While sunshine-filled days in the garden are coming to an end, there are plenty of gardening jobs we need to be doing ahead of the autumn and colder months ahead. Transitioning your garden from summer to autumn involves a few strategic steps to ensure your garden remains vibrant and healthy all year-long.
One man, who is getting on with his seasonal gardening, is known as the Grumpy Gardener. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, he began sharing his best gardening tips and tricks online in a bid to help people to become “less grumpy through gardening” – and he helped many have a positive attitude to the often time-consuming outdoor tasks.
Recently on TikTok, he shared what you should have lined up next on your gardening to-do list. He said: “So summer has been and gone and everyone has had a successful growing year, but it doesn’t mean you need to stop in September; there’s still plenty to do.”
He added: “Just because summer has gone doesn’t mean the gardening has to stop.”
Harvesting vegetables and plant seeds
Grumpy Gardener explained: “Things like tomatoes should be harvested at this point before they go over. They’re now ready for eating and they will have ripened so pick them before it’s too late.
“If you collected seeds from your alliums and get them straight in the ground, don’t delay. There’s no need to wait until spring, get them in the ground, get them building a root system and you’ll have lovely plumes next season.”
One commented on the TikTok post, writing: “I still have so many green tomatoes, not sure they’ll ripe now.” The Grumpy Gardener responded and said: “Saying that, this year I’ve a couple I’ve neglected and they’re green. You could try the banana skin trick to help them ripen. Failing that, make some chutney so they don’t go to waste.”
He also says if you’re growing chillies you can harvest them now. He added: “As chillies start to ripen and change colour, harvest them again. Find the ones that are ready, chop them off and enjoy.”
Prep garlic
The Grumpy Gardener says if you are wondering what to grow this month, garlic is a great option. He said: “You can get your garlic in the ground. Garlics like to be overwintered so make sure you get it in that ground because the frosts and the cold can help create a bigger bulb.”
He explained that getting garlic in the ground now means it would be ready next season.
Prepare for Christmas now
The gardener advises getting Christmas vegetables in the ground now, including turnips.
He explained: “You can get your turnips in the ground. You should do turnips now, especially if you’re wanting to harvest for Christmas. You can harvest around Christmas time and they’ll be small, golf ball/baseball size and they’ll make a lovely Christmas dinner.”
Do you enjoy gardening this time of year? Comment below.
