September is a busy time in the garden
The summer garden is still producing strong, the fall garden can still get planted, and it is a good time to think about next year’s garden. In our video, we show you 13 things to do in your garden this September.
1. Improve your soil with a fall cover crop
September is a good time to plant your fall cover crop. Planting in September allows enough time for the plants to get established before cold weather arrives. If you are buying raw cover crop seeds with legumes, make sure to get the right inoculant for the seed. All of our cover crops have the correct inoculant listed on the page description.
You can watch our video on planting a cover crop for step-by-step instructions on seeding your garden.
2. Time to harvest your winter squash
Pick your ripe winter squash, especially if rain is in the forecast, and store it in a cool, dark location. If you are not sure how to tell if your squash is ripe, test by pressing your nail against the skin—it should not leave a dent if mature. The skin should be a full, rich color and not have any soft spots. If it seems ripe but has soft spots, pick it and eat it right away, cutting away any of the area that may be soft. If harvesting for storage, leave about three inches of stem on the squash when cutting it off the vine. If your pumpkins are not quite ripe, help them out by removing leaves that shadow the fruits and slow down ripening. Place them onto boards to protect them from damp soil.
3. Plant fall bulbs for a springtime blast of flowers
Now is a good time to plant spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, crocuses, or iris. Unsure how to do this? Watch our video on planting bulbs to see how.
4. Preserve your surplus fruit and vegetables
Surplus produce can be preserved by canning, fermenting, drying, or freezing. We have quite a few videos and articles on food preservation at our resource page at GrowOrganic.com. Got some large zucchini and not sure what to do with it? Shred or grate them, squeeze out the excess liquid, and freeze them to use later in the year.
5. Time to think about ordering and planting garlic
Save space in your garden for garlic. If you live in a cold climate, plant just after the first frost. In mild winter zones, plant in October. Hardneck garlic varieties are a great choice for cold regions. In fact, they need cold temperatures to produce plump bulbs the following summer. Softneck garlic varieties or elephant garlic are perfect for mild winter zones.
Check out our video on growing garlic for more information.
6. Too many veggies and tired of preserving?
If you have filled up your refrigerator, pantry, freezer, or root cellar with preserved veggies, don’t let them go to waste. Consider donating excess produce to your local food bank or Senior Gleaners.
7. Plant some onions or potatoes if you're in a mild winter zone
Onion sets or transplants can be planted in the fall in mild-winter regions. If you live in an area with cold winters, the best time to plant is in the spring. Consider planting some potatoes as well if your climate allows for fall planting.
8. Harvest and dry your herbs for winter use
Herbs like basil, rosemary, oregano, or thyme are so easy to dry and save for winter use. Basil is especially tender and should be harvested before cold weather hits. You can dry it, make pesto, or freeze it in ice cube trays for easy use in winter cooking.
9. Save some seed from your favorite plants
You can let some of your plants go to seed or allow some fruit to over-ripen and save the seed. Plants like okra, corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers, mustards, or some greens are easy for seed saving. Watch our video on seed saving for more information.
10. Continue monitoring for pests and diseases in the garden
Monitor cucurbits for powdery mildew. Thin leaves to promote airflow and remove heavily damaged leaves. Treat with a fungicide labeled for powdery mildew as needed. Check plants for spider mite damage. Rinse leaves with a sharp stream of water if present or treat with a miticide for heavily infested plants.
11. Take care of your cane berries
Prune raspberry canes after harvest and tie up new canes for support. If your blackberries are getting taller than their supports, prune them to the height that you like them to be and tie them to their support, whether it’s a fence or trellis.
12. Get ready for cold weather
Prep your greenhouse for the cold weather by cleaning it out and making room for any plants that need to be housed during the winter. Order your Agribon early to be ready for winter.
13. Plant cool-season seeds for a fall/winter harvest
In mild winter areas, think about planting cool-season vegetable seeds like greens, lettuce, peas, fava beans, kale, collards, carrots, beets, or turnips. If you can find some transplants of broccoli, cabbage, or cauliflower, put those into the garden—it might be too late to plant these by seed.
