September Planting/Sowing Tips - Non-Soon Challenges

Dear Folks,

Well we have had / are having another Non-Soon and the added super plant (and people) stressing record highs in 110s etc.

No other way to describe it as just hot and dry and withering.

My poor limequat pictured above is just stressed, with folded leaves.  My hope for it there is new growth, but not a lot. So fingers crosses.

When you get to the list of what to plant/sow in September, keep in mind the temps.  Sow initially, you can do that starting now as long as you keep the sown area moistened each night until you see growth.

Hold off on transplant until the temps fall into the low 90s and be sure to harden off transplant before setting them out.

Some better news is I spotted a juvenile Assassin Bug on my Pigeon Pea and got a reasonably good portrait.

We still have the wild sunflowers growing and the bees enjoying them.

I caught this one with the sun just starting to get to it.

Speaking of sunflowers, I added the petals to this mix of summer greens and herbs (celery, Sweet and Dark opal basil, sweet potato and Egyptian spinach leaves) for a salad.

See below planting for more food ideas.  



 
Time to start getting your fall garden in shape.

However, this has been another Non-Soon, with record breaking highs, and only a tiny bit of summer rain.  Normally we can see mid-to-low 90s by mid-September, but I fear we won't be out of this heat that soon.

DON'T touch the tomato plants which are still doing well even if not producing.  You can give them a bit of a hair cut over several days starting the end of August/early September to remove sun damage and you will get a fall crop of fruit.  The plants will start setting fruit as soon as our night time temps fall below 80 -- usually around the end of August -- but this year those cooler nights may be delayed  Typically our 90+ days run from May 29 to September 29th. We can have the occasional 100 degree day even into October, so monitor the moisture needs of your gardens using the moisture meter.

September PLANTING:

Anise
Beans (bush and pole beans in first week in September at latest)
Beets
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cabbage, Ornamental
Caraway
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard 
Chervil
Cilantro
Cucumbers
Dill
Endive (and Chicory)
Fennel, Leaf
Onions, Green
Greens
Kale, Ornamental Cabbage
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce (leaf lettuce, arugula, mustard greens etc.)
Mustard
Parsley
Peas
Radishes
Spinach
Turnips

EDIBLE FLOWERS TO PLANT:

Calendula
Cornflower (Bachelor Buttons)
Marigold, Citrus Scented (Tagetes Nelsonii)
Marigold, Tangerine Scented (Tagetes Lemonii)
Nasturtium
Scented Geraniums
Snapdragons
Sweet Alyssum
Sweet William (Dianthus)

We have a food access problem which is and was highlighted because of the Corvid 19 impact.  Finding ways to grow and raise more of your own food - enough to use and share - it more important than ever.
  
'Grow it if we can': Aquaponics pioneer reimagines food in victory gardens, 'edible landscapes'


If you have not read or seen Dr. George Brooks work on Aquaponics in the valley, please read the article.  It will bring a whole other level of food options to you and your gardens.  Before you think we do not have the water (considering our drought), aquaponics reuses water in one of the most intense ways.

Click here.

GARDEN TIPS for September
Prepare soil for perennial planting -- edibles need superior draining soil, work in compost or well-rotted manure -- NEVER use fresh manure unless the garden will sit for 6-12 months before planting.  If your soil is already healthy, you can add a light dressing of compost or well-rotted manure.
Cool weather annuals and biennials can be sown every 2-4 weeks (beginning in August) through end of December or January for a continuous crop through next spring.
Make good use of your water meter during this temperature transitional month.
Fertilize fruit trees now -- use Labor Day as the Target date --  (early September and again at Valentines Day and Memorial Day).
For tomato plants which made it through the summer, over several days (do not do it all at once) give them a 1/3 - 1/2 hair cut and receive a fall crop of tomatoes through first frost.
BERRY VINES - OCTOBER 1st: cut all canes, old and new, to ground after fruiting - commercial growers use this method.

Order your garlic and potato "starts" (heads and seed potatoes) for planting later on.  They can be stored in cool dry conditions until planting time.  October 1st for planting garlic - December 1-January 1st for potatoes.

Meal Ideas:

I got a really nice - just one (I got the seeds in late) - spaghetti squash and could not wait to cook it.  I cut in half, seeded it and reserved the seeds for drying (for sowing next time).  I also collected some celery, basil and I'itoli onions to make a celery pesto (recipe idea sent to me by my sis-n-law) with pistachios. Tossed some of the squash with the pesto. I also froze about a cup of the squash for later use - I got about 4 cups total. 

The other food idea is a "Cream Biscuit".  This is a Southern favorite and I got to use some of my mixed herbs to see how an herbed biscuit would turn out - the answer is great.  What you see in the picture is One of the herbed ones left on the pan and the other 4 plain.  These are so delicious.

These are the first biscuits I could actually make well - I am not a great baker.  Initially, I actually did not work the dough enough, fearing the old 'don't overwork the dough' adage.

My Cream Biscuit
1 1/2 cups of well-chilled heavy cream (hold out 1/4 cup)
2 cups of all-purpose flour
3 (yes 3) teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt.

Optional: Dried or chopped fresh herbs

Preheat oven to 475 and position the oven rack in the middle.  Spray your pan.

Sift all the dried ingredients together (flour, baking powder, salt) then stir in herbs and cream.  Work quickly but do not overwork the dough.  I found I NEED the additional 1/4 cup of cream to make the dough hold together better.  Gently pat dough into 6 rounds slightly flattened.  Bake for 12 minutes but watch - may need 1 minute or so more, you are looking for the tops to just color and the bottoms to lightly brown.

Remove and cool on a rack.

These are awesome for strawberry shortcake!!

I hope you are enjoying your gardens and creating from the bounty.

Be safe, be kind and be patient.


You can my books and calendars for sale on the sidebar here - at Amazon, or direct from my publisher, or go to my website:  herbs2u.net


-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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