.
- Scout for late-season pests (Japanese beetles, aphids, spider mites) and remove by hand or spray with neem oil if needed.
- Begin cleanup of spent summer beds; compost disease-free material, discard any blight-infected foliage.
- Stake or support tall fall brassicas and leeks if wind gusts exceed 25 km/h (predicted Sept 9).
Watch out for
- Frost risk: Nighttime lows in the low teens (°C) this week won't kill established crops, but tender seedlings and transplants need row cover or cloches if temps drop below 4°C (40°F).
- Powdery mildew and early blight thrive in cool, humid fall conditions; ensure good air circulation and remove affected leaves promptly.
- Slugs and snails accelerate feeding in cool, damp weather; hand-pick at dusk or use copper tape barriers around transplants.
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