10 Things to plant in your Garden in September

Here are 10 things to do in your garden in September:

1. There is still time to sow some veg to enjoy this year. Hardy vegetables for a late autumn/winter harvest such as spinach, chard, winter lettuces, radishes, beetroot, and turnips can be ready for harvest by Christmas. 

2. Carrots typically take between 12 and 14 weeks depending on the variety, so there’s still time to plant now for the Christmas harvest, or let them mature to pull in February. 

3. Overwinter veg such as beans, peas, garlic, onions, cabbage and kale. They mature over winter and will survive the frost into the new year.

4. Plant Spring flowering bulbs such as Snowdrops, Crocus, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Fritillaries,  Grape hyacinth. If you want a snowdrop with a difference, try Puschkinia libanotica, a delicate stunning snowdrop that will definitely impress. Plant crocus and snowdrop in clusters on your lawn too, as these will make your lawn look fantastic come spring. Remember rodents love spring bulbs. A tip is to cover the area with chicken wire and cover with soil. This also works with stopping your pet from digging them up!

5. Think about your autumn and winter bedding.. How do you want your areas to look? Viola and pansy are very popular - and edible too! My favourite winter flower however is the cyclamen. They can be very expensive if bought in bulk, but here’s a tip…keep an eye on Lidl, they always have economically priced cyclamen coming into November. 

6. Marigolds. Sow now for a May showing, and you can sow direct outdoors. However, I like to sow in a cell tray under glass for more control.

7. Sweet peas. Make a start on your sweet pea display by sowing now in deep cells. Toilet roll tubes are great to use as sweet peas grow deep roots.

8. Love in a Mist is a cottage garden favourite and it’s best to sow in cell trays. They’ll be planted out late winter for a spring showing.

9. Sow Poppies directly in borders for flowering next year. 

10. Plant Allium bulbs from September to November. Allium are one of my favourites, particularly Allium Giganteum and Globemaster, monsters of the allium world. Alliums work really well in pots too. You can use them in a flower pot lasagna. I'll make a different post and show you how it’s done.