September Gardening: Planting Tips for a Bountiful Autumn Harvest

The types of vegetables and crops that can be planted in September in the garden are diverse. September marks the end of summer, with spring and summer crops now exhausted. So, we’re getting ready for our autumn garden. During this time, it’s essential to hurry and plant cabbages and leafy greens. This is a month when temperatures are generally mild, and the soil is cooler, making it perfect for accommodating new seedlings. Let’s see what to plant in September in our garden and some tips for getting your crops off to a great start.

Planting Cabbages in the September Garden

Cabbages are typical vegetables for the autumn garden. When we talk about cabbages, we mean plants from the botanical family of Brassicaceae or Cruciferae. These cabbage species all have a medium to long growing cycle. They are relatively large plants, so proper spacing is necessary during transplanting. Specifically, we’re talking about the following vegetables to plant in September:

• Romanesco broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Curly kale
• Cauliflower
• Black cabbage
• Savoy cabbage
• Lacinato kale
• Cabbage
• Kohlrabi

How to Plant Cabbages

To grow healthy and thriving cabbage plants, it’s essential to maintain the proper planting distance. Our advice is to leave at least 40 cm between each plant, with 50 cm between rows. Going below these distances means not allowing the cabbages to develop adequately.

Planting Fennel in the September Garden

September is the perfect month to plant fennel in the garden. It’s one of the most beloved autumn vegetables. To thrive outdoors, this plant needs the cool climate of the autumn season. Don’t delay the transplanting process too much, as the risk of frost could endanger the crop.
Fennel plants are smaller compared to cabbages, so you can plant them more densely. The recommended spacing is 20 cm between plants in the row and 50 cm between rows.

Planting Leafy Greens in the September Garden

Leafy greens are essential in our September garden. They are sensitive to heat, so planting them in this month allows for better growth. In a small home garden, the advantage of planting these types of vegetables is that you can optimize space. Simply maintain a distance of 20 cm between each plant and 25-30 cm between rows. Here’s a list to choose from:

• Canasta and Roman lettuce
• Smooth-leaf endive
• Chard
• Arugula
• Various types of lettuce
• Frisee lettuce
• Corn salad
• Radicchio
• Puntarelle and catalogna chicory
• Cutting chicory
• Spinach
• Leaf and stalk celery
• Lovage

Planting Turnip Greens in the September Garden

In September, you can’t miss the opportunity to start a turnip greens cultivation. This is one of the most precious vegetables in our culinary tradition. Turnip greens are usually sown rather than planted. Our advice is to prepare the soil finely, wait for the first rains in September, and then proceed with broadcast seeding. Some people sow them in a seedbed in August; this technique allows transplanting young seedlings into the garden in September, maintaining a 20 cm distance between each plant.

How to Fertilize the Soil Before Planting the Autumn Garden

To ensure the successful growth of vegetables and crops planted in September, proper initial fertilization is crucial. This can be skipped only in areas where ample fertilization has already been done for summer crops. For instance, if you’ve planted tomatoes in April using plenty of mature composted manure, you won’t need to add more organic matter. In this case, the part of the field that hosted tomatoes is already rich in humus and doesn’t require additional organic material. Conversely, if you’re planting autumn vegetables in previously unused or unfertilized soil, you need to take action. You can fertilize by incorporating well-rotted manure into the soil, or alternatively, use pelletized chicken manure, earthworm humus, or home compost.

September Garden Irrigation

In September, pay close attention to proper irrigation of your crops. September transplants are delicate, and regular watering is needed during the first weeks after planting. Natural precipitation may not be sufficient to meet the plants’ water requirements. In recent years, we’ve witnessed increasingly dry Septembers. Therefore, a drip irrigation system can be very useful during this period. You can suspend watering when, following frequent rains, the soil is moist enough to keep the roots cool.