Now
29°C · Clear
Today
30° / 18°
Soil 6 cm
24°C
First frost
~65 days (Nov 12)
Gardening in Charlotte
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyCharlotte Gardening: Early Fall Planting & Harvest (Sept 8–14)
Zone 8b with first frost expected Nov 12—you have 65 days left. Soil at 24°C (75°F) is ideal for cool-season crops. Spring frost averaged Mar 28, so you're 164 days past the last freeze. Dry conditions this week (except heavy rain Sept 12) mean water new plantings well.
Sow outdoors now
Lettuce & Salad Greens
Direct-sow 'Buttercrunch', 'Oakleaf', or 'Jericho' now; they'll mature in 45–50 days before hard frost. Succession-sow every 2 weeks through October for continuous harvest.
Spinach
Sow 'Space' or 'Bloomsdale' directly; germinates well at 24°C and thrives as temps drop. Ready in 40–50 days.
Radishes
Plant 'Cherry Belle' or 'French Breakfast' for quick 25–30 day turnaround; excellent fall crop in Charlotte's cool nights.
Kale
Sow 'Winterbor' or 'Lacinato' directly; flavor improves after frost. Germinates at 24°C; harvest starts in 50–60 days.
Turnips & Rutabagas
Direct-sow 'Purple Top' turnips or 'Laurentian' rutabagas; both store well and tolerate Charlotte's variable fall weather.
Start indoors now
Broccoli & Cabbage
Start 'Arcadia' broccoli or 'Savoy Ace' cabbage indoors; transplant in 4–5 weeks (mid-October) for November–December harvest.
Cauliflower
Sow 'Snowball Y' indoors for transplant by mid-October; needs 60+ days to mature before hard frost.
Leeks
Start 'King Richard' indoors; transplant in October for slow growth through winter and spring harvest.
Harvest now
Tomatoes
Pick all remaining fruit, especially as nights cool; ripen indoors on a windowsill or in a paper bag with an apple.
Peppers
Harvest green or wait for color; plants will produce until first frost (Nov 12). Pick regularly to encourage more fruit.
Beans & Squash
Finish harvesting summer crops before they decline; remove spent plants to reduce pest habitat.
Herbs
Cut basil, cilantro, and parsley before frost; dry or freeze for winter use.
Tasks this week
- Water new seeds and transplants deeply after sowing; Sept 12 rain will help, but hand-water if needed before then.
- Remove spent summer crops (tomatoes, beans, squash) to clear space and reduce disease pressure.
- Mulch fall plantings with 5 cm (2 in) compost to retain moisture and moderate soil temperature.
- Scout for spider mites and whiteflies on remaining warm-season plants; spray with neem oil if needed.
- Prepare beds for October transplants of brassicas by adding compost and checking soil pH (aim for 6.5–7.0).
Watch out for
- Dry spell through Sept 11 followed by heavy rain Sept 12—water new plantings before the dry days, then watch for waterlogging after rain.
- Powdery mildew and early blight thrive in warm, humid fall weather; remove affected leaves and improve air circulation.
- Grasshoppers and crickets peak in September; hand-pick or use row covers on young greens.
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