Vegetable, Fruit, and Herb Gardening in September

Harvest! If you took the time to plant a fall garden, many good veggies will be ready for harvest this month. If you happen to get more produce from your happy plants than you anticipated, make sure you still get everything removed from your plants. If you are short on time I’m sure you could get friends, family, and neighbors to help! Not only are these goodies too tasty to let rot, but if they do, you are encouraging a huge host of unwanted pests- insects, rodents, birds, fungi, bacteria, you name it, it will come if you let your harvest get out-of-hand. So do your garden a favor and eat!
Be sure your cold frames and greenhouses are airtight and ready to go for the cooler nights. Daytime temperatures can become very hot in these locations, so be sure to open and close windows as needed. Consider investing in a self-opening elbow for your windows. They can save many trips back and forth to the garden throughout the fickle autumn weather.
Pot up chives, parsley, and other herbs, and bring into the house to extend the growing season.
Green manures for cool seasons can be sown.
Strawberry runners should be rooted and transplanted by the end of the month.
To insure a good crop of big bulbs next fall, plant garlic cloves this fall. Be sure to cover the garlic plot with a layer of organic mulch.
Don’t prune rose hips yet if you plan on saving them for jellies or medicinal purposes.
Bring in your more sensitive plants as the nights get cooler. Stevia, ginger, and other tropicals don’t like colder weather. Many other herbs can stay outside until the first frosts.
Garlic is harvested when the tops die down. To prepare garlic for long term storage, cure the bulbs for four to six weeks in a warm, dry, shady location where there is good air circulation. Pile bulbs no more than two to three deep. After curing, store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated spot.
Keep basil, parsley, mint, sage, balm, and borage producing by pinching out the seed pods. Herbs can be used fresh, frozen, or dried. Wait until the dew has dried to cut a few stems, tie a string around this little bouquet, and hang in a cool, dry place until completely dry. Crumble and place in a jar for use during the winter.
Plant lavender seeds outside in the fall. The seedlings will appear in early spring.
Herbs can be dried quickly in a microwave oven. Place them between two paper towels, and heat for one minute. Remove them from the oven, let cool, then test to see if the leaves are crisp. If not, return them to the oven for a few more seconds. Store in jars in a dark place so they will keep their color and flavor.

"Always remember the beauty of the garden, for there is peace."
-- Author Unknown

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