September is a month of change in the UK. The schools go back, the weather begins to turn and, in our gardens, it's time to start preparing for next year. Those beautiful blooms from the spring and early summer will have started to die back - presenting you with a decent amount of empty soil. A blank canvass, on which you can create next year's masterpiece!
Spring bulbs, winter lettuce, hardy annuals - there are plenty of things that you can plant in September, while you still have warm soil but you can also expect plenty of rain. By planting now, by early spring you will start to see the fruits of your labour, with beautiful blooms and bountiful crops!
So we have dedicated this blog to everything that you can plant in September - plants and crops. Take advantage of that fertile soil, and get out there!
What flowers to plant in September
September is the month to ready your spring bulbs and other flowering plants for next year - but some autumn sowing is on the agenda too. Here is a snapshot of the flowers you can plant this month.
Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop)
Those first snowdrops of the new season are a wonderful sight, aren't they? A sure sign that better weather and longer days are around the corner. September is the perfect time to start preparing that sight.
These perennial plants produce fragrant white flowers in February and March, making them very early spring flowering plants. The first sign of spring, and a wonderful addition to any garden.
Tulips
A springtime classic! For a dazzling array of colour, you can't go wrong with some tulips. They are available in so many different varieties and colours that you can create your own personal displays - exactly how you want them. Get a pencil and some paper, and draw up your plans. You'll be so glad you did come next spring!
Crocus
Another type of flower with plenty of variations is the Crocus. This is the time of year that you want to start planting them, whether you want the Crocus 'Grand Miatre' - a large flowering blue crocus that blooms in March and April, or if you want to try one of our Autumn flowering varieties, the Crocus sativus. This one produces beautiful pale-purple flowers in the autumn, so you can keep the colour in your garden for longer next year, and get ahead of your spring planting schedule.
Daffodil
Spring isn't officially here until you see a daffodil (we think that's the rule, anyway). These beautiful flowers are the antidote to a long, dark winter - bringing joy and positivity back into our lives. They come in kinds of variety of flower; colour, shape, size. Plant some daffodils this month, either in beds or in pots - you won't regret it.
Butterfly Mix
It's not the time to plant bulbs in September - if you have some seeds, like a wonderful Butterfly Mix, you can sow direct to the garden soil while it is still warm enough to help them germinate. Some of these mixes will provide year round colour to your garden, and attract plenty of wildlife. It's certainly worth doing if you have a little bit of space that you don't know what to do with.
Muscari azureum (Grape Hyacinth)
These lovely perennial flowers bring with them a wonderful fragrance that you will love as you walk around your garden next March and April. They're also very attractive to wildlife, so will bring a wonderful vibrancy to your garden.
Heuchera Wild Rose
This hardy perennial will give you a brilliant pop of colour all year round, with delightful bell-shaped flowers that blossom from June to August. Heuchera offer good ground cover, and the late summer flowers are a nice little bonus!
What veg to plant in September
September is a great month to start preparing your salad crops for next year, so get down to that vegetable patch!
Winter lettuce
While the soil is still warm, you can still sow plenty of different leaves into your vegetable patch. Try winter salad mixes, and spinach is another good option at this time of year.
Broad beans
Now is a great time to start sowing broad beans, so that they establish over the winter and are therefore ready to be harvested in early spring. Runner beans, on the other hand, can be harvested this month - don't leave it any later than October.
Spring onions
Spring onions, and other types of onions, can be planted now so that they are ready for spring. You can sow directly into the soil, in rows.
Cabbages
Cabbage is a very versatile vegetable, and can be planted out at any time between March and October, so September is a perfectly good option. You may find though, that with so many other options you want to wait until your patch is a little less congested!
Radish
This fast growing crop is another wonderful option at this time of year. They need warm soil, so don't leave it until the weather gets too cold, but you should be fine in September. They will be ready in a few weeks, so you get a very quick return on your effort!
Garlic
We love growing garlic - it's straightforward and very satisfying. This is a great time to plant your cloves, and they'll be ready to harvest next summer.
What fruit to plant in September
Strawberry beds
This is the last call for Strawberry beds - by the end of September it will be too cold, so if you're going to plant more for next summer, now is the time to do it.
Fruit trees
This is also a great time to plant fruit plants, like raspberry, blackcurrant, blueberry and gooseberries. They don't require much care, and will be dormant over the winter so won't get damaged by the weather.
What to plant in September - Conclusion
September is probably the last month where you can comfortably get out into the garden, without needing to wrap up first! Take advantage of this, and set yourself up for a wonderful Spring by planting some incredible flowers and crops.
Your garden is a special place, and with a little effort this month, you can set yourself up for a wonderful start to the new growing season next year - full of brightly coloured flowers and good cheer!
