As the weather turns cold, gardeners can start to bid farewell to any growth in their vegetable patches.
However, this doesn't mean that gardening activities should cease after summer and only resume in spring. Seeding overwintering vegetables in September provides them with a good opportunity to establish themselves before winter sets in. This means they're well-positioned to thrive when temperatures start to rise again.
Bryan Clayton, CEO of GreenPal, who has 22 years of experience in the landscaping and gardening industry, said: "September is a wonderful time to get your hands dirty in the garden, especially if you're looking for vegetables that are easy to grow and require minimal effort."
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The gardening expert claimed that the "best vegetable to plant in September" is spinach. He said: "Spinach is a superb choice for September planting. It's a cool-season crop that actually thrives in the milder temperatures of early autumn."
For those unsure about how to plant spinach, Bryan has shared some tip. The first step is to prepare the soil. Ensure the soil is well-drained and rich in organic matter.
A pH level of 6.5 to seven is considered "ideal". The next step is to plant the vegetable. Sow the seeds about half an inch deep and two to three inches apart in rows. After sowing the seeds, gardeners need to keep the soil consistently moist but "not waterlogged".
The final stage in growing spinach is the harvesting process. Once the leaves are large enough to eat, typically around 40 to 45 days, gardeners can start reaping their rewards. However, Bryan has warned against planting certain vegetables in September. Tomatoes, being warm-season plants, "won't fare well" with the dwindling daylight and cooler temperatures.
Peppers, like tomatoes, require plenty of heat and sun, which "September generally can't provide". Cucumbers also prefer the balmy, sunny days of summer and usually "can't handle the transition" into autumn. Bryan suggests that by focusing on crops like spinach that thrive in September's conditions, gardeners can "maximise yield with minimal effort", making the gardening experience both "rewarding and enjoyable".
