Mzzz B's September Garden blog

Where has the summer gone? Now it is autumn and the temperatures certainly feel like it when the sun goes in.

My garden is not a happy sight currently, what with the the strong winds blowing things around and snapping things off, and then the growth of perennial weeds – like couch grass and bindweed, have loved the rain this year, and growth has been astronomical! So I have embarked on a siege against bindweed! Now you may see it in hedgerows, a very pretty white trumpet flower at this time of the year, but for gardeners it is an absolute menace, as it can completely take over and smother plants. It grows by spreading fat white roots and then the shoots root down into the soil as it stretches out. Unfortunately in various places in the garden its has become a real problem, the only solution is to spray with herbicide at this time of year, when it is in full leaf and flower. In the hope that as the plant dies it will take the poison back to those extensive roots. Spraying with poison in an already crowded border is tricky so the method I use, is to stuff as much of the plant into a plastic bag and then spray into the bag, thus protecting plants surrounding it. Then in the winter when I can access the roots more easily I will attempt to dig any out remaining roots that I can find.
So my garden is sprouting white plastic bags everywhere, not pretty!!
And as a person who usually does not use herbicides and tries to reduce the use of plastic this is challenging!

Jobs to do this month
-If you are lucky to have an asparagus bed the fronds will turn brown this month so cut them down and then apply a mulch
- Sow some salad leaves, it's your last chance this season!
- Now is the time to start moving houseplants back indoors. They'll have enjoyed being outdoors during the summer but as the temperature starts to drop they'll want to be inside. (See photo: Aeonium Voodoo at 19 inches across is a very large succulent, it has grown really big this year. It will need to be protected in the greenhouse for the winter.)
- Onion sets, Shallots and Garlic can all be planted from now until mid-November, garlic likes a fairly well drained soil and some protection if the winter is harsh.
- Order and plant spring bulbs. Consider planting in an area where the bulbs can be left to naturalise. Remember that the planting hole needs to be roughly three times the height of the bulb. I will be planting another 100 wild daffodil bulbs In our new wildflower patch!
- Keep your vegetable patch productive throughout the winter by planting kale, leeks, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and sprouts.But beware there are still slugs and caterpillars around – I lost a whole tray of pak choi seedlings overnight !
- Continue to harvest tomatoes, chillies, peppers, aubergines and runner beans. Especially beans – keep picking and they'll keep producing.
- Feed and improve your soil by sowing green manure on any bare patches of garden.

And don't forget that The Annual Show is happening on the 13 th September at the Allotments at the end of Rocky Lane. So print off a schedule and have some fun entering something you have grown, or make a scarecrow on a garden fork. Take the opporunity to see how other people manage to grow delicious veg and fruit. On the day make sure you socially distance and stay safe.