7 essential vegetables to plant in September for winter harvests

As autumn approaches and earlier crops are harvested, gaps begin to appear in many vegetable gardens. September offers a prime opportunity to utilize these spaces by planting a selection of vegetables that not only grow quickly but can also provide fresh produce throughout the winter months.

Here’s a curated list of seven vegetables perfect for planting this September, ensuring your garden remains productive as the seasons change.

1. Garlic Garlic requires a long growing season and is ideally planted from September onwards. It benefits from the cooler months to develop robust roots and shoots, preparing it for a burst of growth in the spring. Choose between hardneck varieties, which require cold weather to form bulbs, and softneck types. Plant cloves directly into the soil, ensuring you source your seed garlic from reputable suppliers to guarantee quality.
   
2. Collard Greens Known for their nutritional value, collard greens can be sown 6-8 weeks before the first frosts. These can be started indoors or sown directly into the garden. Plant seeds half an inch deep and thin seedlings to 18-24 inches apart, allowing the plants ample space to flourish. You can begin harvesting the young leaves within 30-40 days, employing a cut-and-come-again approach.
   
3. Spinach Spinach is a fast-growing vegetable packed with vitamins and antioxidants, making it a perfect choice for fall planting. Select a hardy winter variety and sow seeds one inch deep in well-spaced drills. Thin the seedlings appropriately and enjoy a continuous harvest from October through April.
   
4. Turnips Turnips grow quickly and can be harvested as tender baby crops in about 25-45 days or left longer to develop into full-sized roots. Directly sow them into the garden in September for a succession of crops that will last throughout the colder months.
   
5. Bok Choy This cool-weather crop thrives when sown in late summer or early fall, as it bolts in high heat. Sow bok choy seeds half an inch deep and space them 3-4 inches apart. Harvest can begin 50-70 days after sowing, with the plant potentially producing a secondary crop of leaves.
   
6. Broccoli Raab Unlike traditional broccoli, which grows a single main head, broccoli raab produces many smaller side shoots, extending its harvesting period. Sow this crop in September for a harvest that can continue into the winter, especially if plants are protected from the frost.
   
7. Japanese Onions Overwintering Japanese onions are suitable for planting in September, providing an early harvest the following spring. Start the seeds indoors in late summer or early fall and transplant them to your garden by mid-fall.

Summary

These seven vegetables are ideal for filling the empty spaces in your garden this September, setting the stage for a bountiful winter harvest. By choosing the right crops and following these planting guidelines, you can extend the productivity of your garden well into the colder months, ensuring a steady supply of fresh vegetables for your kitchen.