September

The Edible Garden

Remove any crops that have finished and dig over the soil. Vegetables that are going to overwinter and mature next spring can be sown now. These include turnip, spinach, Chinese cabbage, winter lettuce. Plant seedlings of spring cabbage, leeks, parsley, and spring onions. In colder areas pick any tomatoes still on the vine, even if not fully ripe. They will ripen indoors on a sunny window sill.
Sow broad bean seeds now. Dig up any remaining onions once the tops have collapsed - lie on the surface for a couple of days to dry if weather permits, or in a dry airy shed or similar place.
Continue picking fast maturing vegetable crops such as beans, cucmbers and courgettes before they get too big and coarse. Harvest sweetcorn as it ripens.
Globe artichokes should be picked now before the buds begin to open. If you have picked pumpkins, squash, or marrows, leave them in the sun or dry glasshouse or shed in the warm for a few days to harden off before storing over winter.
Earth up celery, leaving just a tuft of foliage uncovered. This blanches the stems and encourages taller growth.
Sow green manure crops such as mustard in fallow parts of the garden. Dig in in late winter or early spring to improve soil structure and add nutrients.
 

The Flower Garden

Now is the time to plant out seedlings of autumn / winter flowering annuals - Primulas, stock, Iceland poppies, pansies, cineraria, polyanthus. Sow sweet pea seeds now for masses of spring blooms
Hyacinth bulbs can be planted now. Plant in pots and bring into the house when they are about to flower and enjoy their colour and perfume.
Freshen up pots and hanging baskets with flowering bedding of pansies and violas, lobelia, and alyssum.
Plant new perennial plants this month - it is still warm enough for them to establish their roots before winter.
Continue to cut back any summer flowering perennials that have started to fade and die back.
Anemone and ranunculus bulbs can still be planted now. Start off in seed raising compost in seed trays and plant out when the first leaves and roots have formed.
Before planting ranunculus corms, place on moistened paper towels on a saucer. Within a few days small white roots will appear. This shows which way up to plant them and eliminates any which haven’t sprouted.
 

General

Clean out glasshouses and conservatories in preparation for over wintering plants brought in from the garden.
Finish pruning summer flowering shrubs which have finished.
Trim hedges if you have not already done so.
Give lawns an autumn feed to harden them up prior to winter.
This is a good time of year to be sowing new lawns and laying turf.
 

What to look for in store this Month

Lavenders
Buxus.
Hedge plants
Spring flowering bulbs
Fruit trees
Ornamental garden trees
Stakes
Compost
Autumn bedding and vegetable plants
The first of Halloween gifts and toys will appear in store