This 2026 fall edition of Horticulture Hints is full of great vegetable gardening information. Planting vegetables is popular among many of our Louisiana county agents and Louisiana gardeners for many reasons:

• Homegrown always tastes fresh and delicious, unless those pesky worms eat your plants before harvest. (Read Mark Wilson’s article in this issue.)
• Growing your own food and placing it on your table as part of the meal brings a true sense of accomplishment. In the busy world we live in it is nice to stop and see the literal fruits — or should I say veggies — of your labor.
• Gardening is a great form of exercise providing you with time in the fresh outdoor air, increasing endorphins and a sense of happiness.

So, while you are outside taking care of the garden, here are some ideas of vegetables you can start seed of in August and then transplant or direct seed in September and October.

A beautiful fall garden growing at the Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, Louisiana. Photo by Kathryn “Kiki” Fontenot

August

Start seeds to transplant later: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, cucumbers and squash. Plant these outside. A greenhouse or hot house is too hot this time of year. All the listed vegetable crops will take approximately five to six weeks from the day you seed them to becoming a transplant ready to be set in the garden in September or October with the exceptions of the cucumbers and squash. Those two vegetables only need two weeks from the day of seeding to transplanting them into the garden.

Direct seed late in the month: bush and snap beans, beets, shallot sets and Irish potatoes. You can also direct seed mustard greens. The mustard green variety that I prefer to grow in August is Tendergreen because it has less of a tendency to bolt in the heat.

September

Start seeds to transplant later or move transplants into the garden mid-September: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, collards, lettuce, kohlrabi, kale and Swiss chard.

Direct seed: beets, endive, carrots, English peas, snow peas, mustard, parsley, snap beans, radishes, rutabaga, spinach and turnips. Onion seeds can be planted from the middle to late September which will be later transplanted as “sets” in the garden once they have two to three thin leaves, typically in December.

Bulbs: Garlic bulbs are planted mid to late September. Do not wait until late in the month. These need a full nine months of growth to form new bulbs that are divided. If you wait too late to plant, our naturally rainy springs will turn your bulbs to mush before they have a chance to divide into individual toes. Shallot sets can be planted all month long.

October

Transplant into the garden: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, Swiss chard and greens, including turnip, mustard or collard (although I always just direct seed these because it is cheaper).

Direct seed: beets, carrots, celery, endive, kale, leaf lettuce, mustard collard or turnip greens, radish, parsley, spinach and greens, including turnip, mustard or collard. If you did not plant onion seeds last month, you can now. They will form small sets that can be planted typically in December.

Hoping you grow an amazing fall vegetable garden!