Just because the school year has started doesn't mean the garden adventure is over. Certainly not for me, anyway.
In September the garden slowly shifts gear. The summer crops start freeing up space, the temperatures drop a little... but the soil can still dry out very fast. And above all, a September heatwave is never off the table. Yes, I really do mean that.
This year I reclaimed a slightly neglected corner of the garden. We marked it out, topped it up with soil, watered it thoroughly the day before, and then I sowed and planted enough to attempt a small autumn and winter garden.
So what can still go in the ground on the first of September?
What to sow right now
- Chervil. Sow directly outdoors, ideally in partial shade. It likes the return of cooler weather.
- Cutting chicory. Sow straight where it will grow. It copes well with falling light levels and gives several harvests.
- Claytonia (winter purslane). An excellent winter salad. Sow outdoors and keep the soil moist until it germinates.
- Scurvy grass. Hardy and well suited to autumn conditions, it likes a cool, moist soil.
- Buck's-horn plantain (minutina). Sow straight where it will grow and pick the young leaves through autumn.
- Garden cress. Very quick to grow. Ideal for squeezing in a few harvests before the first real cold.
- Spinach. One of the great September classics. Sow outdoors and keep the moisture steady.
- Lettuce. Choose autumn or winter varieties, no exceptions.
- Corn salad (mâche). This is its moment. Germination can be a little slow, so keep the soil surface damp.
- Mustard. It comes up fast and can be grown for its young leaves or used as a green manure.
- Onion. Some varieties can be sown now to produce young plants that will carry on developing later.
- Parsley. It can still be sown, but don't be in a hurry: germination is often slow.
- Radish. Perfect for September. It prefers cool weather to the heavy heat of summer.
- Rocket. It bolts far less readily than in high summer and grows very well late in the season.
What about black radish, kale and beetroot?
Those are exactly what I added this year.
Black radish can still be attempted in early September, depending on the variety and the climate.
Kale is late to start from seed at this point, but with a mild autumn, and living in the south of France, I'm giving it a go.
As for beetroot, I sowed a few mainly to see what they do. At this time of year I file them under optimistic gardener's experiment rather than guaranteed harvest. Honestly, after the summer we've just had, in my head it will never be cold again.
You can plant, too
September is a very good time to put in strawberry plants: the soil is still warm and they have time to root before winter.
You can also divide and replant chives.
Keeping the soil moist: the real September challenge
Even though temperatures are starting to drop, the days can still be hot.
So for my bed, I watered the soil thoroughly the day before sowing, watered again afterwards, then temporarily laid down shade netting.
Why shade netting
The point obviously isn't to grow vegetables in the dark, just to stop the surface of the soil from drying out while the seeds germinate. As soon as the seedlings are properly up, the netting can come off.
After that I'll use it when it gets too hot (I can see them coming, the 37 °C forecast for next week where I live), or at night, if the temperature drops too far.
"September isn't the end of the vegetable garden. It's simply the start of another one."
Less colourful, less photogenic, but it will be mine.
