To-Do-List for September and October

September - October:

• Choose to use this mild weather to plant or transplant the following: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collards, lettuce, mustard, onions, radishes, spinach and turnips.
• Plant your second planting of fall crops such as collards, turnips, cabbage, mustard and kale.
• Save seeds from your favorite plants, especially tomatoes, squashes, eggplant, etc. Let some of the root veggies like carrots go to seed, and collect those.
• Refurbish mulch to control weeds, and start adding leaves and other materials for the compost pile. Store your manure under cover to prevent leaching of nutrients.
• Water deeply and thoroughly to prevent drought stress. Pay special attention to new transplants.
• Harvest mature green peppers and tomatoes before frost gets them -- it may not come until November, but be ready. Preserve 4 for every 5 eaten fresh - or preserve them all!
• Harvest herbs and dry them in a cool, dry place.