Awaken the Sleeping Garden

September is here! Hard to believe, the temperature is still hot and humid.

If you intend to plant your fall garden where your spring garden grew, you must remove your summer vegetables. By now they have have stopped producing and are looking like damsels in distress. Remove the plants as well as any weed growth. When you have the garden cleared of unneeded growth, add a light layer of organic matter-or compost, such as your own homemade compost-, composted manures or mushroom compost. 1-2 pounds of a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 may be applied per 100 square feet of bed space. Alternatively, if you're into organic gardening, you can apply organic plant food. Then, thoroughly incorporate the organic matter and fertilizer into the garden soil by tilling or spading to a depth of at least-6 8 inches.

Now the fun part. What do you want to eat? 

If you aren't sure what vegetables grow in your area, check with your local nursery or extension agency.
In our garden we are starting lettuce (mainly Romain because they are more heat tolerant in the early season), broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, mustard greens, turnips and beans. The more adventurous gardener can grow Asian crops such as Chinese Cabbages, Mitsu, Bok Choy, and  Kohlrabi. Many below ground crops can be planted at this time.  We grow what our family will eat and more to freeze for later on.

Flowers.

At this time our flowers are still big, blooming and beautiful. Keep deheading, mulching and fertilizing your flowers that look good. Any that need to be replaced, remove. Add organic matter and start planning your fall flowers. Right now you can plant Mums and Petunias. In a few weeks you will be able to add Pansies, Snapdragons, Ornamental Kale, Dianthus, and Johnny Jump Ups. We are in zone 8, check what zone you are planting in to get an idea of what plants will grow through the winter in your area.

Double Take.

This is a great time to start cutting of Perennials or Shrubs that you would like to have more of in your yard. Do you have a rose bush or another shrub that you have found that does very well in your yard?It is always a good idea to to have more than one. 

Happy Gardening!