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Saturday 1 September 2012

The Vegetable Plot - SEPTEMBER

Before storing marrows, pumpkins and squashes indoors they will need cutting and laying out in the sunshine for a couple of weeks, or keep them in the greenhouse. 

Leave some courgettes growing to the size of small marrows until the skins are hardened by about the end of October if you want to store some for Christmas. 

Although it’s too late to make successional sowings outside you can sow some lettuce, endive and radishes in unheated frames. 
Maincrop onions turning yellow at the tip need preparation for lifting by easing a digging fork under them to loosen the roots but don’t break them. Autumn onion sets can be planted to mature early in June to July next year. 

In a sheltered place, sow cauliflowers from seed and plant out spring cabbage plants grown in a seedbed last month. 

Maincrop and late potatoes may need lifting about now for storing if the weather has been average. Similarly, maincrop carrots and beetroot can be lifted and stored in a frost-free place. 

Thin out vegetable seedlings such as spinach beet, winter spinach, lettuce and endive sown in August. French beans can be forced if you have a greenhouse you can heat to a temperature of about 16°C (60°F). You can make a sowing now for a winter crop.
  • Plant spring cabbage 
  • Continue to earth up celery and leeks 
  • Pick apples and pears 
  • Sow cauliflowers 
  • Lift maincrop potatoes, carrots and beetroot 
  • Thin out vegetable seedlings 
  • Pick all tomatoes 
Gardener’s notes:

Crops in season include globe artichokes, French beans, runner beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, endive, kohl rabi, leeks, lettuce, marrow, mushrooms, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radish, spinach, sweet corn, tomatoes, turnips

Under glass: aubergines, capsicums, cucumbers, tomatoes



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