Autumn Abundance
September's Growing Calendar

Every gardener knows that successful gardening takes careful planning and timing. To help you make the most of your garden, we've prepared a handy grow calendar for the month ahead.

September is a transitional month in the garden, and there's plenty you can do to ensure your space stays vibrant and productive.From sowing colourful flowers to nurturing delicious vegetables, here's what you can do in your garden this September.

Flowers to Sow and Grow:

In the Greenhouse/Indoors:

• Euphorbia: Start by surface-sowing euphorbia seeds in trays indoors for a head start on next year's blooms.
• Dierama: Sow dierama seeds on the surface of moist compost and keep them in a cool greenhouse over the winter.
  
  

In the Cold Frame/Under Cloches:

• Calendula officinalis ‘Neon’: Sow these seeds in pots now and keep them in a cold frame for a burst of fruity color next early summer.
• Viola hybrida 'Miniola Heart Purple': Sow in a cold frame now, ready to plant out in the spring.
• Lupins, Aquilegia, Aconitum, and Hollyhocks: Sow these cold-hardy varieties in a cold frame for robust, early blooms.
• Eryngium 'Blue Steel' and Echinops ritro subsp. ruthenicus: Start these silvery, spiky beauties in pots and place them in a cold frame for stunning foliage next year.
• Verbascum x hybrida ‘Snow Maiden’: Begin these seeds outdoors now in pots within a cold frame.
• Perennial Salvias: Sow them into pots and trays outdoors, leaving them in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse throughout the winter.
• Red Hot Pokers: Sow outdoors in pots for a display of stunning flowers next summer.
• Helenium puberulum 'Autumn Lollipop': Sow in a cold frame to invite bees and butterflies into your garden next year.
  
  

Direct Sow Outdoors:

• Ammi majus ‘Graceland’ (Bishop's Weed): Sow directly in the ground now for bigger, more robust plants next year.
• Hardy Geraniums: Sow them outdoors and let them over-winter.
• Hardy Annuals: Including cornflowers, poached egg plant, annual poppies, and larkspur 'T&M Improved' for bigger plants next year.
• California Poppies: Sprinkle them into your borders for a burst of late spring colour.
• Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella): Direct sow now, and it will happily over-winter and self-seed prolifically.
• Delphinium: Sow seeds this month for gorgeous summer flowers.
  
  

Plant Outdoors:

• Fill Border Gaps: Add autumn-flowering plants like sedum and Chrysanthemum carinatum 'Polar Star' to extend colour into the season's end.
• Hyacinth and Amaryllis Bulbs: Plant for forcing and enjoy colourful blooms at Christmas.
• Spring-Flowering Bulbs: Including daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths.
• Biennial Plants: Foxgloves, wallflowers, and pansies sown earlier in the year can be planted now.
• New Perennials, Trees, and Shrubs: Take advantage of the warm soil and upcoming rainfall.
  
  

Vegetables and Herbs to Sow and Grow:

In the Cold Frame/Greenhouse/Under Cloches:

• Spinach: Direct sow now and offer cloche protection for harvests throughout autumn and winter.
• Spring Cabbages: Sow varieties like 'April' and 'Durham Early' into modules in the greenhouse.
• Pak Choi ‘Green’: Sow under cloches for an autumn supply of baby salad leaves.

Direct Sow Outdoors:

• Corn Salad (Lamb's Lettuce): A fully hardy crop that can be sown outdoors now for harvest throughout autumn and winter.
• Green Manure: Sow on empty beds now to improve soil structure and prevent winter weeds.
• 'Hi Keeper' Onions: Sow into a well-prepared seedbed; these are the best for autumn sowing.
• Salad Leaves: Direct sow now for quick crops.
• 'Perpetual' Spinach: Try sowing this very hardy variety outdoors this month for winter harvests.
• Winter-Hardy Spring Onions: Sow varieties like 'White Lisbon' and 'Performer' for crops next spring.
• Summer Radish ‘Rainbow Mixed’: Make your last direct sowing this month for autumn cropping.
• Turnips: Sow seeds into well-prepared beds for small roots.
• Winter Lettuce: Sow 'Arctic King' directly into the ground now.
  
  

Plant Outdoors:

• Garlic Sets: Begin planting at the end of the month for next year's crop.
• Autumn Onion Sets: Plant this month.
• Spring Cabbages: Plant out any sown during the summer.
  
  

Keep One Step Ahead - What to Order This Month:

• Sweet Pea Seeds: Order now to sow in cold frames in October.
• Autumn Onion Sets: Consider varieties like 'Senshyu' for an early summer harvest next year.
• Rhubarb and Asparagus Crowns: Plan to plant next month for future harvests.

With this September grow calendar, you'll be well-prepared to keep your
garden blooming with colour and brimming with fresh produce throughout the
changing seasons.

Happy gardening!