In September the ground is still warm enough for seeds to germinate quickly and with longer summers in some areas, the growing season often continues for a few bonus weeks. So it's a good time to try some late sowings. There's a good range of crops that can be sown right through to the end of the month and some even later. Crops to try Leafy vegetables Decreasing light levels mean late sown vegetables won't flower and fruit, but leafy crops can put on plenty of growth in the time remaining. Leaf varieties to sow outdoors include: pak choi (tatsoi) varieties, mizuna, winter cress, spicy oriental salad mixes and spinach varieties such as ' Giant Winter'. These should germinate quickly and give you plenty of supply for stir fries, soups and leafy salads through to the first frosts. If you have a greenhouse or cold frame you can sow winter lettuce varieties under glass. ' Winter Density' is one of the most popular and produces lovely tender hearts of lettuce through the cold months. Broad beans and peas Early sowings of broad beans and peas can be carried out from late September through to mid November. The advantage of sowing early is that plants can establish over the winter and flower and fruit earlier. Many plants are able to withstand quite harsh conditions; however you may need to fleece young plants during hard frosts or snowy conditions. ' Super Aguadulce' and ' Aguadulce Claudia' are two broad bean varieties that suit early sowings. ' Feltham First' is the most popular pea for early sowings. Garlic Garlic can be planted from the autumn right through into February, providing the ground is not too hard or waterlogged. Christmas potatoes If you plant seed potatoes in September in a pot, you can grow a crop to serve with your festive turkey. The plants need to establish before the first frosts when they should be brought indoors to a sheltered spot. Keep watering and.
Now that the mower is about to be stored away for the winter months, I like to spend a couple of weekends getting my vegetable beds packed so that I have lots of fresh fodder to pick at over the chilly months ahead. Keeping your garden going through the winter gets you outside in the fresh air, allow you to exercise and can give you brilliant home-grown produce. Up until the end of October there is a good range that can be sown to supplement the leeks, parsnips and sprouts that should already be settled in. Except for garlic, onion sets, asparagus and cabbages, I sow in modules in my cold frame or greenhouse and plant out as mini-plants a few weeks later. Alternatively, sow outside and cover with fleece or perforated polythene. And don't forget pests: slugs and snails are less of a threat now as they start to hibernate, but they can still ruin tender young seedlings. 1 Broad beans I always autumn-sow broad beans. As well as having more time than I do in spring, it stops nutrients leaching through otherwise fallow soil, which allows its structure to deteriorate. They are ready a good month earlier than those sown in April, and they don't get black fly. If the beans are in an exposed position and grow too tall (above a foot ) over winter, they can wave around and split just above ground level, so put in canes or sticks and string if necessary. Good autumn varieties are Aquadulce Claudia ( AGM) and Super Aquadulce. Don't forget, broad bean tops are delicious wilted with butter. If you pick out some tops to cook before the pods are formed you will delay pod production, which can help stagger your crop. Small pods are delicious cooked and eaten whole. 2 Asparagus Asparagus varieties are now available for autumn planting, which helps them establish that bit quicker. Broad beans Aquadulce Claudia Credit: Julie Fryer / Alamy Thompson many plants grow more slowly as days shorten in fall. Want an example? If your first fall frost typically occurs around October 31 and you want to grow ' French Breakfast' radishes, which mature in about 25 days, you'd plant them around September 22. Find your first fall frost date here! Check out our Plant Encyclopedia. Getting the Garden Ready Make room for your fresh crop of fall plants by ripping out any varieties that are no longer performing well (such as tomatoes that have succumbed to disease or peas that have burned out from the heat) or you have already harvested (potatoes, onions, or sweet corn, for example). Pull any weeds, as well, so they don't steal moisture and nutrients from your young plants. If your vegetable garden has a lot of clay in the soil, it's helpful to work in some organic matter, such as compost, to get your new plants off to a great start. Starting from Seed You'll probably grow most of the vegetables for your fall garden.
September 30, 2013 Courtesy Martin Poole/ Digital Vision/ Thinkstock With the long summer days behind us and the shorter, cooler days of autumn approaching, it’s natural to think about packing away the garden tools for the season, but don’t do it! You easily can reap a garden bounty with vegetables perfect for cool-season planting. Expand your garden with 18 common vegetables well-suited to an autumn harvest. 1. Arugula When to plant: Direct seed arugula into the garden every few weeks throughout the growing season, making your final planting approximately 30 days prior to your area’s first frost. Spacing requirements: Plant seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep in rows 12 to 16 inches apart. When to harvest: Begin to harvest arugula leaves after about three weeks; harvest leaves frequently to encourage production. Yield: 2 to 3 pounds per 10-foot row Watering needs: Water regularly. The amount will depend on a variety of factors, including growing location. Grow in well-drained soil, and keep the soil moderately moist. Light needs: full sun Special considerations: A member of the Brassica family, arugula is extremely easy to grow. Pick the leaves while still young to avoid a bitter flavor. 2. Beets When to plant: Plant seeds outdoors approximately 10 weeks before the first frost. Spacing requirements: Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep with seeds 1 to 2 inches apart in rows 12 to 24 inches apart. Thin beets to 4 inches apart unless growing them exclusively for greens, in which case 2 inches apart will suffice. When to harvest: For the best taste, harvest beets after about 40 to 50 days while they remain less than 2 inches in diameter. Leaves can be harvested as soon as they are large enough to eat. Leave at least two-thirds of the leaves on each plant so it can continue to grow. Yield: 10 pounds per 10-foot row Watering needs: 1 inch per week, keeping soil lightly and consistently moist.
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