Gardening in September – Sowing, Growing, and Getting Ready for Spring

Spring is in the air! September is the perfect time to get busy in the garden – sowing seeds, preparing beds, and planting out crops that will feed you through the warmer months. Whether you’re working with a veggie patch, greenhouse, or a few pots on the patio, there’s plenty to do to make the most of the growing season ahead.

🌱 Sowing Seeds

September is a month of promise – full of seeds bursting into life. Here's what you can sow now:

Direct Sow into Garden Beds:

• Veggies: Carrots, parsnips, radish, daikon

• Greens & Herbs: Mizuna, rocket, dill

• Flowers: Calendula, cornflower, poppy, nasturtium, borage, sweetpeas

These are hardy enough to go straight into the ground. Keep soil moist while seeds germinate, and thin seedlings once they’re up to give them space to grow.

Sow in Trays (Undercover or in a Greenhouse):

• Cool-season crops: Salad greens, silverbeet, kale, broccoli, cabbage, peas, parsley, chives, spring onions, red onions, brown onions, shallots

• Warm-season crops (with a heat pad): Tomatoes, chillies, peppers, basil, aubergine, zucchini, cucumber, melon, squash, pumpkin, dwarf and climbing beans

If you don’t have a heat pad, it’s best to wait a few weeks until the weather warms a little more before starting the heat-lovers.

🌿 Planting Out Seedlings

Ready to plant into the garden now:

• Cool-season crops: Celery, broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, kale, silverbeet, parsley, salad greens, onions (red, brown, spring), potatoes, peas

• Warm-season (only if soil temps are 20°C+): Zucchini, cucumber, melon, dwarf and climbing beans, soya beans, basil, tomatoes, chillies, aubergines, peppers

Use a greenhouse or cloches if needed to give your heat-loving crops a gentle start outdoors.

🍑 Fruit & Tree Care

September is a great time to give your fruit trees a little love.

• Prune stone fruits like plums and peaches now. Pruning in spring helps control their height without encouraging excessive growth.

• Plant comfrey under fruit trees – it’s a powerhouse companion, pulling up nutrients and making excellent mulch.

• Feed deciduous fruit trees, citrus, strawberries, and passionfruit with a good quality fertiliser.

• Plant berries from your winter fundraiser orders – they’ll be ready for delicious harvests in late summer!

🧹 Chores & Garden Cleanup

• Clear out finished crops by chopping them at ground level. Use the tops in compost or as mulch – big bits can go under fruit trees to break down slowly.

• Harvest overwintered carrots and parsnips now before they bolt or split.

• Keep picking leafy greens and broccoli to extend their life.

• Top up compost – spring growth needs lots of nutrition. If you’re low, check out Gammans for a great range of soils, composts, and gardening resources.

  

  
  

🌸 Wrapping Up

September in the garden is all about transition – clearing away winter’s remains while preparing for a season of abundance. Get your hands in the soil, breathe in the change of season, and enjoy the momentum of new growth.

Happy gardening! 🌿🌞