Whether you participate in a community garden, have a backyard, or grow plants in containers on your roof or terrace, this is the month to plant vegetables and herbs from seeds and flowers from plants. Unless you’ve spent the entire summer in Iceland, you won’t be surprised to learn that Philly is no longer in Zone 7A but in 7B, reflecting its intense summer heat. That impacts what can be planted and when. 

Secret Garden, 7631 Ridge Ave., recommends planting herbs now and holding off on leafy greens for two or three weeks until the heat subsides. But don’t hesitate to plant “cone flowers” now, such as colorful echinacea which attract butterflies and bees and resemble daisies in a wide range of colors including yellow, red, violet, and white. Before planting new varieties, clear out weeds and debris, and tidy up your garden. Leave the roots of old plants to decompose and enrich the soil. 

Urban Jungle, 5126 Passyunk Ave., concurs that it is too soon to plant leafy greens now. In fact, they do not anticipate having lettuce, kale or broccoli for a couple of weeks. Right now, they recommend succulents which will need to be watered often.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) suggests planting vegetables from seeds: carrots, turnips, parsnips, sweet potatoes, beets, garlic, onions, leeks, and radishes. Most will germinate in 7–10 days, except for carrots, which can take up to 3 weeks. Talk to your local garden center for planting tips.

“It all depends on the amount of light your garden receives,” said Avri at City Planter in Northern Liberties. “If you get six hours of sun, there are many herbs and vegetables you can grow from seeds now, but when it comes to flowers, you will need to buy them as plants. Typically, when you grow flowers from seeds, they do not bloom until the second year.”  

Also, consider starting a herb garden in your kitchen if it gets a lot of sunlight. Depending on your cooking preferences. choose from: Basil, Chives, Rosemary, Thyme, Parsley, Cilantro, Oregano, Dill, and Mint. The Germantown Kitchen Garden, 215 East Penn St., open Saturdays and Sundays, offers herb seedlings organically grown. Right now, everything in their nursery is 50% off. They will have all new plants around Labor Day – just two weeks away! Germantown Kitchen Garden is a half-acre farm and nursery selling organically grown vegetables and herbs, fruit and flowers, perennials and shrubs to neighbors, chefs, and garden enthusiasts. 

If you have the space, whether in your yard or on your roof, you may want to contact Grow Our Food, a Philly company specializing in building raised garden beds, fencing to protect your garden from wildlife, plus irrigation systems. Have a hectic schedule? They will come by bi-weekly to weed, prune, and harvest, leaving the bounty right by your door. They also offer garden coaching for complete beginners and experienced gardeners. From vegetable gardens to fruit orchards and pollinator gardens, there is no limit to what you can do right here in the City!

At the Wyck Historic Home, Garden & Farm, Germantown Ave. & Walnut Lane in Mt. Airy, community members maintain a Home Farm Club  in a quarter-acre “kitchen garden.” Right next to their rows of leafy greens, they plant brightly colored flowers as if anticipating centerpieces for the dinner table. Try for a balance of flowers and vegetables in your home garden. Marigolds not only brighten up your garden but help keep away garden pests and boost growth of your veggies. Other flowers to plant include Lavender, Sedum, and Gazania. Pansies and Violas aren’t just for spring and will bloom until the first freeze.

Gardening in Philly can be a group activity.  Consider joining PHS or Philadelphia Urban Gardens on Facebook. If you live in the northwest, join The Mt. Airy Philadelphia Garden Group on Facebook which now offers free Korean Sweet Potato plants and Adirondack chairs, as well as recipes and gardening tips.

If you do container gardening, whether in a window box, hanging plant or on a back deck, have a conversation with a knowledgeable staff member at your local gardening center about where your container is placed and the amount of sun and shade it gets. The color, drainage, and size of your container matter too. Drainage is important because if your soil stays too moist, it will create fungus and eventually kill your plants. Why does the color of your planter make a difference? Because a black container will contain more heat and dry your plants out faster.

For local organic seeds that are non-GMO, organic, heirloom and open-pollinated choose Philly’s True Love Seeds. You can find them at Weavers Way Farm Market, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Tyler Arboretum. Or order from their online website.  They currently collaborate with over 50 farms across the United States with a particular focus on community farms in the Philadelphia area. 50% of every seed packet sale goes back to the farmer who grew it!  

We hope our coverage of Philadelphia gardening motivates you to start, expand, or upgrade an existing garden and take advantage of Philly’s neighborhood gardening centers and the wealth of information available from PHS.