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"Mid September" Loth as we are to see the Summer go,
Shall we not greet the Autumn with delight?
Though the days shorten,
they may yet be bright,
And have a dower of beauty to bestow,
But little short of Summer's bravest show:
Even Summer cannot gratify the sight
With richer colours on the wooded height
Or in the sheltered paradise below,-
Rich hues that as with triumph mark the crown
Of Nature's yearly toil, and decorate
The leaves of plant and tree for duty done,
So that in red or gold or crimson-brown
They sit a while in splendour and in state,
And share the autumn glory of the sun. Excerpted from the poem "Mid-September"
by Robert Henry Forster |
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LTPL Grows Seed Swap!Monday, September 22 @ 6-8 pm Gather your seeds and join us for the First Annual LTPL Seed Swap! Michigan author and seed-saver Bevin Cohen will be here to share seed-saving wisdom and stories. Bring your seeds to trade or share and get to know your local gardening neighbors! Table space will be available on a first come, first serve basis and space is limited. If you don't have enough seeds to require table space, you are welcome to attend as a "roving swapper." |
It's September! The LTPL Seed Library is open for business all year long with seasonally appropriate seeds added on an ongoing basis.
In September, look for fast-growing vegetables that will mature during the cool fall weather. They can be direct sown after you harvest earlier crops. These vegetables include greens, turnips, radishes, cilantro. The mission of the seed library is to promote gardening and encourage sustainability through seed saving. The seeds are available at no cost to you. Although it is not required, we hope that you will attempt to save seeds from your crops and return them to the seed library to help keep it self-sustaining. To use the seed library, simply make your selections and log your initials and number of packets taken on the clipboard. The clipboard and instructions are on top of the Seed Library cabinet.
Gardening handouts are available at the Seed Library and also on the LTPL Grows Webpage, along with informative videos! |
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In September: - Harvest your vegetables as they mature, preserving the surplus. Harvest and dry herbs while they are at their peak.
- Sow seeds outdoors for cool-weather, fast-growing fall vegetable crops, including greens, turnips, and radishes. Visit the LTPL Seed library and check for seeds you might need.
- Cure your harvested winter squash, gourds, and pumpkins in a dry, frost free spot so they develop a strong rind to keep them in good condition during storage.
- Move your cured onions and garlic to cold, dark storage to prevent them from premature sprouting.
- Continue to pinch new blossoms off your tomato plants (also eggplants and peppers) so they put their energy into ripening existing fruit before frost. For the same reason, prune winter squash and pumpkin vines to prevent them from forming new fruit that will not have time to mature.
- Remove spent crops, clean the area, and add compost to rejuvenate the soil for the next crop. Plant a cover crop if you are done gardening in that spot for this year.
- Check local nurseries or place orders for mail order plants to be planted in the early fall.
- Seed-saving continues into September. Allow your non-hybrid tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, and squash to fully ripen on the plant or vine. Make sure correct seed-saving practices have been followed to keep them pure.
- Start acclimating houseplants that have been summering outdoors to indoor life. This is best done before the heat goes on so they make the adjustment before the dry winter air commences. Check the plants and soil for bugs and yes, toads.
- Information and online resources for starting and saving seed can be found on the LTPL Website.
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Michigan Gardener Magazine no longer publishes a print magazine. You can still visit the Michigan Gardener website for occasional new articles and the calendar, and browse through digital back issues of the print magazine and newsletters. |
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Find more information on LTPL Grows and other resources! |
Visit and "like" for gardening news, tips and upcoming events. |
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