What vegetables to plant in September Sowing vegetables in September will bring spring harvests and help to cover the ‘hungry gap’ between seasons: Lettuce Spinach Chard Kale Spring onions Spring cabbage They can all be sown as seeds, straight into prepared soil. Protect from birds with tightly secured netting. What vegetables to harvest in September September is the pinnacle of the vegetable growing season, with heavy quantities of veg available to the home grower: Aubergine Beetroot Broad beans Broccoli Butternut squash Cabbage Cauliflower Carrots Celeriac Celery Courgettes Cucumber French Beans Kale Leeks Lettuce Peas Peppers (chilli) Peppers (sweet) Potatoes Pumpkins Radish Runner beans Summer cabbage Sweetcorn Tomatoes Turnips Vegetable plant maintenance in September There is plenty to do in the vegetable patch to keep it productive throughout September: Broccoli, Cabbage & Cauliflower - keep netted with a fine mesh to stop cabbage white butterflies from landing and laying eggs. These turn into caterpillars which can then destroy crops. Brussels sprouts - earth up and firm down soil around plants, to prevent rocking in windy weather. Celeriac - remove horizontal leaves to expose the crown and help the root bulk up. Chilli peppers - keep harvesting to extend the productive season as long as possible. They can be used fresh, frozen or dried out for use over the winter. Cucumber - pinch out the growing tip, water and feed with tomato fertiliser. French & Runner beans - allow a couple of pods to dry out on each plant. Collect these and place in a paper bag until the spring when they can be sown again. Leeks - earth up the stems with soil to increase the length of the white stems. Peas - add supports to peas sown in the summer. Twigs from early autumn pruning activities are perfect for this. Radish - water well and pick every few days. They are quick growers, and the roots will quickly go woody and become unpalatable if left too long. Tomatoes - pinch out the tops of plants. Remove any growth below the lowest fruits, any leafy growth which is shading fruit, and any new flowers. This will increase air flow and help the plant to ripen the remaining fruit. Turnips - thin these to 8cm (3in) apart. The leafy tops of the ones which you remove can be used in the kitchen as greens - in stews and omelettes, for example. If the hot and dry weather of the summer has continued, make sure to keep plants well-watered. This is particularly important for new seedlings, which can quickly wither without a little help.

What fruit to plant in September Strawberries can be planted in September, either by using runners from existing plants, or buying new ones. They are easy to grow in the ground or in pots. September is the perfect time to order new fruit trees and bushes, with the widest selection of varieties becoming available as bare-root plants. Fruit plants are perennials, and will be in your garden for years, possibly even decades, so consider what is right for you and your garden: The size of a mature fruit tree is determined by the rootstock it has been grown on. A reputable grower will advertise which one has been used for a particular plant. It is important to know this as a full-grown tree on ‘MM111’ rootstock can grow to 6 metres (20’) high! Apple, apricot, nectarine, peach, pears, plum and quince trees are all grafted onto specific rootstocks. The amount of fruit produced can be increased by planting a variety which has a nearby fruit tree from the same pollination group. Pollination groups are a widely-used way of categorising together fruit plants which flower at the same time. This maximises opportunities for insects to cross-pollinate the flowers, which will then form fruit. Apples, cherries, pears and plums are grouped in this way. Many fruit trees can also be planted in containers. There are not so many varieties, and they will need lots of water in hot spells, when they will dry out quickly. However, they are great as feature plants in ornate planters, or if you want maximum productivity from a small space. What fruit to harvest in September September can provide bumper crops of homegrown fruit. Pick fruits regularly to catch them at their best:; Alpine strawberries Apples (early varieties) Autumn raspberries Blackberries Cape gooseberry (physalis) Figs Grapes Melons Mulberries Nectarines Peaches Pears (early varieties) Plums Tayberries If you want to keep berries for use over the winter, wash them and add to a container in the freezer. Give it a shake after an hour to keep them from sticking to each other, making it easy to take a handful whenever needed. Fruit plant maintenance in September Fruit trees and bushes need little maintenance in September. Do the following to keep plants healthy: Help grapes to ripen by removing leaves where they are shading the fruit. Feed citrus plants with a specialist plant food. Water new fruit bushes and trees if the weather is hot and dry, especially those in containers. Remain vigilant for pests and diseases which may attack your fruit plants. Heavily fruit laden branches of apple and pear trees may need support. If necessary, support the branch from below with a stout stake, or by attaching strong rope from the branch to a nearby wall.

hat Trees and Shrubs to Plant in September Fall is the perfect time to plant perennials and shrubs. Perennials are either herbaceous, meaning they die later in the year and reemerge in spring, evergreen or semi-evergreen. This means they will give interest all year or most of the time. They will live for many years, so choose plants that are suitable for your garden and that you find attractive. consider: condition. How humid, dry, sunny, shaded or sheltered is the part of the garden where the plant grows? size. How tall and wide will the plant grow? leaf color. How do foliage change throughout the year? The color of the flower. What color will the flowers be? When does it bloom and will this complement other flowering plants? Wildlife. How do plants tell other organisms to thrive? Does it provide seed heads, berries, nectar, shelter, or other benefits to wildlife? maintainance. Once established, how much attention will the factory require? Here are some beautiful perennials and shrubs to plant in September: Large leaf clover 'Variegata' holly ivy daisy White antelope buttons What Trees and Shrubs to Prune in September Late summer flowering shrubs that have passed their peak can now be pruned. This includes: jasmine. Cut off stems that have bloomed. This will rejuvenate the factory and get it ready for next year. Honeysuckle (common honeysuckle). Cut off about one-third of the flowering stem. Rudbeckia. Cut to the ground, or just above any new green growth that emerges near the base of the plant. Tree and Shrub Maintenance in September Hoe around the plants to keep weeds at bay, as these will provide competition with the shrubs. Remove any perennial weeds, such as bonding grass and nettles, and flood or dry them out before adding to the compost pile. Cover plants with compost to provide nutrients and retain moisture. Check to see if the plant is growing as you expect it to, and if not, consider whether it needs to be divided or replaced later in the year. Divide perennials that have finished flowering, such as daylilies, daylilies, chrysanthemums, bicents, herbaceous peonies, and primroses. This can make new plants for you to place in other parts of the garden, or to give to friends, family and neighbors. Prepare for windy fall weather by adding supports to your plants. Secure and tie them down so they don't move significantly. Enjoy ornamental grasses that are turning brown and don't mow as they look spectacular this time of year.