We’re saying NO to gardening fatigue and going strong into the fall – and we’re bringing our summer crops with us. Because new zone, new rules.

Check out our September gardening checklist from SJ Mag Media’s resident gardener, Toni Farmer.  

Our climate is changing and pushing us into growing year round, but there are some things we need to do first…

This is your last chance to grow things. Get your carrots, beets, lettuces, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli in the ground and growing. You’ll want them ¾ of the way along by the time cold temps hit, because at that point they’ll slow down but will still give you a harvest. 

Decide what you want to grow year round, because you’ll want to make a cold frame next month if you’re choosing to brave the cold. (Although, arugula & cilantro will grow without the cold frame) 

Meteorologists are saying we won’t have our first frost until mid-Nov. That’s two to three weeks longer than normal – we could still have 2-3 months of growing left, so… 

Don’t give up! School has started, work is in full gear, and you have errands to run. You might want to say, “I don’t have time for that! But don’t slow down your gardening efforts.

As far as what crops you can expect, cucumbers are probably done, zucchini might have a few weeks left. If you listened to Toni about fighting blight, you’ve got lots of time left on those tomatoes – keep tending to them! (If not, hate to break it to you, but your season’s over). 

Pull out older crops that look like they’re dying

Plant new crops and babysit them 

Pull out weeds 

Keep checking your soil to make sure it has enough water

Keep fertilizing the soil, the heavy rains can sometimes wash out the nutrients. And if you switched away from a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer, switch back. 

If you’re planting a root vegetable, like carrots or beets, loosen your soil because they will be drama queens and if they encounter tough soil they won’t grow. 

Can your foods. This is the perfect time to stock up for winter and make those big summer harvests (that are still going) last.  

And don’t forget to prep for the future gardening seasons… 

Order your garlic now. You won’t plant until October, but they might run out. Garlic (and potatoes) is sprayed with a growth-retardant so it doesn’t sprout. So you need to order it online. 

Order your spring bulbs. Daffodils, tulips. Because they will sell out too.