September: Getting Things Growing

September is when spring really gains momentum. The garden is abuzz with new growth and activity, and the list of jobs seems to grow before your eyes.

Can you hear the grass growing? With all the sunny days we’ve been having, it hasn’t had much chance to slow down. And amongst the grass, the usual weedy suspects are quietly getting to work, setting seed that can linger in the soil for years to come.

Flickweed, sow thistle, stinging nettle, vetch and capeweed have all made their presence known over the past week or so. They might seem harmless enough now, but they’ll quickly compete with vegetables, fruit trees and ornamentals for nutrients, moisture and light as the soil continues to warm

Veggie patch

It’s time to assess the veggie patch and pull out spent vegetables. Brassicas that have gone to flower are tough and woody and should be removed. Leafy green salads like spinach and rocket should be resown for spring harvest. Woody herbs, such as thyme and rosemary, can be cut back and fertilised to force new growth.

If you’re a traditional gardener, now would be the time to clear out beds, dig over soil and incorporate fresh organic matter. While this can still be beneficial to the veggie bed, we’ve come to learn that digging over soil can kill whole networks of microbes and beneficial organisms. If you prefer to garden without digging overly much, you can simply replenish your beds with a fresh top layer of good quality compost.

It’s fine to plant or sow directly into compost. It certainly doesn’t harm the vegetables or stops seeds from germinating. Even carrots don’t seem to mind growing in nutrient-rich compost. Normally, carrots prefer to grow in soils that are not overly nutrient-rich as it may cause forking. When grown in a no-dig bed, however, the compost is not mixed in with the soil, and thus carrots grow beautifully straight.

You may have seen hundreds of punnets of tomatoes for sale around town, but if you don’t have a greenhouse it’s best to wait a few more weeks before planting tomatoes. Nighttime temperatures below 10ºC will stunt the growth of summertime vegetables and fruit, so it pays to be patient. Instead, have a go at sowing tomatoes, chillies, capsicums, and eggplants now. They’ll be ready for hardening off and planting out by the end of October.

General maintenance

Take out a picnic blanket and lie down on the lawn. With your nose this close to the grass you can see which areas require a pick-me-up, whether that be resowing or revitalising. You might need to resow patchy areas, especially if you’ve just pulled out clumps of capeweed. It won’t harm the grass to put down some nitrogenous fertiliser, such as Urea, chicken manure or even products such as Seasol for Lawns or Sudden Impact for Lawns.

Other things to keep an eye on include early signs of leaf curl, garlic rust, and yellowing leaves. It’s far too late to treat leaf curl on peaches and nectarines, but you can still remove all affected leaves and bin them to stop the spread. Watch for orange spots on garlic, onions and chives as they’re likely a sign of rust. Read our article on garlic rust to put in preventative measures now. Yellowing leaves are a sign of hungry plants. It’s a season of rapid growth, so removing competitive weeds around plants and a steady application of fertiliser now will keep the garden happy.

With spring sunshine also comes the dreaded spring wind. Be sure to check your weather forecast for windy days. It’s always a good idea to water plants deeply the day before the wind begins to pick up. You might still need to go out and water plants, especially potted plants, on windy days as they can dry out quickly. Remember, any form of spraying, organic or chemical, should not be done on a windy day as it can spread to other parts of the garden.

Come in to the Nursery and talk to one of our friendly garden experts today!