September has been another dry month, with just 34 mm/1.5 inches of rain. Also plenty of wind which has dried up the small amounts of rain falling.

There was just one day, 8th September when we had 18 mm/0.7". So we continue to give water from the hose, helped by the magnets which structure this water.

Edit! I’m writing on the evening of 30th September, when we are having an unexpected storm of 18mm. September rainfall was 52mm!

Currently I'm watering Chinese cabbage, salad rocket, endive, lettuce, chicory, leeks, Brussels sprouts, new sowings of lambs lettuce, and claytonia, also two beds of white mustard for cover crop.

Watering cannot prevent flea beetle, but it enables plants to have more strength to offer resistance to insect ravages, aphids included.
Normally by September, flea beetles are a very minor problem, but this year they have continued eating.

On brassicas only, we spray every 20 days with Bacillus thuringiensis soil bacteria. It saves a lot of time and covers. I find it highly effective, simply sprayed over the top of plants.

No Dig Day

No Dig Day is approaching. We are running exciting competitions for adults and chidren. Do join us on 3rd November online, to celebrate thus wonderful way of gardening and growing.

My webpage has details of what we are up to and what you can do on the day. There is a bargain download available for £5.

For young people and those who work with children, see my monthly Future Gardeners newsletter. You can subscribe to it through our website page.

Autumn harvests

Now and onwards is the season for celeriac harvests. I’m waiting a little because they are still swelling fast. Current day temperatures are now averaging 19 to 20°C/ high 60s F, and nights average 10°C/50°F, although soon that will drop. A ground frost is possible any time from now, but it's more likely after the middle of October.

Under cover

These plants feel like old friends. They have grown magnificently in the tunnel for over four months. Soon though, they will make way for winter salads and greens.

Transplants for autumn, winter and even early spring

They are growing quickly in the greenhouse. You could still sow some but don’t delay, because from later sowing they take much longer to establish and give harvests.

Outside, there is still just time to sow lambs lettuce, and claytonia. This short video has more on that, and if you don't watch my YouTube channel, do check it out because I'm still posting a lot of information. Over the last 28 days, there have been 1 million views.

In my experience, it's way too early for sowing broad beans to overwinter and crop next summer. Here I wait until the last days of October, or early November. In much colder, climates, you could sow them now, but for many of us, it's best to wait. Plant garlic instead!

Outside I am using covers of themacrop and mesh on young brassica plants. That’s for pest and wind protection. Thanks to no dig, they need little weeding - but we still do it, very thoroughly. Paths too.

Mixed cropping

The dig / no dig trial beds continue to grow a wonderful range of plants, in just a 5 m/16 ft length. It's the 14th year of this trial and I rotate very little, the different plantings.

Harvests so far are 63kg from the dig bed, 67kg from no dig.

The small garden continues to crop well, compare with how it was in mid-July, and we shall make another video about it mid-month. On the right, strawberries have been replaced by chard, and we planted kale between the salads on a recent weekend course. Also we popped in land cress at the far end after French beans.

Under the tomatoes is spinach, now well established from planting in late August..

More events

This week until 7th October is National Vegetarian Week, Sign up to receive a free digital cook book, packed with delicious vegetable recipes.

The Country Trust are running a Pixels to Pasture fund raising campaign, from 26^th October to 1^st November. To publicise it, they are bringing together a varied group of creators who share an interest in farming, growing, food and the countryside. They are a charity that helps children facing disadvantage, to connect with food, farming and the countryside through first-hand experiences.

My fundraising for fresh vegetables to families in Gaza has reached £7,800 of £10k. Any donation you make will bring fresh food to people living in difficult conditions.