in the vegetable patch
As We Continue To Reap A Bountiful Harvest...
The end of gardening season is almost upon us. September heralds the end of our dry season (fingers crossed), as we march inexorably towards cooler weather - a boon to those of us growing a fall crop of cool weather vegetables, but also a reminder that the garden, in general, is headed towards dormancy….
Early September: If you are interested in harvesting greens throughout the winter, these crops can be sown now to grow under a cloche: arugula, mustard, radish, spinach and lettuce. Check catalogs for specific varieties that are suited for fall planting.
Late September: vegetables sown in the latter part of September will overwinter and provide a crop in late winter or early spring when the weather warms up. Carrots, arugula, mustard, fava beans, snow peas, beets, spinach and lettuce can be sown. You may need to protect the seedlings from overly wet soil or extreme cold spells.
For a detailed planting calendar, please refer to
- Seattle Tilth's "The Maritime Northwest Garden Guide" book
- PDF from Oregon Tilth https://tilth.org/app/uploads/2015/02/OT_PHCalendar_Archive.pdf
- Oregon extension service https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/techniques/monthly-garden-calendars
- Washington State University extension service https://extension.wsu.edu/snohomish/fall-and-winter-vegetable-gardens-for-western-washington
garden Borders and beyond
Making New Plants For The Garden
September is the perfect month for dividing plants to make more plants for your garden. The weather is cooler, and you won’t need to water as much while the divisions settle into their new homes. In general, herbaceous perennials that flower in spring or early summer are good candidates for fall division. Plants that can be divided now include irises, daylilies, hostas, brunneras, astilbes, hardy geraniums, persicarias and peonies. Remember to pot up extra divisions for the plant sale next year!