Now
22°C · Partly cloudy
Today
22° / 11°
Soil 6 cm
16°C
First frost
~34 days (Oct 12)
Gardening in Spokane
AI field guide · refreshed weeklySpokane Gardening: Early Fall Planting & Harvest (Sept 8–14)
You're in zone 6b with 34 days until the average first frost (Oct 12). Soil at 16°C (61°F) is cool but workable for fall crops. Spring frost averaged Apr 25, giving you a 170-day growing season. Plant cool-season crops now; they'll mature before hard freeze. Warm spells this week won't change the calendar—frost will still come in early October.
Sow outdoors now
Spinach & arugula
Direct sow now for October harvest. Both tolerate light frosts and improve in flavor after a chill. Space spinach 10 cm (4 in) apart, arugula 5 cm (2 in).
Mâche (corn salad)
Sow thickly in rows; germinates in cool soil and overwinters in zone 6b. Harvest leaves in 30–40 days or leave for spring regrowth.
Radish (winter varieties)
Sow 'Watermelon' or 'Black Spanish' now for November harvest. They store well and handle frost. Thin to 5 cm (2 in) spacing.
Garlic cloves
Plant individual cloves 5 cm (2 in) deep, 15 cm (6 in) apart, pointed end up. They need 4–8 weeks of cool soil before dormancy to root properly.
Peas (snap & snow)
Sow 'Oregon Sugar Pod' or 'Cascadia' now; they'll germinate in cool soil and flower before frost. Use a trellis to save space.
Start indoors now
Brassicas for fall transplant
Start 'Broccoli Raab', 'Lacinato' kale, or 'Red Acre' cabbage indoors now; transplant in 3–4 weeks for October–November harvest.
Lettuce (cold-hardy varieties)
Start 'Winter Density' or 'Jericho' indoors; they'll be ready to harden off and plant out by late September for continuous fall harvest.
Cilantro
Start seeds indoors in small pots; cilantro bolts quickly in heat but thrives in cool fall weather once transplanted outdoors in 2–3 weeks.
Harvest now
Tomatoes & peppers
Pick all fruit, ripe or green. Ripen green tomatoes indoors at room temperature; peppers won't mature further outdoors before frost.
Summer squash & zucchini
Harvest daily while tender. Plants are slowing; pull them after this week to make room for fall crops.
Beans (bush & pole)
Pick pods young and tender. First frost will kill plants; harvest all edible pods by late September.
Herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
Cut and dry or freeze basil now—frost will kill it. Perennial herbs like oregano and thyme will survive; trim lightly.
Tasks this week
- Pull spent summer crops (tomatoes, peppers, beans) after harvest to reduce disease and clear space for fall plantings.
- Amend empty beds with 5 cm (2 in) of compost or aged manure; cool soil will slow decomposition, but it'll be ready by spring.
- Water newly sown seeds and transplants daily until established; soil is cooling and drying slower, but fall winds can desiccate seedlings.
- Mulch garlic beds with 5 cm (2 in) of straw after planting to insulate roots and suppress weeds through winter.
- Scout for aphids and whiteflies on brassicas and greens; cool weather can still bring infestations—spray with neem oil if needed.
Watch out for
- Frost risk jumps after Oct 12—don't delay planting cool-season crops. Tender annuals (basil, tender herbs) will die at 0°C (32°F).
- Wind gusts to 23 km/h (14 mph) on Sept 10 and 17 km/h (11 mph) on Sept 12 can stress young transplants and dry soil; water before windy days.
- Rain on Sept 13 (14.7 mm / 0.6 in) is welcome but may cause fungal issues on dense plantings—thin crowded seedlings and ensure airflow.
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