September is a wonderful month which sees the gathering of the harvest and the splendour of rich autumn colours starting to spread over the landscape. There is a distinct change of temperature in the mornings and northern parts may have their first frosts.
Dahlias and chrysanthemums are reaching their peak and the hydrangeas and nasturtiums continue to flower brightly.
The heavy dew in the mornings heralds the "season of mist and mellow fruitfulness" and apples, pears and vegetables need to be harvested and stored for the winter months.
*Propagation Indoors
For the Garden
Take cuttings of tender perennials eg fuschias, pelargoniums and agyranthemums. Use
Rapid Rootrainer Trays
Take cuttings from hydrangeas if not already done in August
Take hardwood cuttings of roses
Pot up and on seedling pot plants as necessary
Sow hardy annuals to flower next year. Use
Sherwood Rootrainers
Sow spring flowering plants such as cyclamen, schizanthus and exacums if not already done last month
Disbud dahlias and chrysanthemums as necessary
Prick out seedlings of plants sown earlier for winter flowering
Plant hyacinths for early flowering
Start sowing hardy annuals to overwinter. Use
Sherwood Rootrainer Trays
Plant container grown trees and shrubs
Continue to feed pot plants regularly
For the Kitchen Garden
Continue taking cuttings of herbs such as lemon verbena, sage and thyme. Use
Rapid Rootrainer Trays
Sow winter lettuce
Sow spring cabbage
Continue to maintain indoor vegetables especially tomatoes
Sow winter turnips
Sow other salad crops like mizuna, mibuna, rocket and lambs lettuce. Use the
Rowplanter for no root disturbance when planting out.
Sow early carrots into the
Rowplanter and in about 3 weeks they will be up and give you a useful winter crop of fingerling carrots.
TIP: Seeds sown in modular tray systems make spacing easier, save time in pricking out and produce strong sturdy plants with little or no disturbance when transplanting . Cuttings can also be overwintered in the modular trays so saving time and space and limiting disturbance to root systems.
*Planting Outdoors
This month you will find that there are not many pressing jobs to do apart from protecting frost tender plants and bulb planting.
Plant colchicums, to flower in autumn (if not done last month)
Divide and replant border irises and other rhizomes if not done last month
Plant spring flowering bulbs
Plant lilies
Continue to sow biennial seeds
Dahlias and Chrysanthemums need plenty of feeding and disbudding
Prune climbing roses
Layer border carnations (if not done last month)
Lift and store dahlias after first frosts
Lift and store gladioli and other tender bulbs and tubers towards the end of the month
Lift onions to store
Plant
garlic
Place
cloches over lettuces and other low growing vegetables
Lift and store potatoes
Plant out spring cabbage sown last month
Protect outdoor tomatoes with cloches or
fleece to extend their season
Finish planting new strawberry plants. This is the latest they can be planted so that they establish before winter sets in
TIP:
Cloches, tunnels and fleece will protect tender plants from the sudden change in temperature.
*In the Greenhouse
Shading should be removed and cleaned off as plants now need all the light available.
The greenhouse should be thoroughly checked to see if any repairs are needed and any broken or cracked glass should be replaced as it is a source of heat loss in the cold winter months.
The greenhouse should be emptied and thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom and
disinfected. (Plants will still be safe to leave outside while this is being done).
Reduce watering and ventilation as the nights are getting cooler
Bring in tender plants to overwinter
The indications given above assume you will be using Rootrainers seed trays and or/plug plants produced in
Rootrainers. If you are using conventional seed trays, then the growth cycle is likely to be longer. Also remember if you are using
Rootrainers seed trays you will not have to do any potting up of your cuttings and you will save on compost.
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