Now
29°C · Partly cloudy
Today
30° / 17°
Soil 6 cm
24°C
First frost
~52 days (Oct 30)
Gardening in Columbus
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyColumbus Garden Guide: Early Fall Planting & Harvest (Week of Sept 8)
Zone 6b with 52 days until the average first frost (Oct 30). Soil at 24°C (75°F) is ideal for cool-season crops—still warm enough for quick germination, but nights are cooling. You're in the sweet spot for fall planting: frost-sensitive annuals are done, but you have time to establish cold-tolerant greens, brassicas, and root crops before hard freeze.
Sow outdoors now
Spinach (Bloomsdale, Space or Tyee)
Direct sow now; germinates in 7–10 days at 24°C soil temp. Succession-sow every 2 weeks through mid-September for continuous fall harvest.
Arugula (Roquette, any variety)
Fast grower (30–40 days). Sow densely; thin or harvest as microgreens. Tolerates light frost.
Radish (Cherry Belle, Watermelon)
Ready in 25–30 days. Sow in blocks to maximize space; pull as soon as mature to avoid woodiness.
Kale (Lacinato, Winterbor, Curly Scotch)
Sow now for November–December harvest. Flavor improves after frost. Needs 50–60 days but tolerates cold.
Lettuce (Buttercrunch, Lollo Rosso, Winter Density)
Sow every 10 days through September. Loose-leaf varieties bolt less in cool fall weather.
Start indoors now
Broccoli & Cabbage (Arcadia, Stonehead)
Start seeds indoors now; transplant in 4–5 weeks (early October) for November harvest. Needs 60–70 days total.
Cauliflower (Snowball, Graffiti)
Start indoors; transplant early October. Finicky but rewarding in cool fall weather.
Brussels Sprouts (Jade Cross, Long Island)
Start now for transplant in October; harvest November–December after frost sweetens them.
Harvest now
Tomatoes (all types)
Pick all remaining fruit before first frost (Oct 30). Green tomatoes ripen indoors in 2–3 weeks at room temperature.
Peppers (Bell, Hot)
Harvest mature peppers now; plants will stop producing as nights cool. Leave immature fruit to ripen indoors if desired.
Summer Squash & Zucchini
Last chance this week; pull plants if disease pressure is high or yield drops. Compost diseased foliage.
Basil & Tender Herbs
Pinch all basil before frost kills it; dry or freeze. Cilantro and parsley will survive light frost.
Tasks this week
- Deadhead spent annuals or pull them to reduce pest overwintering sites and improve air flow.
- Amend beds for fall crops: work in 2–3 cm (1 in) compost or aged manure now; cool soil won't burn seedlings.
- Scout for Japanese beetles and squash bugs on remaining plants; hand-pick or use neem oil before frost.
- Clean up fallen fruit and debris to reduce fungal disease and rodent habitat.
- Water newly sown seeds daily until established; fall air is drier than you'd expect.
Watch out for
- Powdery mildew on squash, cucumbers, and pumpkins thrives in cool, humid fall nights—remove infected leaves or spray sulfur early in the day.
- Earwigs and slugs love cool, moist soil; trap earwigs in rolled newspaper or beer traps; hand-pick slugs at dawn.
- Frost can arrive earlier than Oct 30 in low-lying areas or near water—monitor forecasts after Sept 20 and cover tender crops if needed.
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