An optimal time to plant a large number of vegetable seeds straight into the soil is in the month of September.
Planting veggies is recommended to be done in the month of September. There are gaps that arise in many vegetable gardens as a result of the harvesting of other crops; therefore, why not take advantage of the fast-growing vegetables that may be planted this month to cover the area and give harvests during the colder months that are to come?
In my capacity as a professional kitchen gardener in the United Kingdom, I cultivated crops throughout the entire year, supplying chefs with freshly grown veggies during the entire year. For the purpose of achieving a highly productive plot, it is possible to make use of any vacant places by planting vegetables in those areas.
The utilization of faster-growing crops that can be harvested in the late fall and winter is included in this as well. It is also possible to plan farther ahead and plant veggies that develop more slowly this month in order to harvest them in the spring or summer of the following year. For those interested in planting veggies in September, there is a wide variety of options available to pick from.
Where To Plant Vegetables In September?
It is possible to plant a great number of crops straight into the soil in order to harvest them throughout the winter months; however, there are some crops that would rather be started indoors and then moved outside at a later opportunity. In this article, we take a closer look at seven different vegetables that can be planted this month and discuss whether or not they are better sown indoors or outdoors during the month of September.
1. Garlic
It takes a significant amount of time to cultivate garlic because the plant has a long growing season and is often planted beginning in September. When garlic is planted in the early fall, the bulbs have the opportunity to fully establish their roots and shoots before the arrival of winter. This enables the garlic to grow rapidly as the temperatures begin to rise in the spring.
You can choose between hardneck and softneck kinds of garlic, with hardneck varieties requiring winter cold in order to form bulbs. Softneck cultivars do not require this. Simply press the cloves into the ground, or use a dibber to create small holes in the ground, and then place each clove into the hole. Growing garlic from garlic purchased from the grocery store is not encouraged at any time; rather, it is always recommended to purchase seed garlic from reliable sources.
2. Collard Greens
Collard greens are a food that grows quickly and should be planted in the fall so that they can produce substantial harvests throughout the winter. The leaves can be gathered over a considerable amount of time and contain a high concentration of vitamins and minerals.
Collard green seeds can be planted anywhere from six to eight weeks before the first frosts. These seeds can be planted directly or begun indoors, and after the seedlings are developed enough to be handled, they can be transplanted outside.
The seeds should be planted outside in a sunny section of the vegetable garden, with a depth of half an inch, in rows that are approximately three feet apart. You can begin harvesting young leaves as a cut-and-come-again crop within thirty to forty days if you thin the seedlings to a distance of approximately eighteen to twenty-four inches as they develop. This will provide the plants with space to expand into.
3. Spinach
It is not difficult to cultivate spinach in the fall, and the leaves are so abundant in vitamins and antioxidants that they are well-known for their health benefits. You can plant the fast-growing crop directly into the soil this month, and you will be able to collect the first harvest of spinach leaves in a period of time that is less than thirty days short.
You should choose a winter variety of spinach that is hardy and plant it in a sunny location. The seeds should be planted outdoors in drills at a depth of one inch, and the seedlings should be spaced around five inches apart. The use of raised beds or a veggie container garden is another excellent way to cultivate spinach. It is possible to harvest winter cultivars during the months of October and April by picking a few leaves from each plant at individual intervals.
4. Turnip
Additionally, turnips are a type of cool-weather vegetable that grows quickly and can be available as baby crops in approximately eight weeks. Alternatively, they can be let mature into full-size roots in ten to twelve weeks. Historically, the most hardy varieties of turnips are either harvested fresh for immediate use or preserved for use over the winter months, such as for a Christmas supper.
On the other hand, more recent Japanese varieties of turnips that are small and white, such as the hybrid turnips known as “Tokyo Cross,” which can be purchased at True Leaf Market, mature even more quickly than their predecessors and are also perfect for planting in September.
It is possible to plant these turnips directly into the soil this month, and they will be ready for baby crops in 25–45 days. However, they can be permitted to develop into larger roots if they are allowed to do so. In order to ensure a consistent harvest of roots during the cooler months, turnips are an excellent material for succession planting.
5. Bok Choy
Bok choy, which is also frequently known as pak choi, is a type of Chinese cabbage that is an excellent choice for planting in September. Both of these names refer to the same vegetable. The plants generate rosettes of stems and leaves that are arranged in an upright position. The various types of these rosettes can be found in varying colors of green or dark purple, and they are frequently utilized in stir-fries and other Asian meals.
Considering that this cool-weather oriental vegetable tends to bolt during the hot summer months, the best time to plant it is in the late summer or early fall. This is because it thrives when planted later in the season. In a location in the garden that receives either full sun or partial shade, plant seeds no more than three to four inches apart and a half an inch deep into the soil. Due to the fact that it can survive with as little as four hours of sunlight every day, bok choy is an excellent vegetable to plant in direct sunlight.
The entire head should be harvested after fifty to seventy days, which should help to stimulate a second, smaller flush of leaves. Alternatively, individual leaves can be trimmed off as needed after they have reached the appropriate size for use.
6. Broccoli Raab
The cultivation of broccoli raab, which is sometimes referred to as broccoli rabe or rapini, is distinct from the cultivation of broccoli. When it comes to the latter, which is a staple crop in many kitchen gardens, it only produces one main head, and after harvesting it, you might receive some resprouting. The broccoli raab, on the other hand, is more comparable to sprouting broccoli, in which you obtain a large number of smaller and more tender sprouting side shoots that may be harvested over a longer period of time.
Broccoli raab is a crop that is best suited for cool weather and should be planted in September. It can be harvested within six to seven weeks of planting. It is a vegetable that can withstand chilly temperatures and its flavor can be enhanced by a few frosts. It is possible to harvest broccoli raab throughout the winter if you shield the plants from frost and extended periods of cold by using cloches or row covers.
In September, while planting broccoli raab seeds, make sure to thinly sow them into rows and then thin the seedlings to a distance of approximately four to six inches apart. The stems should be pinched when they are 12 inches tall in order to stimulate the production of a large number of side shoots that will deliver the florets to the harvesting area.
7. Japanese Onions
The varieties of Japanese onions are perfect for storing over the winter. These are varieties of onions that can be planted in September and will produce a harvest of onions in the late spring. There is a lower light requirement for Japanese onions compared to other varieties, and they are hardy enough to overwinter outdoors without any problems. However, if your soil type is very wet during the winter months, this can cause the onions to rot.
During the latter part of summer or the beginning of fall, plant seeds of Japanese onions indoors in module trays that have been filled with soil for starting seeds. Certain varieties, such as these ‘Shonan Red’ onions, which can be purchased at True Leaf Market, require transplanting by the middle of autumn after being planted in the late summer or early fall for optimal results.
8. Salad Leaves
There are still opportunities to plant salad vegetables that will be harvested in the weeks to come. Sow seeds in a protected area outside, or cultivate them in containers. You might want to try mizuna, mustard leaf, and winter salad mixes. ‘Winter Density’ lettuces, which are winter lettuces, can be sown successfully under glass.
9. Broad Beans
If you plant wide beans in the fall, they will be able to establish themselves over the winter and produce their seedlings earlier the following spring. When there is a severe frost or snowfall, cover the plants with fleece. Wide bean ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ is a good choice for autumn planting because it thrives in this season.
10. Peas
Sowing hardy peas in September allows them to overwinter and yield an early crop, similar to how broad beans can be planted in September. It is recommended to select winter-resistant types such as “Douce Provence” or “Meteor.”