Planting guide

What to plant in Riga, Latvia in September

Zone 5b · Baltic Northern Hemisphere September

September in Riga marks the shift from summer harvest to autumn planting. Nights are cooling and the first light frosts are still weeks away, which makes this the window for crops that either mature fast in cool weather or need a full winter in the ground before next year.

Plant now

GarlicAllium sativum

Plant individual cloves from mid-to-late September so they root before frost and overwinter for a July harvest.

SpinachSpinacia oleracea

Sow now for a late-autumn harvest, or leave to overwinter under mulch for an early spring crop.

Winter rye (green manure)

A good cover for any bed you are not overwintering with a crop — protects and feeds the soil until spring.

Tulip and daffodil bulbs

September-October is the standard planting window so bulbs establish roots before the ground freezes.

Timing notes

  • Aim to get garlic in the ground at least 4-6 weeks before the first hard frost so cloves root without sprouting top growth.
  • Cool-season greens (spinach, lettuce, radish) sown now grow slowly but steadily — expect a longer time to harvest than a spring sowing.
  • Clear and compost spent summer crops (tomatoes, beans, squash) to free up beds for garlic and bulbs.
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