September has arrived and we transition from Summer into Autumn. The evenings are drawing in and evening temperatures are dropping, although daytime temperatures can remain warm with a chance of an Indian Summer. August turned out to be rather cool and wet which has been great for the lawn and borders which have hardly required watering but resulted in outbreaks of blight in tomatoes and potatoes. The Broad Bean crop was also affected by Chocolate Spot which is another fungal infection.
The lawn has really benefited from a wet year and is looking green and lush. The bare parts have all been “scratched and patched” with Canada Green which has germinated well. It will now take a dry year to see how drought resistant it actually is. The new “Junkyard Mutt” who arrived in March is creating small bare patches in the lawn and discovered how easy it is to dig holes in the vegetable patch. However, everyone tells me how beautiful she is so I have forgiven her. September is the month to give the lawn a final weed and feed but with a low Nitrogen (N) feed with high Phosphate (P) and Potash (K), that will prepare it for the Winter. It can also be aerated with a garden fork. I am also going to break all the advice and take a final pick of Rhubarb that has excelled this year in the cool wet conditions.
Continue taking vegetable crops and water climbing beans with a bit of Miracle Grow. Cut down the haulms of Maincrop Potatoes to avoid blight and thicken the skins before lifting. Squeeze Sweetcorn with a thumbnail and if the juice is milky it's ready to pick. Remember that Sweetcorn needs to be cooked or frozen as soon as it is picked or the flavour deteriorates very quickly. Place a bit of wood or a slate under pumpkins, squash and marrows to keep them off the soil and net brassica or else the birds will have them through the winter, Pigeons are very fond of Broccoli especially if snow is on the ground. The Turnips have germinated in the patch cleared after lifting the Broad Beans and are earmarked for Autumn casseroles along with the Parsnips that are looking particularly good this year.
The borders are flowering well with plenty of blousy pink Phlox, Echinacea, Penstemons and other perennials combined with flowering shrubs. Keep deadheading to keep the blooms coming and then divide the clumps at the end of the month to produce more next year. Prune climbing roses if they are not repeat flowering and plant Spring bulbs although hold off on Tulips for now as planting them early exposes them to disease. Keep tidying and fertilising containers to get the most out of them.
Phlox is a good border perennial, available in different colours.
A lot of varieties of Apples and Pears will be ready for harvest, although Braeburns will be next month. Pears should be picked while still a bit hard and allowed to ripen indoors before Birds and Wasps make a meal of them. Give fruit trees a Phosphate feed to strengthen roots in Autumn before they become dormant.
Our Summer excursions to village pubs continued with the George Inn in Newnham which is a good venue with a decent menu. I am also giving some thought to visiting the George and Dragon. I am looking forward to meeting George but feel a little apprehensive about the Dragon.
UHS is always looking for new members and try to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables and flowers or even enter any of the shows we hold each year, please get in touch. We would be happy to hear from you.
