SOW NOW, EAT LATER!

This is the ideal time to plan and plant crops for bountiful harvests in winter and early spring. Emma O'Neill, head gardener at Garden Organic, shows you what's good to sow now, making the most of Organic September

- Emma O'Neill

Growing your own produce can seem like a whirlwind of seed sowing, growing, and harvesting in what is a relatively short period of time. This year, in our organic demonstration garden, thanks to a warmer than normal spring and summer, it seemed to be over even quicker, with lettuces frequently bolting, peas arriving early and parsnips three times the normal size!

During this busy period it can be easy to forget to sow or plan to grow some crops during the autumn/winter period when there's less going on. But by sowing now, you can take advantage of warmer soils and have crops growing throughout autumn for some great produce later into the year. This can also help plug gaps in early spring, the so-called 'hunger gap', when there's less produce available. It's also worth remembering that not only will you have produce later in the year, but they'll also help protect the soil from runoff and reduce the leaching of nutrients. The less bare soil you have in your vegetable plot, the better.

SEPTEMBER STARTERS

It can be difficult to know what to plant at this time of year, and I've often been tempted just to sow the same vegetables I've sown in March, such as chillis and courgettes. However, this will only lead to disappointment as they need a long growing season.

So, I recommend growing the following vegetables in September, either sown or planted:

Autumn onion and garlic sets

Both are planted out in September/October to overwinter and be ready for harvesting in early summer. Onions should be planted 10-15cm apart, with their tips just barely protruding from the ground. I initially cover mine with eco-fleece to prevent the birds from continually pulling them out. They're best planted in fertile soil in the full sun.