Gardener reveals 10 ‘fast growing’ plants you should sow in the next 10 days – and how to protect them from frost
A GARDENER has revealed eight vegetable plants you should sow now to guarantee a bumper winter harvest.
As colder weather begins to set in, we may be tempted to hang up our gardening gloves for the winter, however, there is still lots of jobs to be done.
And Benedict Vanheems has revealed that there are 10 specific varieties of plants that should be sowed this September.
Speaking on his YouTube channel GrowVeg Benjamin shared a list of vegetables that thrive in colder weather.
“Autumns here, but if you think it’s too late to sow seeds for a harvest this season, think again”, he said.
Benjamin advised planting the seeds in the sunniest part of your garden and using newspaper to protect them against frost.
He revealed that these vegetables will all be ready to eat by Christmas, if you plant them now.
Radishes
“These crisp and crunchy roots are among the fastest vegetables out there”, Benjamin said.
He revealed that radishes can be ready to eat just four weeks after you sow them.
Benjamin said that radishes enjoy cooler weather and are less likely to be attacked by beetles at this time of year.
Rocket
Rocket will be ready to harvest just five weeks after you plant it.
“Rocket loves the cool of early autumn, and will even thrive in partial shade”, Benjamin said.
Mustard
The gardener recommended sowing mustard plants in shallow trays, which can easily be brought inside when the weather gets cooler.
Spinach
Benjamin said that spinach is a perfect plant to sow at this time of the year, as it can be ready to eat in just 40 days.
“It loves the cooler weather of autumn, so now is a really great time to grow it”, he said.
September gardening jobs
With September starting, so does autumn, and The Sun's Gardening Editor Veronica Lorraine has a few tasks to keep you busy as the summer sun winds down.
1. Starting thinking about Spring bulbs
Its early bulb time! As well as the more traditional daffodils, crocuses, alliums and bluebells, try snake-head fratillaries for something slightly different.
2. Remember the bees
Make sure you’re still looking after the bees with autumn flowering pollinators – like sedums, honeysuckle and asters.
3. Dig and enjoy your potatoes
Maincrop potatoes are ready to dig up – make sure you get them all so they don’t get slug damage.
4. Change your lawn mowing schedule
Raise the height of your lawn mower and start to reduce the amount of mowing you do. GIve it an autumn feed, especially if you didn’t get round to it in Summer and start to rake to remove thatch.
5. Plant out new perennials while the soil is still warm.
6. Take salvia cuttings
It’s as easy as cutting a shoot tip above a node and chucking it in a glass of water to see if it sprouts roots. Especially with tender Salvias which wont survive the winter.
7. Keep camelias well watered to make sure that buds form next year.
8. Keep on deadheading and watering your hanging baskets
They should keep going until the first frosts.
9. Get pumpkins Halloween ready
Remove any leaves shading pumpkins to make sure they’ll be ready for halloween – and make sure you keep watering them, they’re very thirsty.
10. Check on your pond
Net your pond to stop it filling with fallen leaves when the trees start to drop.
Lettuce
Benjamin said that loose-leaf lettuce varieties are perfect for sowing in September, and can be ready to eat in just 30 days.
He advised making sure to keep the plants watered and said that if you cut off a few leaves at a time, the plant will grow back.
Kale
Benjamin said that kale can be enjoyed just 30 days after harvesting and advised sowing them in rows.
“Soon we will be seeing those beautiful lovely seeds emerging”, he said.
Onions
Salad onions are a great vegetable to be sown at this time of year, and are quite hardy.
Although the bulbs won’t form until spring, you can harvest the leaves this side of Christmas, and add them to your salads.
Beetroot
Beetroot is another vegetable which can be sown this month and can be harvested just 50 days after planting.
Benjamin recommended sowing the seeds about an inch apart and said that you can also harvest the leaves, and add them to salads.
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