Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
Each September, a new school year allows everyone a clean slate. Armed with pre-sharpened pencils and fresh notebooks waiting to be filled, students can look forward to new ideas, new friends and opportunities to excel. In the garden, September offers new beginnings as well, while bridging the gap between hot summer days and cool fall nights. Gardeners can reap the harvest of their hard summer work, while clearing paths for a fresh start of new plantings that will reward them in the fall.
August heat waves may have taken their toll on your garden. When it’s too hot, plants go into survival mode. Herbs and other plants bolt and go to seed to preserve their legacy, and flowers and vegetables halt production and shelter in place to conserve energy. Other plants call it quits for the season, turn brown and fizzle away. But once cooler temperatures arrive on the scene, you may see your garden revive and “wake up” for the last hurrah for summer. Tomato plants that seemed destined as fried green tomatoes will suddenly turn red — seemingly overnight. Spring-blooming flowers such as New Dawn Roses and Weigela will offer fresh new blooms in what my friend, Esther, called a “fall spring.”
For plants that have withered from the heat, trim dead or damaged stems and leaves. Otherwise, the plant will spend needless energy trying to heal the ailing parts. Unhealthy plants are also more susceptible to pests and disease. Once annuals have gone to seed, harvest the seeds for next year, but leave some for your feathery friends. Goldfinches love pulling on the remnants of zinnias and the thistle-like seed heads of purple coneflowers.
Once you have harvested your crops, collected seeds, and cleared some space, it’s time to begin anew. September is the perfect time to plant cool-season crops. Warm, sunny days will aid in germinating the seeds, but by the time the plant begins to grow, cooler weather will keep these herbs and vegetables happy. Lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, cabbage, carrots, radishes, broccoli, and beets are all great candidates for September planting. Plant a bowlful of mesclun mix today, and you’ll have a salad waiting for you in the garden by October. This month also provides a good time to grow a second round of herbs such as cilantro and dill. Read the seed packets and choose fast-growing varieties to ensure the plants will mature before it gets too cold. Fortunately, some of these vegetables, such as kale, can handle a light frost and will taste better afterward, since the cold temperatures cause the plant to convert their starch to sugar.
September is the month for locals to reclaim our beaches and gardeners to reclaim their gardens. Enjoy the sunny days of harvesting, collecting seeds, and digging in the dirt to plant cool-season crops for a fresh start. But make sure you also save time to get your feet in the sand while a gentler sun shines on your face.
Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
