September in the Backyard Vege Patch.

Ah – the promise of Spring! The 1^st of September is always a day I look forward to. Even though the spring equinox is not technically until around the 20^th of the month, we now definitely notice the longer days, the warmer temperatures and the movement of sap in both plants and ourselves. We find our green fingers itching to get into the garden.  And how wonderful that those early harbingers of spring, the narcissus family and its friends have such bright and beautiful flower. So joyful after the bare bleak grey of winter days. Spring however can still have a wintery sting in its tail so while there will be warm mild days – don’t be fooled into planting delicate crops too early.

As the soil warms up you can start sowing more robust crops direct into the ground but others will have to be sown in trays indoors or under a cloche.  Broad beans and peas for example can go in the ground, as can root crops such as carrots, parsnips, swedes, turnips and beetroot.  Potatoes can be started off indoors in a warm spot to “chit” or sprout – or you can plant them straight into the ground as long as you have a cloche or protection from the frost. They won’t grow till the conditions are right anyway but get them in as soon as you can if you want new potatoes for Christmas.  It’s too early in the cooler parts of the country for the heat -loving summer crops such as tomatoes, courgettes, pumpkins, sweetcorn etc but you can start them off in trays indoors to get a head start.

Plants to grow in early spring. 

Sow direct into ground: Brussel Sprouts, broad beans, carrots, parsnips, beetroot, potatoes, onions, lettuce, peas, parsley, Garlic, shallots, swedes

Sow indoors in trays for planting out later: leeks, lettuce, celery, sweetcorn, beans, pumpkin, marrow, cucumber and tomatoes, chillies, capsicum, courgettes.

Plant: Brussel Sprouts, cabbage, caulis, lettuce, parsley, silverbeet, spinach, asparagus. Remember to harden off seeds grown indoors before you put them into the garden.