What to Grow In the September Organic Garden

September Is About Looking Ahead

One of the things I love most about September gardening is that you're doing a little bit of gardening for future you.

The seeds you sow now might not give you a huge harvest next week.

And that's okay.

 You're planting for the weeks and months ahead.

 The kale will keep developing.

 The radishes will give us their little crunchy roots, mainly because they are so quick and will come before the frosts.

 The winter lettuce will hopefully keep providing fresh leaves. The Mizuna and Pak Choi will give us something fresh when the summer salads have become a distant memory.

 And the Radicchio will sit happily in the beds, waiting for its moment.

Don't Put the Garden to Bed Just Yet!

If your garden is starting to look a little tired after a busy summer, don't rush to clear everything away.

 Have a look at what space you've got.

 Could you squeeze in some radishes? Or Winter Spinach 

 Start a tray of winter lettuce?

 Try Mizuna or Pak Choi under cover?

 Or perhaps add another kale plant or two?

 There is still plenty of growing to do.

September isn't the end of the growing season — it's the beginning of the next chapter.

A Little Note About Seeds:

I always encourage people to have a look at the sowing instructions on their individual seed packets, because varieties can differ and our Irish weather is wonderfully unpredictable!

Seeds Ireland's September guidance has a useful list of crops that can be sown now, including radish outdoors and crops such as lettuce and Pak Choi under cover.

And if you're looking for organic seed, Seeds Ireland has a good selection at prices that I find very reasonable, which is why I enjoy using them for some of my own growing.

Other Seeds You Can Sow in September

Of course, my September list isn't the only thing you can grow!

 There are actually quite a few vegetables and salad crops that can still be sown in September in Ireland. The trick is to think about what you want to harvest and where you're going to grow it.

 As the days get shorter and the temperatures begin to drop, some crops are better grown under protection, while others are perfectly happy outside.

 Leafy Greens

September is a great month for getting some leafy crops started, particularly if you have a greenhouse, polytunnel or cold frame.

You could try:

🌱 Spinach                                🥬 Pak Choi

🌿 Mustard Greens                  🥬 Chicory 

🌱 Cress                                     🌿 Rocket

🥬 Lettuce                                 🌈 Rainbow Chard  

Spinach is particularly suited to autumn sowing. Teagasc notes that late August and September sowings can produce spinach from autumn through to spring, depending on the variety and conditions.

And for winter lettuce, choosing a variety suited to the shorter days is important. Teagasc recommends short-day varieties for sowing between September and late February.

 Root Crops

You can still get some root crops started too, although timing and protection become more important as we head further into autumn.

Radishes are one of my favourites for September because they're quick and don't need loads of space.

I've got my White Snowball growing this year, but there are loads of different varieties to try.

 Carrots can be grown under cover in September, with the right variety and conditions.

Turnips are another option, with Seeds Ireland listing them for September sowing both under cover and outdoors depending on the intended crop. I may have ordered some Purple Milan and Goldana

 Spring Onionsare another useful crop to consider.

They don't take up much room, so they're particularly handy if you're gardening in pots, containers or a small raised bed.

Some varieties can be grown under cover through the cooler months.

Don't Forget the Herbs, September isn't just about vegetables!

f you have some protected growing space, you can also experiment with herbs such as coriander and chervil. And if you're thinking ahead to next year's garden, there are also plenty of flower and herb seeds that can be started under cover now and grown on ready for spring planting.