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| Autumn
Fruit Calendar
General
Autumn is a good time to start
preparing ground and digging beds ready for next season. Clearing plants which
have finished cropping as you go will save on having to do a big job all in one
big task and will make digging the land over much easier.
After digging vacant ground can be
covered with black polythene to stop weeds growing
Much of the vegetation will be suitable
for making compost, so if you haven't already got one, now is a good time to
start a compost heap.
Jobs to do in the Vegetable and Herb Garden
in Early Autumn (Fall)
(September - UK)
Harvesting
& Storing Vegetables & Herbs in early autumn
Dry fresh herbs for use in the kitchen during the
winter
Continue harvesting all crops regularly as and when
they are ready
Harvest maincrop potatoes and store unblemished roots
in a cool, dark well ventilated place
Complete the harvesting of onions once the leaves
yellow and die back.
Allow the bulbs to dry out before storing in a cool
airy place
Continue harvesting sweetcorn as and when the silk
threads turn dark brown. This should be complete by the middle of
September
Start harvesting heads of celery
Care, Sowing & Planting Vegetables & Herbs in early
autumn
Start collecting ripened seed for sowing next year
Sow overwintering broad beans where they are to grow
Plant out spring cabbages
Start planting autumn onion and shallot sets towards
the end of the month
Plant Garlic bulbs
Plant a few cut-and-come-again salads for quick
growing baby salad leaves in autumn
Sow winter salad seeds for harvesting during the
winter
Cut back asparagus fronds if not already done
Cut off the tops of finished bean and pea plants at
ground level but leave the roots and dig in as these provide valuable
nitrogen to the soil
Start lifting and divide perennial herbs. Sections
can also be potted up
Continue pinching off any flower heads of herbs as
will keep the plant producing leaves for culinary use.
Keep greenhouse plants well watered
Protecting Vegetables & Herbs in
early autumn
Protect newly planted crops from pigeons with netting
Keep an eye out for caterpillars on brassicas such as
red cabbage and pick them off by hand.
Start earthing up Celery
Remove all plant debris from the vegetable patch or
allotment, to reduce the spread of disease and pests and burn all leaves
and plants which look as though they may be diseased
Protect cauliflower curds by bending a few of the
leaves over the heads
Planning and Buying Vegetables & Herbs in
early autumn
Order Seed Catalogues
Start planning new vegetable plots
and herbs beds
for next year
Jobs to do in the Vegetable and Herb Garden
in Mid Autumn (Fall)
(October - UK)
Harvesting & Storing Vegetables
& Herbs in mid autumn
Harvest pumpkins, marrows, butternut and other
squashes once ripe. Leave them in the sun, or in a ventilated
greenhouse or garage so skins harden and dry off, before storing in a
cool, dry, dark place
Continue lifting beetroot,
carrots and remaining potatoes and store unblemished roots in a cool,
dark well ventilated place
Pick any remaining runner and
green beans
Continue harvesting leaf beet, spinach, endive, kohl rabi, lettuce
and courgettes (Zucchini)
Start harvesting autumn cauliflower, cabbages, celeriac, celery,
broccoli, salsify, baby turnips and Brussels sprouts
Dig up any remaining outdoor
tomato plants and hang them upside-down in the greenhouse to allow the
fruits to ripen or use green fruit for chutney
Care, Sowing & Planting Vegetables & Herbs in mid
autumn
Continue
collecting ripened seed for sowing next year
In mild regions sow
overwintering broad beans where they are to grow
Plant out spring cabbages
Finish planting autumn onion and
shallot sets by the 2nd week in October
Garlic can still be planted in
mild areas
Cut back the dying tops of
Jerusalem Artichokes to ground level
Cut back asparagus fronds if not
already done
Cut off the tops of bean and pea
plants but leave the roots and dig in as these provide valuable nitrogen
to the soil
Lift and divide perennial herbs.
Sections can also be potted up and kept in the kitchen to provide winter
supplies.
Move basil into the greenhouse
or indoors to protect it from the cold. Pinching off any flower heads
will keep the plant producing leaves for culinary use.
Protecting Vegetables & Herbs in
mid autumn
Protect newly planted crops
from pigeons with netting
Keep an eye out for caterpillars on brassicas such as
red cabbage and pick them off by hand.
Earth up Celery and cover with
fleece or straw if frosts are expected
Remove all plant debris from the
vegetable patch or allotment, to reduce the spread of disease and pests
Remove yellowing leaves on
Brussels sprouts to prevent grey mould
Burn all leaves and plants which
look as though they may be diseased
Protect late varieties of
cauliflower from early frosts by bending a few of the leaves over the
curds
Planning and Buying Vegetables & herbs in
mid autumn
Order Seed Catalogues
Plan new Vegetable plots
and herbs beds
for next year
Jobs to do in the Vegetable and Herb Garden
in Late Autumn (Fall)
(November - UK)
Harvesting
& Storing Vegetables & Herbs in late autumn
Start harvesting winter brassicas such as kale
Start harvesting leeks
Continue harvesting autumn cauliflower, cabbages,
celeriac, celery, broccoli, salsify, baby turnips and Brussels sprouts
Finish lifting beetroot, carrots and kohl rabi
Care, Sowing & Planting Vegetables & Herbs in late
autumn
In mild regions sow overwintering broad beans where
they are to grow
Sow early peas for early crops next May
If your soil is well-draining and frost free
you can still plant garlic and onion sets early in the month
Sow winter salad leaves under glass for a supply of
fresh crops during the winter
Cut back the growth on chicory plants and cover with
a black plastic container to force white stalks to sprout.
Protecting Vegetables & Herbs in
late autumn
Protect newly sown and planted crops from pigeons
with netting or cotton
Protect late varieties of cauliflower from early frosts by bending a few
of the leaves over the curds
Remove all plant debris from the vegetable patch or
allotment, to reduce the spread of disease and pests
Remove yellowing leaves on Brussels sprouts to
prevent grey mould
Burn all leaves and plants which look as though they
may be diseased
Planning and Buying Vegetables & Herbs in
late autumn
Order Seed Catalogues
Plan new Vegetable plots
and herbs beds
for next year
