Gardening Jobs for September: Sowing, Protecting, and Prepping for Winter in the Kitchen Garden
As we bid farewell to summer, September brings cooler days and the perfect time to take stock of your garden. With plenty of tasks to prepare for the colder months ahead, here's a guide to what you can be sowing, tending, and protecting right now.
Sowing in September: Herbs, Flowers, and Veg
Herbs:
- Coriander: Ideal for sowing now to enjoy fresh leaves into late autumn.
- Parsley: Get your winter supply started by sowing in containers or sheltered spots.
- Chervil: Another herb that thrives in cooler conditions, perfect for autumn soups.
Flowers:
- Sweet peas and calendula: Start now under cover for early blooms next year.
- Cornflower: Sow these now in a cold frame for a beautiful early display next spring.
Vegetables:
- Spinach and winter lettuces: Sow these hardy greens now for a continuous supply through the cooler months.
- Radishes: A quick-growing crop that can still be harvested before the first frost.
- Spring onions: Sow now to harvest early next spring.
Kitchen Garden Jobs for September
September is a critical month for getting your kitchen garden in shape for winter and ensuring you’re making the most of the autumn harvests.
1. Harvesting Late Crops
Now's the time to make the most of late summer crops like courgettes, tomatoes, and runner beans. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production.
- Tomatoes: Pick ripened tomatoes, and if frost threatens, harvest green ones and ripen them indoors.
- Beans: Keep picking runner and French beans to prevent them from going to seed.
- Pumpkins and squash: Let them ripen on the vine, but keep an eye on the weather and bring them indoors before the first frost.
2. Plant Autumn Crops
- Garlic and onion sets: These can be planted now to overwinter, giving you a head start for next spring’s harvest.
- Broad beans: Sow broad beans like 'Aquadulce Claudia' directly into the ground for an early crop next year.
- Winter greens: Get crops like kale, cabbage, and sprouting broccoli in the ground to provide fresh greens throughout the colder months.
3. Thinning and Weeding
If you’ve sown crops earlier in the summer, now’s the time to thin them out to give remaining plants room to grow.
- Carrots: Thin out any remaining young carrot seedlings to avoid overcrowding and encourage a final spurt of growth.
- Weeding: Keep on top of weeds. Removing them now prevents them from seeding and becoming a bigger problem next year.
4. Mulching and Covering
As the weather cools, help your kitchen garden by adding protection and insulation where needed.
- Mulch around the base of plants to lock in moisture and keep the soil warm. Use organic matter like compost or leaf mould.
- Use cloches or fleece to cover crops such as lettuces, salads, and spinach. This will extend the growing season and protect them from early frosts.
5. Composting
September is a great time to turn your compost heap and start adding in plant waste from summer crops. Make sure to include a mix of green waste (like vegetable scraps) and brown waste (like straw or dead leaves) for a balanced compost.
6. Pruning and Tidying
As the growing season winds down, take the opportunity to tidy up your kitchen garden:
- Cut back fruit bushes like blackcurrants and raspberries once they’ve finished fruiting.
- Prune apple and pear trees to remove any dead, diseased, or damaged branches, and to keep their shape.
- Remove spent plants: Clear out any old vegetable plants, like exhausted beans or cucumbers, to prevent disease from spreading over the winter.
Which Plants Can Stay Outside Over Winter?
Some plants can tough it out through the cold months, while others need a bit more attention. Here’s what to leave outside and what to bring in or protect:
Plants that can stay outside:
- Hardy perennials such as lavender and sedums will sail through the winter. Mulching around the base will help keep their roots protected.
- Winter vegetables like kale, cabbage, and sprouting broccoli thrive in the cold and can even improve in taste after a frost.
- Herbs like thyme, sage, and rosemary are cold-hardy and can be left outdoors with some mulching for insulation.
Plants that need extra care:
- Tender perennials like lemongrass or basil will need to be brought indoors to survive winter.
- Mediterranean herbs such as bay and rosemary will benefit from being moved into a greenhouse or a sheltered spot, or at the very least, mulched well and placed in a protected area.
Pot Plants and Patio Plants: Winter Prep
Move tender plants indoors: If you have citrus or olive trees in pots, move them to a sheltered, frost-free area such as a greenhouse or conservatory.
Protect pots: Outdoor containers can crack if left unprotected, so wrap them in bubble wrap, sacking, or place them in a sheltered corner to protect from frost.
Reduce watering: As temperatures drop, most patio and pot plants will need less water. Cut back on watering but ensure the soil doesn’t completely dry out.
Raise pots: Put containers on pot feet to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging, which can damage roots during the wet months.
With these September jobs in your kitchen garden, you’ll be well-prepared for the winter ahead. From harvesting your final crops to sowing hardy vegetables, it's a month full of opportunity to set yourself up for a bountiful spring.
