It’s September, the beginning of spring, the time of new life and renewal! The weather is starting to warm up, but there are still cold days, rainy weather and winds to contend with.
Early spring is the best time to mulch garden beds, as the soil is still moist and slowly warming up.
This month is the last chance to plant bare rooted deciduous trees and shrubs, as they need time to establish before the summer heat arrives. Container grown ones with well-developed roots can be planted right through spring.
Things to Do This Month:
- Plant evergreen shrubs and trees (this includes citrus trees).
- Relocate evergreen shrubs – they can now regrow their roots during the mild weather.
- Last chance to plant bare-root deciduous trees, shrubs and vines (otherwise wait till autumn).
- Feed all fruit trees if you didn’t do so last month.
- Clean up old growth in perennial herbaceous (non-woody) plants to make room for new growth.
- Propagate plants by taking cuttings or layering (both ground layering and air layering).
- Divide perennials, such as chives.
- Tie canes of brambleberries to wires before the vigorous growth commences in early spring.
- Plant passionfruit.
- For seedlings raised indoors in August, harden off by slowly increasing sun and exposure to outside temperatures for 7 to 10 days before planting out.
- In ponds, begin feeding fish small amounts of food often, so food is not left over to pollute the water.
Vegetables and Herbs to Grow in September (Arid Climate)
| September Seeds to Sow and Seedlings to Plant (Arid Climate Australia) | Sow/Plant | Harvest (weeks) |
| Amaranth | dst | 7-8 |
| Angelica | dst | 18 months |
| Asparagus Pea | d | 8-11 |
| Basil | st | 10-12 |
| Beans (Climbing) | dst | 9-11 |
| Beans (Dwarf, Bush) | dst | 7-10 |
| Beetroot | dst | 7-10 |
| Borage | dst | 8-10 |
| Burdock | d | 17-18 |
| Cape Gooseberry | dt | 14-16 |
| Capsicum | s | 10-12 |
| Carrot | d | 12-18 |
| Celeriac | t | 14-28 |
| Chilli | st | 9-11 |
| Chives | dst | 7-11 |
| Choko | plant tubers | 17 |
| Coriander (Cilantro) | dst | 30-45 |
| Cucumber | dst | 8-10 |
| Daikon | d | 8-10 |
| Eggplant | d | 12-15 |
| Ginger | plant root | 25 |
| Globe Artichokes | dst | 42-57 |
| Jerusalem Artichokes | plant tubers | 15-20 |
| Leeks | t | 15-18 |
| Lettuce | dst | 8-12 |
| Luffa | dt | 11-12 |
| Marrow | dst | 12-17 |
| Mizuna | t | 5-7 |
| NZ Spinach (Warrigal Greens) | s | 8-10 |
| Okra | dst | 11-14 |
| Oregano | dst | 6-8 |
| Pak Choy | t | 6-11 |
| Parsnip | d | 17-20 |
| Potato | plant seed potatoes | 15-20 |
| Pumpkin | dst | 15-20 |
| Radish | d | 5-7 |
| Rhubarb | plant crowns | 12 months |
| Rocket | d | 21-35 days |
| Rockmelon (Cantaloupe) | dst | 10-16 |
| Rosella | dst | 21-25 |
| Salsify | d | 14-21 |
| Shallots | d | 12-15 |
| Silverbeet (Swiss Chard) | dst | 7-12 |
| Spring Onions (Bunching Onions) | dst | 6-10 |
| Squash | dst | 7-8 |
| Sunflower | dst | 10-11 |
| Sweet Corn | dst | 11-14 |
| Sweet Marjoram | dt | 8-10 |
| Sweet Potato (Kumara) | plant crowns | 15-17 |
| Taro (Cocoyam) | plant tubers | 28 |
| Tomatillo | t | 10-14 |
| Tomato | d | 8-17 |
| Watermelon | s | 9-14 |
| Yacon | plant tubers | 25 |
| Zucchini (Courgette, Marrow) | s | 6-9 |
Key:
d = sow seeds directly into ground
s = sow seeds into seed tray
ds = sow seeds directly into ground or seed tray
t = transplant seedlings (small plants) into larger pots or plant into ground
*= frost tender
**= sow after frost
Download printable PDF version of Gardening Calendar (Australian Arid Climate) – September
To help improve these garden calendars, feedback and additional information from readers is greatly appreciated! Australia’s climate varies considerably, and local knowledge of when particular things need to be done in the garden are most helpful to others living in those area, so please feel free to share.