TO DO IN SEPTEMBER

Early Apples should be coming to harvest from now . pick those that come away with just a gentle twist- any resistance means they’re best left a week or two then try again

To test if apples or pears are ripe enough to eat cut in half vertically if the seeds are chestnut brown if they are ripe

Pears MAY prove difficult to fully ripen in the UK cooler climate. To test if a pear is ready to pick VERY GENTLY lift it upwards against its normal growth habit If it snaps its stalk - it is ready to harvest, repeat with each- remembe-N O FORCE IS REQUIRED. Store away from rodents and pigeons for a further few days up to a week so dont pick TOO MANY and inspect them regularly for signs of rot , with pears the window between ripe and rot is only a matter of days. To test if a pear is ripe enough to eat -very gently use your thumb to indent the neck - if it succumbs it should be edible?

Prepare the ground for NEXT years Spring sowing.

Fork over the selected space bearing in mind “Crop Rotation” principles.

Tread it down lightly to give firmer ground then restore the soil with some pelleted chicken manure or “Growmore” mix to ensure the plants get the nutrition needed to grow well.

Feed any runner beans to keep them producing for a few more weeks, soak the root with a good liquid fertiliser.

The onions we lifted a couple of weeks ago may be tied off, check ou you tube for the various methods used for effective storage.

Sow now

Salad crops

Spring onion

Plant Now

Spring Cabbage

Over wintering Onions

Strawberry Plants

Harvest

Runner Beans

Potatoes

Sqash

Cabbage

Chard

Carrots

Betroot

Courgettes

Rasberries

Apples

Plums

Tomatoes